May 19th, 2009
4 weeks after surgery
After 4 weeks of the cast of my the Achilles tendon rupture, my doctor gave me a black, adjustable boot with metal side rods and Velcro straps to fit tight to my leg. Since this boot immobilizes the foot and ankle, it prevents any pressure or strain on the fixed tendon and the surrounding muscles, and allows you to walk safely.
I was very happy to get the boot on and start my way back to a normal lifestyle. My doctor thinks about 2-3 days I may be able to walk without crutches. But he did say I would need 3 months of physical therapy 3 times a week.It’s definitely a long road to recovery.
I’m a fairly active person as I’ve been doing a lot of distance running(5-K) over the last couple years and basketball my entire life. It’s been hard to be sedentary the last 4.5 weeks, but I want to make sure everything heals well and strong so that I can return to my normal activity level. I’m hopeful to be running again by the end of summer, but I think I’ll avoid my basketball until next year. Golf seems to be in my near furture once again.
Cast being removed.
May 18th, 2009
My injury was on my left foot and that made driving possible,but because of the pain killers the Doctor advised me not to drive. I was put on disability and started to work from home. Most of my work is done by email with my laptop and blackberry, so that helped.
I used the two days before the surgery to finalize any pending task or project around the house, like fixing little things, organizing my papers, reading my medical paperwork, and setting up my home office. I also organized my room, by putting a few things on my bed side table to have things handy, and get a shower seat to assist me in taking a shower.
At this time, even though it was not neede, (because of my fisrt achilles tendon rupture 9 years earlier) I started getting around on crutches, for practice. I thought that if I was going to look like a drunk with the crutches, it was better to do it then instead of after the surgery.
I also used the two days before the surgery to look into all the details with the insurance. I wanted to make sure that every procedure I was going through was covered. I also checked if the outpatient center where the doctor chose to perform the surgery was an “in network” facility.
May 18th, 2009
Basketball did me in...
It was April 19, 2009 and I was playing basketball in a pick-up game. I had the ball on offense and went to make a quick move to the hole. As I was quick move toward the hoop I suddenly felt a sharp pain behind my left ankle, like if somebody had hit me really hard with a baseball bat. I heard a LOUD pop and I fell down and looked around, but didn’t see anybody close to me. I tried to stand up I couldn’t. I knew exactly what had happened. The same thing that occured 9 years earlier on my right side. Yep,
RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON.
I got some help from a couple of the guys in the pick-up game to my jeep and drove to the local hospital the best I could.
I was taken to into an exam room where they ran some test, agreed with my diagnosis of the rupture, gave me some pain killers and, sent me home with a recommendation to see a specialist the next day. Early Tuesday, I went to see the orthopedist.
