Jun 17 2012
One year update
Hi guys, still having problems uploading photos but no matter. A year to the day of surgery I was staying on a remote Scottish island, was swimming in the sea when a seal popped up to say hello. Glad to be swimming with no restrictions. Travel to the island a year ago would have been impossible as the trip required carrying several bags/putting up a tent/hopping on and off the boat. So this was fab progress. I am able to walk up hills to a point and can climb easy grades. I have to stick to easy grades so there is decent platform for each foot. I would not say I am back to mountaineering. I walk to a certain height and come down as soon as my leg tires. Still get some plantar fasciitis, a tiny bit of swelling and a little bit of pain. As I write this update Im reminded of where I came from, and how much progress has been made. I particularly remember the months before my surgery which were scarey times. Especially want to thank Norm for advice back in those days. Keep healing folks.
Hi Ali39,
Thank you for posting your one year update!
It is great to hear you have made progress and are enjoying being healthy and mobile as much as you can.
Like you, I have tendinopathy in my non-operated Right Achilles. An ultrasound shows partial tears in the area where I have thickening (disorganized fibers).
I found it interesting that your doctor suggested surgery instead of less invasive methods. Did you try Plasma injections?
In my case, the doctor told me that tendinopathy will likely lead to a rupture, and advised me to wait until my tendon ruptures and he will repair it. Apparently, it is the full rupture that causes release of growth factors eventually resulting in healing.
Like you I also had a tendon graft to my operated Left Achilles. The surgeon used my plantaris tendon to augment it as this makes the tendon stronger. Do you know the reason for your plantar fascitis on your left foot? Is it related to the healing period from surgery on the right?
That is fantastic ali39! Congratulations and thanks for the encouragement that we’ll join you in hitting those mountain paths soon.
Good to hear from you, Ali, and thanks for the thanks! And keep getting stronger.
Thanks guys. (And hang in there onhiatus - honestly the year has gone very quickly!). Housemusic, hi - interesting question. I think the plantar fasciitis was happening for sometime before the AT got really bad but the AT was not brilliant before. Around 8 months before the AT got really bad? I have forefoot varus, so my feet are a weird design to start with. This can lead to various problems both with the fascia and AT.
I did have various injections before surgery (Not plasma I must add). Problem was I couldn’t stand up for more than a couple of minutes without the leg giving way so I think there wasn’t much choice. The tendon was about to rupture anyway.
I also have tendinopathy in the other leg, just hoping for a positive outcome and no more surgery on the other side!! Although the year has gone quickly got no desire to go through it all again! lol
Ali - This is all great news and I am sure you will stride forward. The thought of going through it again is always with us but for now you should put that out of your mind and enjoy the freedom. I am slow slack not to have posted a 12 month update but it seems not so exciting. Keep smiling. regards, your friend.
Hi ali39,
Thank you for responding. What are you doing for the tendinopathy on your “good” achilles? And does it get worse after hiking in the hills?
Hi Stuart, great to hear from you. Back to normality with a big bump, after what seemed like a magical week with amazing weather. I do wonder what happened to others, Daisy, Bcurr, dancing bunny,mtbrider - no news is good news! I often think of that guy who had a ruptured AT after he was attacked by birds in a car park, the image was haunting. You are well into winter now so wondering how building work is going?
Hi housemusic, the tendinopathy on the contralateral side is not as bad as the plantar fasciitis. It does get painful but I am just doing heel raisers and stretches and praying for the best! I do get pain but I don’t have to wear the boot, Im weightbearing on it and its not stopping me working so Im happy. How are you managing with the other side now? x
Ali - Yes winter is on us well and truly. Looking up the valley and we can see the snow only 7km away and it is snowing up there as I write. Building is going well and as we have the place weathertight we can start work indoors out of the cold wind. I also wonder about the others and I have found that the occassional visit here has made me a little less in touch with everything and everyone. In some way there is less of a connection. The others are probably busy back in their old life and doing well. There are so many new people but it is good to see the amount of care and attention the community brings being passed on to the next lot. Keep well.
Hi all, just checking in bit gutted Ive had a bit of a temporary set back. I know exactly why, for various reasons I wasn’t wearning my orthotics for a few days. Ended up with painful and swollen achilles (both sides) it happened very quickly. Anyway I got them taped up and restricting my mobility for a few days. Ive learned I really can’t go without my orthotics, didn’t know quite how badly I need them. The spam word is optimism so I will hang onto that after sitting around crying all day Friday
Happy healing everybody x