So the check up with the surgeon went well this week. He told me to go into two shoes next week and continue PT twice a week for another 4 weeks. Follow up with the surgeon at week 9. It’s been nice walking slowly around the house with no boot on. Taking it slow and easy. Next big hurdle is driving.
I ruptured my Achilles on April 17th while on vacation in Florida. I was playing basketball at the local rec center and went up for a rebound and came down and felt the dreaded pop and what felt like someone shot the back of my leg. I quickly put some ice on it, hoping it was something other than the Achilles. So what do you do after you tear your Achilles? We went for ice cream, after all, ice cream makes everything better. After we got back to the house, my foot began to swell and turn black and blue. It was a tough night of sleeping! The next day we went up to Naples and walked around for a bit. I still can’t believe and neither can the doctors that I was able to do that for over 2 miles! The flight home the next day was tough and painful. I never went to the doctor until after Easter dinner on the 20th. I went straight to the ER. They sent me to an Orthopedic doctor on the following Wednesday and she had a tough time diagnosing the tear. The MRI the following Wednesday confirmed my worst nightmare and the surgery was scheduled for May 7th, only one day from 3 three weeks from initial injury!
While it has been a painful journey, it has been going well. I am almost 4 weeks since surgery and have been following the PT recommendations as much as possible. I’m not sure what other people have for boots, but after my initial hard cast, I was moved into a “Bledsoe Boot.” Very uncomfortable! I have my follow up with the surgeon on 6/9/14. I am hoping to either get into some kind of soft cast, or maybe convince him of another boot.
Overall, I am making what seems to me to be great progress. I rarely wear the boot around the house or in the office. I am actually able to put weight on the repaired foot. I have a knee scooter that I use to get around the house and office. The crutches just don’t cut it! I have worked my way up to some very small baby steps. Hoping to drive in another couple weeks.
This has been quite the experience. If I wasn’t making the forward progress I am, I would be severely depressed. In fact up to about a week ago I was going out of my mind. I have a wonderful wife and two young children who have been waiting on me hand and foot. They have been so wonderful through this time.
Hang in there to all of those just beginning your journey… Listen to the doctors, and do what they say.
