Posted on June 1st, 2008 by dmace1
My second post-op visit was May 27th, 17 days after my surgery. It was a joyous occasion b/c I was able to get that annoying cast off. So now I have to wear this ENORMOUS boot for 6 weeks NWB. But it’s cool, at least I can take it off and on. When the doc took the cast off I kept looking at my leg b/c I couldn’t believe how small it had gotten. I mean it is literally half the size of my other leg, and my calf muscle is just hanging like loose meat. Taking the staples out of my leg wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be, and the nurse told me my incision is healing nicely. All in all, I was pleased with the visit, and have to come back in two weeks for a follow up.
Just a funny side note: I went back to work last week and put my handicap placard to use and parked for free at a Chicago downtown meter all day. When I got back to my car, I saw a ticket stuck to my window. When I took a closer look at the ticket, it was for my tinted windows. I have never received a ticket for tinted windows, but because they couldn’t get me for an expired meter, I guess they had to make money some other way!
No Comments »
Posted on May 21st, 2008 by dmace1
I went into the doc yesterday with high expectations after reading other blogs. I was really hoping I would get my cast taken off and stitches taken out. Oh well, that didn’t happen. It was very brief appt. in which the doctor informed me that he will take my cast and stitches out next Tuesday (May 27th), and then place me in a CAM Walker for six weeks NWB. That was good news b/c this cast is really starting to irritate me. After six weeks in the CAM Walker I will began PT. This approach seems rather conservative to me, but whatever as long as I heal completely it’s cool.
I forgot to ask for my operative report, but the doc told me that my tendon had started to re-attach itself. That was weird to find out. Maybe it was because I had surgery 3+ weeks after the surgery. Hopefully this doesn’t affect my healing process.
Oh yeah.. I got my temporary handicap placard today. I’m so excited because I can now park at meters in downtown Chicago for free.
2 Comments »
Posted on May 9th, 2008 by dmace1
After 3 weeks I will finally have surgery on my achilles tendon tomorrow morning. Hopefully this long delay will not hinder the recovery of my injury. I am really looking forward to begin on the road to recovery!!!
3 Comments »
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by dmace1
Well, I finally got in to see the orthopedist on Tuesday, April 29th. Everything was going well until the doctor came into the office. I took my cast off so he could observe my leg, and immediately starts squeezing my calf and tendon. Man, that was the most painful two minutes of my life. I almost smacked him, just to get him to stop squeezing and pushing my leg. After it was all over he told me I needed an MRI.
So back I had to go to my primary physician to get a referral to get an MRI, which is scheduled for today at 6pm. At this point, I am really regretting that I elected HMO health insurance. This entire ordeal has been prolonged because I have to get a referral for everything that takes place outside of my doctor’s office. And to make it worse, my doctor tells me I need to come into her office every time I need a referral, and that I can’t do it over the phone. This is really frustrating. Hopefully, I will be able to get the surgery done next week, because my injury is already going on 3 weeks.
5 Comments »
Posted on April 26th, 2008 by dmace1
I slept pretty good the night of injury, and wasn’t in too much pain when I woke up. I called my doctor hoping they can just refer me to a specialist without me actually going in. Yeah right. They said I had to come in for an actual appointment. So a couple hours later, I arrive at my doctor’s office and gives her the papers I received from the hospital the night before. She did the routine checks (blood pressure, height, weight, etc..), and then asked me the same questions I was asked in the emergency room. The paper I had given her already had my diagnosis and x-rays on them, so she knew what the deal was. It was kind of frustrating to me that I had to go to the doctor, pay the co-pay, just for her to tell me “yup, you tore your left Achilles tendon.” DUH.
My frustration increased when they told me that I could not be scheduled to see a specialist until April 29th. That’s almost two weeks, and this meeting with the specialist is only a consultation. So as of right now, I still don’t know when my surgery will be, hopefully shortly after the consultation.
3 Comments »
Posted on April 26th, 2008 by dmace1
So once I get to the emergency room the nurse asked me some insurance questions and gave me a shot, which was supposed to ease the pain. The shot really did nothing for me. A couple of minutes later a doctor came over to perform what I now know as the Thompson’s Test. All I know is that test hurt like heck, but it pretty much confirmed that I had ruptured my Achilles tendon.
I made a couple phone calls to tell my family and friends what happened, because I needed some moral support. Because of my past injuries, most of them already knew it was a basketball injury. They said I need to retire from the sport. I was thinking, ‘hecky naw’ I will be back in a year at least. Eventually, they took me to get X-rays, and I was happy to hear my friend had arrived during this time. Once I returned back to my original area, I saw a big smile on my friend’s face. I knew this was a smile of caring, and smile of sarcasm to come. After consoling me, she again uttered those disgusting words, “RETIRE.” I just laughed, because in my mind I was already planning my return.
We sat around for another hour or so before a nurse came over to put half-cast on my leg. She also informed that since I had the HMO plan, I would need to be referred to an orthopedist by my primary doctor. I immediately knew that this was going to be an unfavorable process to get the care I needed. Before I left, I got a prescription for Vicodin, and the doctor gave me two pills to ease the pain, which later made me feel queezy.
3 Comments »
Posted on April 25th, 2008 by dmace1
I ruptured my Achilles tendon on April 16th, 2008 playing basketball. The funny thing is, I actually called myself taking it easy that day. I was only going to play one or two games and then leave before I got too sore. Now that I think about it, this was probably the reason I stretched so lackadaisically that day. BIG MISTAKE!!!
Before the injury, I had played two “V’s” and waited about 20 minutes to play a 5-on-5. My injury happened on the second play of the game. It seemed like it all happened in slow motion. I was on the left wing, watching as the ball was in the air coming my way. Before the ball actually touched my hands, I already had two choices of what I was going to do. First, I could have easily pulled up for a 17 foot jump shot. Second, I could go baseline pass my guy and make an acrobatic layup. I knew I would score on either choice, but I had to choose the more spectacular option. As the ball reached my hands, I made a quick move towards the baseline, then it happened…
POP. I knew exactly what happened once I heard the infamous ‘pop’ echo throughout my entire body. I immediately looked to my right, then my left, to see who in the heck stepped on the back of my left heel. For some crazy reason, I thought I remembered seeing someone dribbling a basketball on the sideline next to me, so I was definitely ready to blame him. But my mind was playing tricks on me ’cause there was no one there.
By the time I realized no one was there, I was on the floor in an agonizing, but curious pain. I have had my share of injuries playin’ basketball, but this one was definitely different. I knew it wasn’t my ankle, so I turned to look at my left leg and noticed a huge gap where my Achilles tendon used to be. I immediately knew I would be out for a while.
It seemed like my entire life flashed before my eyes, as funny as that sounds. I mean my mind was swirling with so many different things. I was thinking: no more basketball for a while, how would I get my car home, there goes my vacation this summer, etc.. While I was on the ground, pretty much everyone on the court came to my aid. I felt so freakin’ helpless because I couldn’t stand up or anything. Eventually, I decided to have them call for an ambulance so I can go to the emergency room.
2 Comments »
but i’m not in a rush I want to make sure that I’m well enough so I don’t break down again!!