First PT appointment in the books and I’m quite pleased. Really like my therapist — unlike the OS she has full confidence in non-op results and referenced research through JBJS / Wallace (which either came up in conversation with the OS or have become a part of my patient file).
Gave me a set of daily hip and quadricep stretches / exercises to do in advance of my next visit (~4 week mark), and said she would introduce motion and weight related therapy in weeks 4-6.
Today’s session was a lot of feeling and massaging, generally working liquid up from the ankle area toward the knee. I was initially quite hesitant to move the leg around as much as she wanted me to, and it quivered quite violently for the first 15 minutes or so, but then things calmed down and it actually started feeling quite normal. Pretty much zero pain in the entire region when she pushed and prodded around. At one point I could feel her trying a Thompson test that didn’t produce much of a result (she said “Yeah, nothing really there” casually) but I’m not terribly surprised as there’s almost no muscle in the calf to activate! She told me I should try some light massage when I have the boot off for showering, too.
We didn’t really discuss a PWB to FWB progression, so I think I’ll continue my approach of “PWB as needed” when I’m walking around and hold it there. I actually feel like I could go to FWB right now but will wait until I’m past the 4 week mark because there’s no sense in pushing things.
4 responses so far ↓
gocanes123 // May 14th 2014 at 10:42 pm
David, I am very glad to have found your blog. We seem to be very similar in our ATR journeys. I recently just turned 27 and partially tore my right AT at the end of a half marathon about 7 weeks ago, and, like you, and am an avid runner since high school, and had been dealing with tendinitis in that leg for upwards of a year prior to my injury. Never having an injury like this before, and with the number of races I was competing and improving my time in over the past year, I was not listening to all my body’s warning signs. Like you, I went non-op, my doctor, because of the partial tear being on the upper left side of the tendon, suggested there were no added benefits to surgery. And, with my age and shape I should heal fine non-op. Unfortunately, I did not find this blog until my 3 week mark so I was not armed with a ton of info that all the great people on here provide. Now approaching week 7, I am 2 shoed in the house as best I can, and in my boot with in wedges when at work or in public in general. I also have been cleared to drive if I feel capable, and have been practicing short distances each day this week. The only thing that has driven me more insane than not being able to run is being solely dependent on others to get anywhere. While, I am not running anytime soon, I hope to get back to driving within the next week or so. With my week 7 follow up approaching, I hope to begin formal PT, as since I have been FWB for the past almost 2 weeks, I have only done non resistance stretching at home. I am looking to reading your progress and updating you on mine!
dcoughlan // May 14th 2014 at 11:07 pm
Hey Canes,
Nice to hear from you! There’s a fine line between ignoring the pain inherent in distance running and listening to your body. I’ve always done a terrible job of the latter myself, but in a way I’m grateful for this injury because I’ve learned more about my body in the last two weeks than in the last 20 years.
I really expect us to come out of this stronger and better prepared to run for another 50 years. Obviously not the ideal way to learn this lesson, but it sounds like we’re similarly stubborn so it had to be severe to get it through our skulls!
Excited to hear about your progress too. I can only dream about shoes and driving right now but it’s great to hear that you’re well on your way to independence!
gocanes123 // May 15th 2014 at 11:25 am
Thanks Dave, i’ll let you know how I do on my first drive to work tomorrow, I never thought I would be so excited to get behind the wheel as I am today. Did you have any races planned this year that your ATR derailed?
dcoughlan // May 17th 2014 at 3:09 am
Fortunately no races on the calendar at the time of the rupture (outside of an annual 5k in December that I’m hoping to be healthy enough to jog in). Wasn’t even training for anything in particular, just jumped on the track to try to tire myself out so I could get some sleep that night. Pretty dumb!
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