Oct 07 2008
Conservative … 8 weeks 2 days post ATR and the cast is off
I have just come back from the NHS clinic… without a cast or even a boot.
The senior surgeon looked at the foot…. wants me back in 2 months…. and booked into physio asap….. (this Thursday)…. he wants me to take it easy but start to put weight on my leg … still with crutches ….. then start walking….. but no moon boot. Fornutately I took my site boots along… just it case a scenario like this could have happened. Here is a picture of my foot as it now is …… fresh from the clinic…….
Hi Bernard,
Well you certainly are a lucky fellow, living in a postcode that gives you NHS physio. I was just sent out of the clinic without any physio or exercises.
Milk it as long as you can. I have had private physio and only 4 weeks and 6 sessions later I am barely limping and can (just) walk on my toes.
Good luck with the healing,
Jon
That looks great, only problem though,….you won’t get any sympathy without a scar!!
Grab as much physio as you can, I had to pay for mine, I just had one visit to NHS Physio in my local Doctors, and she mainly just took notes. Cost me a fortune after that with private physio £40 a visit!!!! After 4 visits it was reduced to £25 a visit.
Annie
I’m the same as Annie, £35 a time with my physio. So far 6 session = £210 and counting.
FYI…….ATR are a royal pain in the rear as far as time lost from work and other physical activities are concerned, but, I have to say that looking at the big picture, it is a bit of an overrated injury if you factor in all the doomsday stories. I mean, people were sharing all these horror stories with me about never getting back to my old self, and about this protracted recovery process with untold sessions of physical therapy……..baloney!!
I ruptured mine in early October of ‘05 and by February of ‘06 I was back doing my regular running routine, albeit with a reduced mileage regiment. Keep in mind that I was so angry because of the surgery and being confined to limping around on crutches, I was determined to get better and back to my old self.
ATR is pain (literally) in the rear; however, do NOT listen to anybody who tells you that you won’t get back to your old self; instead, get really angry and fired up and you’ll be amazed at how you can parlay that pi$$ and vinegar attitude into a speedy recovery.
Mike,
I am not too sure how to take your comments, are they to inspire or to mock!!?? I have read it several times and keep coming up with different theories. The one I have chosen to take notice of is the ‘get angry and get fit’, I hope that is was you meant.
As I am 6 months plus down the line and nowhere near my previous fitness it looks like I will have to get ‘very very angry’ to progress to full fitness.
Annie
Dear Mike
I agree with you
I was not put off by the injury…. I still went on holiday… and work (site visits).. I am self employed … so no work ….. no money……I was angry when the senior surgeon 5 weeks ago tried to enforce an above the knee cast on me….. I said no…. I need to work….. even though the cast is just off…. I still need to go to site tomorrow………I have kept moving… and trying excerise even with the cast……8 weeks is quick… but I have no time to let the injury get in the way of work……unfortunately its my wife who suffers more… as she needs to drive me around……
I will definatley consider paying for physio rather then waiting for the NHS. To be homest I don’t know what the service is like in my local NHS so will have to wait and see. I am only 7 days post op so i have a fair while to wait yet.
I have a seperate page on my blog for UK ATR sufferers to post their experiences on their local NHS or just to say hello to fellow UK bloggers.
http://achillesblog.com/dazfones/uk-atr/