Injured On A Skateboard

Well I was expecting to get my stitches out on the 30th, but that did not happen. I spent about 2 1/2 hours at the docs office. While I was there they took off the splint that was put on at the time of my surgery. Here is what things looked like.

These pictures are two weeks post surgery. Before I had the splint removed I was a bit worried about some pain that I was having. I had a stinging sensation and it felt like something was poking me. Once I saw the scar though I was relieved to see no redness or swelling that would indicate an infection. My doc poked around the wound which was not painful and said that the pain was probably a result of things healing up and not to worry about it.

So this is how I am as I enter into 2009. Next Tuesday I go in to have my stitches removed and my first cast put on. The protocol my doctor is following is as follows: 6 weeks non-weight bearing, 6 weeks in a walking cast, and 6 weeks in a cam boot. I know that this isn’t as agressive as some, but I am fine with it. I am not so worried about healing fast, but rather healing well, and if that takes time then it takes time.

Tags: cast, infection, pain, picture, protocol, swelling

Well I’m moving in on a week since my surgery. The pain level is very minimal, actually non-existant if I keep my leg elevated. There were a couple of things that I did ahead of time that I think really helped control swelling after the surgery. The best thing that I did was rent one of those hospital beds, the kind that allows you to raise the foot or the head of the bed. It helped me keep my ankle elevated and was actually quite comfortable to sleep in. The other thing that I did was rent a wheel chair. My leg isn’t elevated when I use it obviously, but I have noticed a difference when I stand vs. when I am sitting. The pressure I feel in my ankle and calf seems to come on a bit slower when I am sitting.

One thing that I didn’t do though that I wished I had was tie on a short rope around the handles of doors. It is a bit difficult to close a door behind you that you have to pull shut when you are in a wheel chair.

I am starting to get a bit of cabin fever sitting around the house, which from what I have read is a very common experience. The doc told me to be really careful, so I have been waiting to head out and about until the cast is put on and I have a bit more protection around my ankle. I am scheduled to get the cast on Dec. 30th. My late Christmas present, Yipee! (sarcasm should be read into the blog at this point).

Tags: hospital bed, pain, swelling, wheelchair

Well it turns out that I was right about what happened and everyone else was wrong. After some insistance with my doctor he ordered an MRI, he said to rule out an atr because he was sure that I didn’t have one. Unfortunately the MRI showed differently. I have a complete tear of the achilles tendon.

I found a specialist to check me out and maybe do the surgery. He doesn’t have much experience, which initially gave me some concern, but then I figured that he probably  was more up to date on recent treatments for atr and it isn’t like its heart surgery.

For those that are interested. I have almost no pain and I am not taking anything at the moment. I am walking around, slowly, but still walking around and that doesn’t hurt as well. I can also move my foot in all directions without pain, but there is some stiffness. There is some swelling around the back of the heel and ankle, but I wouldn’t call it a large amount of swelling. I have had ankle sprains that hurt way more than this. I don’t really have any swelling in my calf, but it is a bit sensitive to pressure. If I push on it, it does hurt, not a lot about a 4 out of 10.

I see the specialist this coming Tuesday, which will be 11 days after the rupture.

Tags: pain, swelling, treatment, walking