1 Year Post-op, Life is good!
Hello Fellow ATR Survivors, I made it past the 1-year recovery milestone! I often reflect on what life was like just 1 year ago and realize how bad it was. Lying on the couch with my foot above my heart for several weeks, the long painful process of NWB-stumbling around on crutches and scooting on my turning leg caddy, then the even more painful process of FWB as I tried to regain some normal functioning-the limping, hobbling, painful end of day swollen leg and the rush to ice and elevate as soon as I hit the front door. It is amazing how “fast” a year goes by and yet while in the throws of recovery how dreadfully “slow” a year goes by.
At the one year mark I feel like I have fully recovered in the sense of being able to do most all activities I used to do except for the choice I made NOT to return to full-court basketball which was the cause of this whole mess. I have decided to focus on Mt. biking and snowboarding for recreational sports and leave the competitive team sports to the younger and more athletic. I also still feel the effects of ATR–every time I go for a run or a long ride I am reminded that it’s just not the same and it’s more sore than my good leg. Overall, life is very good and I can honestly say I learned some patience and to be somewhat more compassionate towards others since I never really know what they are going through at any given moment. We all face trials in life of all kinds and I now try to have more understanding for how others might be feeling. Now that I am a 1 year survivor, I thought I would share a few tips for those just starting out or in the midst of recovery:
- Learn to laugh at yourself. Try to find the humor in your awkward bumbling about.
- Seek out ideas and learn from others who have “been there” but also realize you are unique and you must have your “own” experience. It is easy to get discouraged reading about all the fast recovery go-getters out there. While you may get some encouragement and some good ideas to speed your recovery, you are also unique and must take the recovery process that best works for you.
- Do all you can to be mobile and active as soon as possible. I firmly believe that caution is important but also know that once your AT is properly protected with a cast or boot you actually can do quite a bit and if you were active before the injury, which is most of us, then returning to anything that gets you moving can be helpful. Like doing pushups, riding a stationary bike, lifting weights, sit-ups, etc. can help you feel like you are not just wasting away.
- Ask for help! This is especially important for those who may not have a family around. Getting some help in the early going can really boost your spirits and help with the recovery.
- Blog. As often as you feel the need to express yourself and share your experience even if you just want to rant. I think this blog community is extremely useful. To have several hundred people all with the same ailment and all connected at the same time is huge! It provides so much information and real life experience about what you are going through and is not available anywhere else. So log on often and stay connected!
That’s all I have for now. Just wanted to share a brief update and encourage all who are still on the journey of recovery to stay positive and proactive! All the best, Bode.
January 31st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Bode, thank you for taking the time to post in the midst of your now back-to-normal busy life. Your post was very encouraging, and I am looking forward to November 19, 2010- the one year anniversary of my surgery. Can’t wait, and hope I will be as thoughtful as you and take the time to post from there.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:06 am
Bode - Congrats on making it to the 1 year milestone! It’s good to hear that life is pretty well back to normal. I just wanted to mention that I think your tips are spot on. Very well said. Good luck with the biking and boarding.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Thanks for the great post.
I think many of us have the competitive tendency to show how well we are recovering and try to play down our problems.
But I agree this blog is the best source of information as this injury is still relatively rare - I have no acquaintance who had it.
So what I am curious about: did you recover the lost muscle mass after one year? I am at 7 months and feel like I hit a plateau: I walk and swim without problem but the calf muscle is still much weaker than the good one.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Me too also 2ndtimer. 6 months post-op, my left calf, in fact my left thigh, is 1″ smaller than the right. Realistically, am I ever going to get this back? It’s not really holding me back or anything, but it sure looks weird. It seems to me, unless you isolate and only work the “problem” leg, both legs will become more muscular, thus never giving the weak leg a chance to close the gap.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:06 pm
For those stuck on that not-yet-full-strength plateau, I’m a big fan of just walking around up on your toes a lot. When stronger, bounce it a little. It looks odd, but works well, and you can do it anytime you’re alone, or when the people around you won’t think you’re daft.
Doug
February 1st, 2010 at 9:36 pm
I don’t know if my two calf muscles actually became the same size, or if I just stopped looking and (occasionally) measuring! But I definitely stopped worrying about it, after I got back to all my strenuous activities and my performance was as good as it had been.
Again, I’m a big fan of my old (8 years ago) surgeon’s rule of thumb: when you can do 8 single-leg calf raises without grunting and groaning and sweating, you’re ready for all your sports. For me, that was maybe 10 or 11 months last time, post-op. Your mileage may vary, of course.
And my mileage may also vary this time, without-op, but so far (at almost 8 weeks) I think I’m losing less strength and fitness and regaining it faster than I did last time (with surgery but a slower rehab schedule). I just switched from a “normal” boot to a hinged boot, with no heel lift, and it feels pretty good. (I’m locking the boot in neutral to sleep, to keep the AT stretched.)
Schedule calls for “wean off boot” at 8 weeks, which is Thursday night. I’ve been following it or even pushing it a tad, but I may decide to stay in a hinged boot (between 0=neutral and full plantar-flexion) for a while, rather than rushing into a 2nd shoe. I remember feeling very “fragile” and vulnerable when I first got into 2 shoes last time, and there’s no limit to how hard I can push off (at the end of a stride) in a hinged boot — except my body’s own limit. We’ll see. . .
February 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Thanks for a great post, Bode
February 6th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
I’m also at my 1 year mark post-op. I’m able to return to my physical activities. Affected calf muscle is still smaller than the other but is slowly bulking up. Biggest issue I have is the loss of flexibility. I attribute that to the surgery. True it is stronger but trading off some important flexibility. I am certain the surgeon cut off too much of the tendon to suture. Something you want to be extremely careful about. If you are contemplating surgery, make sure you go over the plan with your surgeon.
February 28th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Thanks for all the great comments! Just getting back to check on the site. To answer 2nd Timer’s question, I still have one calf smaller than the other by a half inch so not too bad. Like the others said, I don’t mind too much as long as I can do stuff. Just got back from a week in Cancun where I did some barefoot running on the beach. My AT was sore but held up just fine. Also been snowboarding quite a bit with my 10 year old son and that gives me no trouble at all-able to do all the black runs on our small MN ski hills. Keep up the great work–onward to full recovery!! Cheers, Bode.