7 weeks + 2 shoes + 80 degrees in Honduras = Bueno!

Posted on December 22nd, 2010 by dalene

Landed in Honduras on Sunday to begin our 6 month house sitting job. It is killing me not to be able to run on the beach and dive into the crystal blue water, but alas, I must wait. At least I have lots of time to be able to do that, and I’m not on a plane home in two weeks like most vacations I took previously.

I am into wearing just 2 shoes around the house *most* of the time (does that qualify as changing my status to “2 shoes”?) I still am wearing the boot outside, and sometimes around the house when it gets a little sore or feels weak. The last week or so has been quite hard on the leg with all the traveling and being shown around the island here. Lots of long car rides. The plane also was a new torture, I can’t believe how fast it swelled up. I think I am going to take a couple of days now to just chill and let it return to a normalish size.

Question, should I be doing calf raises right now? The thought of doing them scares me, but most things scare me. I keep thinking of people who write about re-rupturing…

3 Comments »

5 week (no-op) follow-up

Posted on December 8th, 2010 by dalene

Spoke with my doctor today about my progress. I have been in the air-cast for 2 weeks, and walking for just about 1. I am amazed at how much I improve every day. Still using the crutches on the stairs, but will try it on my own soon.

I have no inserts in my aircast. Doctor said he still believes I should wait 3 more weeks before trying shoes. I feel like this is super conservative, seeing as I am already walking quite well. I am so anxious to get out of this thing for good, especially with sleeping at night. But of course, nervousness at the potential to re-rupture is winning out right now…

Boarding the plane to Honduras next Friday. Will be disappointingly gawking at the *free* people running down the beach… =(

5 Comments »

Yo. ‘Sup?

Posted on December 1st, 2010 by dalene

I’m a part time writer, full time nomad, and first time achilles rupturer.

I’m four weeks post-accident, and just stumbled on this site a couple of days ago.  Reading through a few blogs, it hit me: HOLY shit, this is serious!

I’m not sure what kind of dream-like existence I’ve been living for the past four weeks, but I guess I’ve been quite comfortably enjoying the nursing of my loving hubby while enjoying endless games of Ticket to Ride online.  Toss in a few movies and TV series, and my days get eaten up.  I never really gave much thought to what I had to do to recover.  I admittedly thought that one morning I would just wake up and would magically be trotting across the room in no time.

What an eyeopener this site has been.  Confusing too, in some ways.  So many different stories, so many different doctor’s instructions.  A lot of acronyms being tossed around.  I kept looking at people’s posts around the 4 week mark to see if I was where I needed to be, but everybody’s cases are so different.

So, I thought I would throw my own blog up, and invite people to respond with their advice, opinions and helpful tips, which I am sure there are many out there.  First, a little bit about me…

I have to say that this accident almost couldn’t have happened at a better time for me (if it HAD to happen!)  I was three weeks into an eight week house sitting job in the middle of British Columbia when I heard the dreaded "pop".  No other job to rush to, I was happily enjoying ample time of exploring this beautiful part of my country by hiking and kayak.  Hubby and I also joined a local game of pick-up volleyball for the third week in a row.  Nothing too competitive, which is good, because it’s not often that I get to play anymore.

I wasn’t doing anything too unusual, just diving forward to try and dig a ball, and I heard the loud POP that I am sure everyone is all too familiar with.  Down I went, but not without turning around to try and see who or what had hit me with a crowbar.  Of course, no one or nothing was there.  I cursed like a sailor (to the delight of the school children around) until hubby could get me into the car and make the 20 minute drive to the hospital.  I was sent to an ortho specialist 3 hours the other way and the next morning I was casted.  I saw two doctors, one suggested surgery and the other said no - I decided against it as if I can avoid going under the knife, I will.  Three weeks later I returned to the same specialist who removed the cast and put me in an air cast.  He suggested that I start putting weight on it right away, but up until a couple of days ago, I was way too scared.  Now, I have taken a few aided steps.  Today I also took out a foam insert and am almost at 90 degrees.  From what I read, this seems soon, but it is doctor’s orders.  More baby steps each day.

The complicating factor for me in this whole scenario is that in 18 sleeps, I will be on a plane to Honduras where I will be living for at least 6 months (another house sitting job).  I don’t want to take crutches with me, and I doubt I will have access to any kind of decent physio services while I am there.  I will be on my own to recover, and don’t want to waste precious hours in paradise sitting inside with my foot up.  There are beaches to be explored!  Reefs to be snorkeled over!

I have no more visits to my doctor scheduled because the drive is too difficult in these snow covered mountains I am living in - the doctor suggested that I just call him next week for an update.  I have many questions, and I’m hoping that you, my fellow achilles slayers, can help me answer.

1. Where can I realistically expect to be in 18 sleeps (will be at 6 1/2 weeks post injury)?  Crutchless and booted on the plane?

2. Do I need to be wearing the boot constantly at this point, or how much "free time" can I have each day to scratch and stretch? I currently only take it off a couple of times a day for 1/2 each.

3. When can I expect to be sleeping without the boot?  (PLEASE say soon!)

4. Any recommendations on footwear for when I get to Honduras?  I had planned on only packing flip flops and a pair of hikers, but am guessing that won’t be good enough.  Maybe some soft soled walking sandals (i.e. Merrel’s?) will suffice?

5. Exercises I should be doing right now?  I don’t need to be in marathon shape any time soon, I just want to be functional!

I guess that is it, for now.  Thanks in advance for advice, and for this GREAT site.  I’ll be recovering all on my own in a third world country, I’m going to need all the help I can get!

1 Comment »

Hello world!

Posted on December 1st, 2010 by dalene

Welcome to AchillesBlog.com.

This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Following link will take you to your blog’s “command center” where you can write your posts:
http://AchillesBlog.com/daleneheck/wp-admin/

Be sure to fill out your city, Achilles rupture date, surgery date, etc.. (if you know it) here:
Fill out my Achilles Profile Here

When you do, you can keep track of your recovery progress and see your information on the Marathon Tracker.

Here’s more info: using Achilles Timeline Widget

Please change this post’s title to something more descriptive. Just leaving it as “Hello World” leads people to believe that you haven’t updated your first post!

If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask! :)

Dennis

1 Comment »

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  • Recent Comments

  • gunsel | August 9th, 2011 | 5:15 pm

    I deffinetly envy you dalene. Im also a non surgical trooper. Im in week 8 and pwb . I go for a follow up on thurs and hopefully ill be fwb. I have 2 weeks till college . Extremely nervous . Have u went to physical therapy yet?

  • suthrnman | February 23rd, 2011 | 10:15 am

    Thanks for the post . . . I am right behind you / non-op. Did the doc confirm at 3 weeks that your tendon was healing correctly? If so, I am very encouraged at your progress. I just posted a friends experience where he was in a full leg cast for 7 months. I still can’t believe that. I need to ask him how long ago that was.

  • Dalene | December 26th, 2010 | 1:33 pm

    Thanks Teresa, I’ve started doing those stretches, as recommended! Now if only the 80 degrees would stay consistent…we’ve been dying to get to the pool, but the weather is not co-operating! =)

  • teresa1 | December 23rd, 2010 | 5:18 pm

    It’s probably a bit early for calf raises, gentle stretching leaning into a wall would be better, increasing the angle as it gets easier. Swimming and walking in a pool will also help. I also found that holding on to the side and slowly bicycling in the water helped the flexibility.
    80 degrees? Very jealous!

  • jim | December 14th, 2010 | 1:28 am

    i can go down stairs normally with little pain or discomfort. before i couldnt bend my leg back to complete the stair. i use to take 1 step @ a time. when im walking there is some discomfort like a needle behind my ankle im walking with a very slight limp. full weight baring no problems. you guys make me nervous so im still very cautious and trying to do as little as possible.

  • normofthenorth | December 11th, 2010 | 12:42 am

    Dalene, if you’re sore and inflamed/swollen, try hard to control the infl/sw, and the soreness may disappear with it. If sleeping without the boot consistently makes your ankle sore, stop doing it. (”Doc, it hurts whenever I do THIS!” “So don’t do THAT!” :-) )

    And Jim, you do seem to be breaking new ground on the aggressive rehab side. I hope you know what you’re doing, or at least that you’re lucky and don’t go too far. Many of us have re-injured or re-ruptured our early-healing ATs without the kind of “listen to your body” warning you might expect, or wish for.

    BTW, a couple of aspects of your injury seem very common here: (1) You were pushing hard against great traction, with those new shoes on a clean (squeaky?) floor, and (2) You were well warmed up, late in the session of play. #1 is straight physics. #2 isn’t so obvious, since good studies generally show benefits from pre-exercise warmups (UNlike pre-exercise STRETCHING!).

    I’ve torn both sides now playing court volleyball, always with the cleanest, stickiest, “squeakiest” shoes I can get, for max traction — which also means max force transmitted between the floor a

    [...]
  • dalene | December 10th, 2010 | 1:13 pm

    Wow Jim - that is aggressive. All of that makes me very nervous, just thinking about doing it!

    I slept without my cast for the last couple of nights and my ankle seems to be very sore. Not sure if it is because of that, or the rubbing which I have started to do, or if I’m just “pushing” it too hard. Taking it easy today.

  • Jim | December 9th, 2010 | 6:55 pm

    . I took cast of week 2. Massaging a lot with piles of Vaseline after soaked in bath some stitches still visible. Nice clean thin scar off to the side to prevent rubbing. Week 3 stitches gone most of the swelling gone. Still feel hard like a big naught. No crutches but a cane, a tensor bandage. 2 leg- calf raises, Lots rubbing hot 15 mins ice cold 15mins after light walking. Week 4, walking in running shoes around the block. One day walk one day rest ect… week 5 walking 5 blocks + lots of stinging sensations slight swelling… no probs. Pain is inside close to ankle. KEEP LOOBED TO PREVENT SCAR TEARING. Make sure to Ice after walking rubbbbbbbbbbbbbbb a lot. Also sitting on a chair your legs in a 90 degree angle and rock you feet w/shoes back n forth. Hope to be running in 3-4 weeks from now lightly. A scope on my knee from a ski accident going way too fast was worse and I was 10 years younger. I am now 30 185lbs 6’0” extremely active throughout my life and eat well. No substance abuse. I am good @ anything I try, Ice hockey, floor hockey basketball football tennis, skiing snowboarding swimming… well you get the idea. When I tore it

  • normofthenorth | December 9th, 2010 | 12:49 am

    Check out bit.ly/UWOProtocol and the matching study at http://bit.ly/UWOStudy . I don’t think anybody’s produced better results with SLOWER rehab, so why do it? If you’re pushy enough, confront your doc. . . OTOH, waiting until 8 weeks from the start of immobilization before going to 2 shoes is consistent with that protocol, and may be about optimal. But you can always compare your Doc’s schedule to the other one.

    But I can’t see much purpose for the boot in bed now. If you’re ankle is stiff after an hour or a night asleep without, then maybe. But if it isn’t . . . not much purpose.

    Please install the little “ATR Timeline” widget that’s explained in one of the first paragraphs on the main page, for us readers’ convenience.

  • Mr WordPress | December 1st, 2010 | 2:00 pm

    Hi, this is a comment.
    To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.