The Broken Wheel

After four weeks of PT, the doctor wanted me to come in for a checkup. I told him I was concerned about three things that I was not sure were normal:

1. That I had constant swelling that made most shoes uncomfortable and even socks.
2. I had almost constant numbness in my heel
3. I had pain directly on the spot where the tendon ripped and was sewn together. It feels as if its bruised, but more than bruised like hit-with-a-lead-pipe bruised. 

He said not to worry about No. 3, that there was scar tissue I needed to break up. This was normal and that I should work through the pain rather than stop an activity.

The doctor felt it unlikely but worried that No. 1 and 2 was a blood clot. Doppler test — an ultrasound looking at the arteries — came back negative.

Not sure what to make of any of this, but there it is.

 To all of the recently disabled, you do get better. Those are flip flops. Three months after my injury I am able to walk and, on occassion, walk briskly. I can do stairs. I can climb a step ladder. I remember when these things seemed to be fantastical feats. But they have come slowly. My only advice, enjoy your down time. Use it to slow your world down. Think of it as forced peace. Read a book. Then, go to physical therapy even when you can’t. Your recovery will benefit yourself and others more than putting off a hour or so of important therapy.

Thanks to everyone who has built a blog, logged into the marathon, posted their experience. Once I found this place I learned a lot, certainly more than from my HMO doctor who treated me like a widget passing by on the assembly line.