4 weeks plus since rupture
Four weeks before the Patriots lost the AFC conference title was an even more painful experience for me. I broke my Achilles(2nd one). I’ve been in a boot now pretty much the whole time in a 30 degree down angle 24/7 except for shower and PT excercises. I’ve had PT 3 times with a 4th tomorrow followed by first return trip to ortho Doc on Jan 27th. Apparently things are going well as my therapist says my ATR ankle has virtually the same range of motion as my unaffected ankle and some measureable strength. I am still NWB but excercise results are very encouraging and without pain. The therapist actually confirmed my decision to go with no-operative and early rehab as a wise choice. She said that I had this one figured out regarding the prospects of a solid non-operative recovery. I explained that something told me that there was still a little something there (despite the class III tear diagnosis). I keep working the toes and the ball of my foot. Massage the tendon and calf whenever possible. I can barely feel the indentation where the “dissociation” (as the docs call it) occurred. It is definitely growing back. I think it’s a freakin’ miracle if you ask me. But isn’t all that stuff that goes on inside us without our even thinking about it a miracle anyway? I will stay in this boot as long as they say I have to, but I believe this will be a done deal after 12 weeks total time ie into shoes at least. Just a note, I had a cam walker boot left from my first ATR which, of course, I slapped right on after this rupture. It occurred to me that the boot had been worn for 12 weeks in the hot summer of 2009 and here it was on me for another month and probably two more. I figured the liner although not rank could use “updating”. I googled BREG cam walker boots and they sent me to : http://www.braceshop.com/ I was able to pick up a replacement for 29 bucks and it is super. Fits better than the first and doesn’t pinch my toes. Interesting thing about this time around: No operation means no surgical room, materials, meds,staff, athesthesiologist and surgeon. I had my own boot. I had my own crutches. I still need PT and a couple of visits to the ortho doc but… how much money do you think this saved the health care system? I’m not saying that non-operative is for everyone and I must say that I am putting a lot of faith in the data and my own desire to make this work. If this works, and I truly believe it will, I will be a witness.
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Well you know I’m pulling for you, too, Chuck!!
Mind you, one thing I WOULD change is the dates you’ve entered for your ATR and your therapy (i.e., switch ‘em from the first ATR to the second), so your ATR Timeline widget doesn’t make them sound so ANCIENT! And get used to it: for the foreseeable future, that first-ATR leg is your “good” or “uninjured” one!
(I still remember how strangely elated I was during rehab when I bruised my “good” leg and it bothered me more than the “bad” one!)
And I couldn’t agree more about the miracle of healing, and most other unseen and under-appreciated “normal” things that go on in our amazing bodies, and around us, too. And don’t forget that about 99% of what actually fixes a so-called “surgically repaired” ATR is ALSO natural healing — heck, just read up (or remember) how weak and crippled we all are on our way out of the “repair”!!
We are definitely not automobiles, and the difference is pretty close to magic, or a miracle. (Mind you, most folks here would probably prefer it if their OS could fix their leg “good as new” in an hour or two, the way their mechanic can fix their wheel bearing. . .)
Good luck.
Ron
Thanks Ron. I appreciate the well wishes. Norm, thanks for reminding me to update my Achilles profile. I had completely overlooked that detail. What’s past is past.