My second surgery was a week ago
July 29, 2008 by catnboot
My first surgery was May 24 2008. A flying piece of glass severed my achilles tendon. I was alone and had passed out. Woke up in a puddle of blood. Crawled to find my cell phone. Called my son and he took me to the emergency room.
At week 8 I was told to go FWB. The day after I was told to be FWB - no interm PWB - I re-ruptured. I stepped back suddenly at a loud sound coming from the microwave. The doctor thought it was ok and asked if I wanted a MRI - uh yeah. Well it was ruptured. The second surgery recovery hurts much more than the first. I am home for 2 weeks and then will have to return to work. I am in a cast that I can’t even rest on the floor. Walking in crutches causes the blood to rush downward and it hurts like a sob. Does anyone know when that stops?
I can’t believe that some are fortunate enough to walk after only a few weeks. I wonder if I will ever walk again. I am definitely not buying a lottery ticket - it would be a seriously waste of money.
My ex-sister in law has been an angel enough to come and help me for a week. My son is too busy to help. He is graduate school. I have hired a dog walker. I hired a helper from Homeinstead. Insurance doesn’t cover the help I need. They only cover it if completely bed ridden.
I am afraid of when they tell me to go FWB again but I also hate being on crutches. My greatest fear is facing a third rupture and third surgery. Has anyone had this happen?
I am in a cast for 2 weeks- then they take it off and I guess remove stiches- then put on a new cast. The second cast will be on for 2-4 weeks. Then I guess it’s back to the boot.
Since both injuries occured in the kitchen I have surrounded it with crime tape.
Wow! You are really in a long, sad story there. I want to say only, although I cannot help feeling sorry for myself, it helps me to hear exactly what is happening to others. For example, I want to be absolutely sure that I do not go FWB with no protection too soon; a post like yours tells us not to be impatient, take no unnecessary risks.
Of course, you followed doctor’s orders, but all of us should be very careful.
As for the kitchen, that side of the story makes you unique here! You should write a story for the New Yorker or Atlantic Monthly about the dangers of the home. “Most accidents happen in the home” would be a good title!
Something to while the time away: don’t just watch movies and read books, review them!
http://www.epinions.com is a great website where you can read what others think of a film or book, then you can give feedback; when you write your own reviews, they respond to you, plus you are paid a penny a read. EArned $80 so far!
Mary
Hang in there, cat.
While I’ve told myself that I can’t imagine how #$@%’y it would be to go through the experience twice, I also realize that I would make it through. So will you. Listen to your doctor, be smart about what you do, and, soon (ok, soon if you consider another year from now soon) you will be back to your old self.
Craig
Wow, you are unlucky. I am really sorry to hear about your misfortune and wish you well in recovering again. Read, keep busy, eat healthy and this will pass in time.
I remember reading about your rerupture in front of the microwave and I have used that story with others to explain to friends how fragile this injury is in the recovery phase. It is striking how varied the injuries are and the recovery stories. I’m so sorry you are having the difficulty you are having, but as frustrated as you are - you still have a bit of humor about it - crime scene tape, indeed.
Thank you for coming and sharing your experience. It sucks that it is you that it is happening to, but your sharing it may have helped others avoid it because they slowed down.
In the meantime, enjoy the time. Do some of the less physical things that you never had time for. Reading, writing, movies, convert all those photo albums to CDs or DVDs!
Hang in there. And stay in touch here. You have a lot of people pulling for you.
I got a wheelchair and it has helped me be mobile, and reduces the risk of a rerupture dramatically. think about it. i’ve been using my wheelchair since June.
My second surgery was 15 days ago. Yes it sucks. It has been hard to maintain the postive outlook of the first time, but we will make it. Hell, in the time it took me to type this, we all healed a little more. Hang in there. Matt
WEnt for my 2nd post-op appt today, ready to change to a new cast angle. I was shocked to learn that at 5 weeks, they want me in two-shoes FWB. I have been FWB in the fiberglass cast for three weeks, but this seems so sudden I was shocked.
I asked about a boot - the surgeon said it would not be necessary, it’s much more difficult, hotter and heavier. BUt what about security for the tendon?
I was thinking to get my own boot!
Because I hadn’t even thought to bring a shoe, they could not start me on two-=shoes, so I will go on Tuesday with a sportshoe and two inserts from Longs.
Good Lord!
No way I want to go through this with a second operation!
Mary
Hang in there. I tore my left 8 years ago, and tore my right last month. Talk about bad deja vu.
Thought I had the worst luck in the world until I saw the guy on this site who tore both, simultaneously. Remind yourself things could always be worse, and that you WILL recover. Tony Snow died the day I tore my right. Need I say more?