My foot’s turned purple?
Is this normal? Has it always been purple while walking in the boot and I wasn’t able to see it or am I doing something different now because I am walking barefoot and without the support of the boot (it’s the first day too and I am not putting full weight on it yet as I am still using the crutches)?
Have others noticed this happening?
August 9th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
As long as elevation and ice take care of the problem, I doubt it is anything to worry about. I had swelling off and on for many weeks with my foot sometimes turning various shades of purple. If elevation and ice doesn’t resolve it then you need to talk to your doctor because you could have an infection. Remember, you were in a cast(s) for several weeks and your foot can only swell up so much in a cast, but there is a lot less “support” in a boot, or at least there certainly was in mine. For most of the time I was fighting infections I slept wearing a compression knee high sock on my bad leg and often wore compression socks during the day as well. If it had not been for compression ski socks I doubt I would have been able to ski very much last season due to swelling.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Thanks Gerry, actually the funny thing is that even changing from walking barefoot (more like standing in my case, still too wussy I am afraid) to walking in the boot made the foot come back to its regular colour. Good to know!
August 10th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
My “good” foot is currently black and blue, and swollen and stiff, because I seriously bruised my shin bone 10 days ago, getting onto a small sailboat. It had NOTHING to do with the ankle or foot, but gravity has pulled all the color and inflammation down my leg to my foot and ankle!!
When I Google “shin bruise”, and Google pops up auto-completion suggestions, the fourth one is “swollen ankle” and the fifth is “spread to ankle”! So what I’ve got and what you’ve got apparently aren’t unusual or un-natural. RICE helps, even if the inflammation is “imported” from above.
BTW, if you install the widget at http://achillesblog.com/dennis/2008/03/08/achilles-timeline-widget/ , we’ll all be able to quickly check how far along you are, and a few other key facts.
August 11th, 2010 at 4:27 am
Oh wow, so there you go! I thought it was just a bit odd as it never happened before, but I guess many other people have experiences this too. Good to know it’s normal.
That’s weird because I can see my progress milestones and the widget - how come you can’t? I had installed it…
August 11th, 2010 at 10:05 am
All I see is a black screen with light gray and red letters. You were logged in when you made your last post, that’s why you have that goofy “[WORDPRESS HASHCASH]” thing. Do you see the widget when you are not logged in?
August 11th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Yes, I have just logged out and I can still see it on the right hand side. Am I just doing something really silly?
August 11th, 2010 at 10:13 am
I don’t know if this will help but log back in and go to your Dashboard, then on the top, right of center, click on “Plugins” and make sure that the Widgets are activated. Maybe they aren’t.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:18 am
I just had a look, and the Marathon Widget and the Info Widget are both activated. Are you sure you are looking in the right place (not on the right hand side of the post, but on the right hand side of the main blog)?
August 11th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Well, I admit I was only looking at this page. I see the widgets on your main page but they should be visible on all your pages. They’re visible on all my pages.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Aha at least we are getting somewhere, ok so we both see the same thing then! I wonder whether this might be because of the theme I chose for my blog? Maybe some themes don’t display any other info (such as links, categories and previous posts) anywhere else other than the main page? I caould try changing the theme and seeing if this helps - hang on!
August 11th, 2010 at 10:24 am
How is this?
August 11th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Looks fine to me.
August 12th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Yey!
August 12th, 2010 at 5:56 am
Dear Gerry, I am writing with respect to a different issue altogether. I think there was a misunderstanding with Chris Nash from WheelchairsRUs (http://www.wheelchairs-r-us.co.uk/). I have used his leg caddy (see my earlier blog) and found it very very useful to get around while in the NWB phase. I have sent him the link to this blog and suggested that he may want to advertise his services here as there is no one offering leg caddies within the UK on our site (there is one from the US). I understand that someone asked about dealing with mobility issues and Chris replied to their post with a link to his business. Both Chris and I understand that no one wants to be spammed or harassed with ads, and that was not Chris’s intention when replying to the post. He has a genuine business which is genuinely offering the service advertised and I can vouch that I have used it myself and found it good. Therefore, I do think that it might be good to have a link to his website somewhere on the AchillesBlog, for the UK-based folk. However, this might not have been the best way to advertise his leg caddy, so I would be greatful if you could help direct Chris as to where to post a link to the website. I am sorry if i have created any trouble or misunderstandings, that was not what I set out to do. Quite the opposite. I hoped to save people time in searching for it for themselves like I had to do. Many thanks in advance for your help and apologies once again.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Andreea,
There is no need for you to apologize, the person posting links to an unsafe website is the one who ought to apologize. Why would he want to represent a company with a website that will download malicious software to your computer? There is no excuse for him not knowing about the malicious software. I can’t imagine Dennis wanting a link to the rammtlc site on here because this site would then be regarded as unsafe. This is not a unique product, there are many companies that make knee scooters. A link to the wheelchairs-r-us site would appear to be OK since both Google and AVG regard it as a safe site.
August 12th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Hi Gerry,
What a nightmare, I doubt he intended to do this. I am no computer wizz and so don’t quite know how these things can happen, but I am sure it was not meant in a malicious way (though it must be said, I hate those things as I have been sent viruses before). I think the only thing Chris would want is a link to the wheelchair-r-us website and that’s it. It interesting that you mention plenty of other sites with leg caddys as I never came across any others and everyone who saw me on it in our town was completely surprised and came up to me and asked lots of questions about it. I am glad it’s all cleared up now anyway, thanks for this & happy walking!
August 12th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
There is a certain responsibility that comes with using technology and part of it is to make sure that if you provide a link to someone that the link doesn’t lead to malicious software or a site that will otherwise try to hijack someone’s computer. It’s even worse than people who blindly forward emails warning of horrific viruses or email scams or Bill Gates will contribute $100 to your favorite charity for each email you send to your friends, without first checking to see if what they are sending is legitimate. And if you get an email that contains a statement that either the sender or their very good friend checked the accuracy on Snopes, you can bet that it is fake. I long ago lost count of how many of those I sent back to the sender with the link to Snopes where whatever they claimed to be true was in fact a very old hoax. That sort of behavior is irresponsible IMO and I have blocked emails from more than one person because they were always sending junk like that.
August 13th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Hi Gerry,
I hear what you are saying & I agree that it is important for people to take responsibility for what they are sending. It’s such a nuisance when you get chain letters or viruses! It’s just that I know that Chris would not have done it on purpose, it would just have been a mistake and I would hate to see him lose his reputation on our blog just because of this, particularly if his business could help someone out there. I will email Dennis the working link myself to make sure it is all good.
September 10th, 2010 at 9:29 am
I think the leg caddy looks great & having just read about it on your blog, I looked up the website from your link & have emailed them for more info.
September 10th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Yes, it really is! Chris is very prompt and efficient. It gave me a lot of freedom. GOOD LUCK!!!!
September 10th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Hey Andrea…wow…quick response! I’ve been reading your blog: I just started one myself today but I’m way, way behind you as I’m only on Day 10 post op. I’m also a normally very active, sporty adult & this whole thing is doing my head in! I am trying not to think too much about the lengthy rehab period stretching out in front of me…….I think short term goals are a more beneficial approach. Have you ever been advised to swim for rehab ? I’m planning on starting swimming again next week & have ordered a waterproof cast cover in readiness. I’ve joined the local gym; just to do some upper body work, but I’ve not actually been down again after sign up last Monday. I’m kind of anxious to get started as I HATE not being able to exercise; but also worried about trying to do too much, although my leg doesn’t hurt at all, I’m sometimes moving about the house without crutches (when cooking for example) & I’ve not got purple toes, throbbing or anything like that. My follow up hosp appmt is on Wed. next week with my hideous grumpy surgeon, Dr Schiedt (pronounced ‘Shit’ haha). Your thoughts would be welcome! XX
ps our 18 y/o daughter starts at Reading Uni in Oct!
September 13th, 2010 at 3:31 am
HI Emagiselle,
You are already going to start swimming? Wow that is fantastic progress. I was stuck mostly indoors in the first 5 weeks while I was NWB. You are very brave! I know how you feel as I hated the idea of having to give up sport for a while, but obviously not just sport, many of the usual daily activities, like being able to go out on my own wherever I like without worrying if there was a disabled toilet or a lift. Good luck to your daughter for next year. I have never actually been a student at Reading (I did all my studies in New Zealand), but working there is great. It is a very green campus and people are nice and friendly. Happy healing and hope the time goes very fast for you! (ha ha ha love the name of your doc too, good one!)
September 16th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Swimming most days now & started the gym today in my new cast…..read my blog for more info if yr interested! I don’t feel like I’ve had to behave ike a disabled person: but I do take advantage of disabled parking spots: although there’s no sticker on my car. Anything to reduce the distance I have to move in my crutches!
Do you work at the uni ?
XX
September 16th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Hi Emmagiselle,
For me, getting around on the crutches *was* my aerobic exercise, at least until I got back on the bike between three and four weeks postop. You are quite right, though, on the basic point that letting the rest of your body waste away after an Achilles rupture is unnecessary, and probably counterproductive, too.
When I wrote my “how I did a fast rehab” blog note, I started by saying there are four main components to the rehab. They are healing the wound (without infection), range of motion, calf strength, and taking care of the rest of the body. All four components need their attention, or the rehab will be incomplete.
Enjoy the water,
Doug