20 Weeks and Progress is Slow
December 9, 2008 by catnboot
The most important thing to know about me at this time is I am a re-rupture. To catch everyone up: my original injury occurred when I dropped a bottle on the kitchen floor and a piece of the glass severed my Achilles tendon. I was taken out of the boot, having been NWB for 7 weeks, and told to walk – and don’t baby it! Within hours I had a complete rupture. The second surgery was 20 weeks ago.
Lesson number one: don’t go from NWB to 2 shoes. Insist on a PWB stage and FWB in the boot before 2 shoes.
Does being a two timer mean my recovery will be longer? The physical therapist thinks so. I spoke to the doctor on the phone yesterday about an insurance matter and he asked me if I still need physical therapy. Uh? This made me think either he doesn’t remember that I am a repeat offender or I should be much further along. So am I riding the ATR “small yellow bus” so to speak?
I can walk in 2 shoes and the limp is almost gone but each step still hurts; hence the limp. I can’t jump, run, walk faster than grandma, raise up on my toes, trip, or fall. So I think I still need the therapy. My person benchmark for leaving physical therapy is when I can wear high heels.
I learned that all therapists are not created equal. The one that the doctor sent me to, which is owned by his medical group, was a waste of time and money. I found a new therapist, after interviewing several, and am very pleased. If anyone is in Dallas and wants to know who, let me know.
Lesson number two: if you are not pleased with the physical therapist after the first couple visits go searching for another one. For example if you don’t get one on one attention. Or if they spend more time squirting each other with water or snapping each other with the thera-bands - leave!
Walking feel s like it is a miracle. I am also grateful for this web site, the support of everyone on it and hope that my contribution may help others. My progress is slow but it is progress. As long as I do not go back to square one I can work at PT and wait it out.
This injury is more than a physical one. It has a significant psychological component. I believe that no one that has not had this experience can really know how devastating it. I have learned that I cannot count on my grown children to help me and they are pretty much the only family I have. That was and still is a painful lesson. I love them and will do anything in my power for them but I will not expect anything back. I may, one day, be like the old Eskimo and put out on an ice floe.
I have had many concerns regarding physical therapy and your post touched on most of them. Whether or not all Physical therapists were created equal. Since doctors and hospitals are not it stands to reason that there would be a vast difference in therapists. I have been doing a bit of research, but my choices in my small town are limited to two. other than that it is driving an hour and a half one way. At least there in Dallas you have a number to interview and choose from.
I know how hard it is to have what little family you have left turn their back on you. My brother and his family barely speak to me and then only when there is no other way around it. But what I have found out is that my friends are my real family. they are the ones who care, who truely love me. Do you not have any friends? No social circle of any kind? A church family perhaps? What about your co-workers? have you reached out to them? Many times I have been too proud to ask for help, but this injury has forced me to be more humble and to realize it is ok to ask others for help. In some ways that is what we are all doing on this blog. Asking each other for help and support. I don’t think any of us here would put anyone “out on an ice floe”.
It may help you to read a post from Wintermute dated 11/17/08 regarding “the black dog” Be strong my fellow ATR. We will all overcome this!
Very good blog, and yes Doctors and Physio’s all seem to differ in opinions, treatment, number of sessions etc. etc. it is so difficult for us to know who we should listen to other than our own bodies.
I am 34 weeks post op and I still cannot do the things you list either, but….. most importantly I can walk, although this morning on Manchester’s frozen pavements I was terrified of slipping I was walking.
I think you have made fantastic progress considering what you have been through and you should be extremely proud of yourself and I feel sorry for your children that they have not witnessed just how strong and determined you are.
Take care
Annie
I am also 26 weeks post-ATR, 24 weels post-op, and I know I have been very lucky in regard to quick heeling….to make a pun. But I am grateful to you and all re-ruptures for the urgent reminders to be careful. I only walk, I never run or jump, or let alone take up my dancing again, until I am absolutely certain of full strength. This I can test is not yet complete simply by trying to lift up on that right foot alone -= weeks to go, but no pain or panic, just slow healing.
The whole process is such a downer, yet it brought me weeks of idle pleasure, reading and video-watching, and even my BP went down, along with some excess weight. I regret mainly the loss of summer (main) income for us tourguides. Still, living on less is one of my strong points.
Thanks for writing!
Mary
Thanks for your post. You re-ruptures have had it the worst of everyone. In times like these, as you know, you learn who your real friends are. One of my brothers who I’m close to, cld me maybe one time to check in..but, he’s always in his own little world. There are so many people like that. The one thing that I’ve tried to hold dear and my biggest learning from all of this is to take a second and help someone in need…whether it’s a phone call, a meal, a drive somewhere, a card…just something to show that you are there. I shouldn’t hold a grudge with my brother…some people never get out of their world at all…but it’s hard. Forgiveness is important I guess….let it go?.?. May your recovery move a little faster now! Hang in there!!!!!!