Apr

11

5 Months - Cleared for Full Activity!!

April 11, 2014 | |

Good news, AchillesBlog community!

I had my 5 month post-op checkup today (on the actual 5 month anniversary) and got the ALL CLEAR from my OS to resume full physical activity!  I’m as overjoyed as I’m sure those of you who’ve gotten to this point have been.

Had my final PT session on Weds, too, and my PT was like “dude, you were skiing black diamonds in Colorado last week and doing so much in here we had to think of new exercises for you. I’ve got nothing left to make you do.” That felt good too, haha.

Which reminds me — skiing last week went great. It didn’t hurt that Colorado is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation snowfall year (we got another foot while we were up there) and I’m definitely not 100% (I’d say maybe 75%) but after planning to ski maybe a half day on the greens and getting three full days all the way up to black diamond bump runs and some nice powder at Breckenridge, I couldn’t be happier.  My top speed was only 43 mph, but no complaints ;-).

The scar gets a little less “crunchy” all the time, though it’s still really dry and needs lots of Vitamin E and cocoa/shea butter.  OS says that could last 12-18 months, and that’s all good. I’m doing single-leg heel raises about halfway up, so there’s still work to do there, too, and my mile time is only up to 8 min / 7.5 MPH. I know there’s still a lot of work left to do to get to 100%, and a lifetime of watching out for my new and improved tendon (I don’t plan on running a marathon just yet) but for now, with the good news and a gorgeous, sunny, mild spring day in DC, during the height of the cherry blossoms — the kind we get twice, maybe thrice a year — I’m really, really stoked.  Celebration this weekend: St John’s v. Naval Academy Croquet Match, then hiking the Billy Goat Trail.

Thanks again for all of your moral support and great advice, folks.  It’s been inimitably beneficial.  I hope to continue posting and helping out others around here for a long time to come.  See you around the blog!

Cheers and best wishes for your own recoveries,

Coast2Coast

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Comments

12 Comments so far

  1. texasflyer on April 11, 2014 4:27 PM

    Hey, awesome and congrats! Sounds like you’ve had a positive, progressive recovery experience, so far.

    I’m saving your blog as we sound similar (active, 30s) but my surgery is next Tuesday! So I’m starting the process and hope to get a blog up on my own.

    Thanks for your writing, it will be a great benefit to me. I’m still coming to terms with what I’m about to go through.

  2. davidk on April 11, 2014 4:48 PM

    That’s great news! I’m only 4 1/2 weeks post-surgery, but like to hear about success stories like yours. I’m hoping to be cleared for full activity at 6 months, but 5 months would be even better.

  3. normofthenorth on April 11, 2014 11:01 PM

    Yay! Let’s meet next year in Whistler! :-)

  4. JacquiM on April 13, 2014 5:24 AM

    I had my op on 10 March and when the plaster came off after two weeks I started gently rubbing Emu oil into my leg and the scar has improved a lot, as has the dry skin on my leg. This is the first time I’ve used it but I’m impressed with the results.

  5. Ron on April 14, 2014 9:34 PM

    Nice!

  6. Coast2Coast on April 15, 2014 11:57 AM

    @texasflyer: thanks! yes, I think one of the main keys to recovery is practicing the 5 Ps: patience, perseverance, persistence, passion, and positivity. It would be so easy to get down during this process, but doing that would lead to poor returns. Small victories, incremental progress, realistic expectations. It’s a life-changer, no doubt, but you can and will get through it. I’ll be checking the blog for your writing; I found it to be really, really beneficial throughout the past five months. Good luck with your surgery!!

  7. coast2coast on April 15, 2014 12:06 PM

    Thanks Ron!

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  8. coast2coast on April 15, 2014 12:06 PM

    Thanks Jacqui; I’ll look into that.

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  9. coast2coast on April 15, 2014 12:07 PM

    You’re on, Norm! My group has actually been considering Whistler for next year. We usually go March/April. It’d be great to meet up and shred some slopes!

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  10. coast2coast on April 15, 2014 12:08 PM

    Thanks, davidk. The first two months are the most difficult, I thought. Then your progress and return to a semblance of normalcy get faster and more complete. Good luck and let me know if you need any advice!

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  11. kimc on May 23, 2014 8:31 PM

    Congratulations! That skiing trip had to be a big confidence booster! I look forward to hearing how things go for you moving forward! You’ve made great progress so far in this year-long marathon! I’ve made a goal of running a half-marathon this fall, 1 year from surgery. I think it’s doable:)

  12. coast2coast on June 11, 2014 11:42 AM

    Thanks kimc! Yes, skiing was, indeed, a big confidence booster! Getting the all clear afterward was even better. What’s your one year anniversary? Mine is November 11. A half marathon, wow, that’s great! Let us know how it’s coming along!

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