17 weeks– more good stuff
Today was my 17 weeks post-op for Achilles Debridement and Repair surgery (not ATR) with my Ortho. I won’t need to go back now unless I have an unexpected problem, or when it’s time to have the left AT done (sigh… we’re hoping that won’t be for years! I am in NO hurry to go through this again!) At the end of the appointment, the Ortho showed me some photos of Ultra races he completed after having the same surgery.
So, everything is looking really good and healing well. I had gotten a bit behind healing schedule when I had trouble getting to FWB a while back, but now he said I am actually ahead of where I was expected to be.
I have been given the OK to begin RUNNING in the next couple of weeks!!! :) I will start first on the track by jogging the straights and walking the curves. Once I get running steady, I can move to the rail trail and roads, and finally to my hilly singletrack trails. In the mean time, I can build up with the elliptical trainer which feels like running a bit. (I started on that with the PT yesteday.) I can now add standing climbs on the Spinning bike. I can start riding my road bike now on flat roads, being extra careful with clipping out of the pedals and adding hills gradually. I can carry on with hiking trails adding distance and more difficult terrian.
Yesterday at PT I was able to do single leg heel raises for the first time! I could do double leg heel raises for a while, but the right leg wouldn’t lift w/o the left. My PT has said that I can’t start running until I can do them, so I had been trying for a week unsuccessfully. Yesterday he tried different ways to get the muscles to remember how to fire…and then suddenly I COULD do it! I did 5 sets of 4 single leg lifts, which was enough for the first day. It was nice that the other PT’s were cheering me on, too–very encouraging atmosphere.
So, I am feeling very optimistic about things this week. My forefoot is still my biggest issue, and the Ortho and PT are both confident that will work itself out over time. It was caused by being immobile in the boot for so long. I feel it’s a pain that is mostly tolerable and doesn’t get worse unless I do too much, and it’s getting better with PT.
kimjax said,
August 2, 2012 @ 1:42 pm
Congrats!! I’ve found the same thing for just about every milestone: “it just works” when it’s ready.
I still can’t do two legged calf raises without incurring a lot of pain in the injured AT/ankle. When were you able to do those?
eastcoastrunner said,
August 2, 2012 @ 2:27 pm
Kimjax– thanks! I’ve been able to do the 2 legged standing calf raises for about 2.5 weeks (15-ish weeks) The left leg went up, and still goes up much higher than the AT side. Today I can’t quite get that AT heel to lift as high as I did at the PT’s yesterday, but there is more than 1/2″ space between my heel and the floor, so it still counts! (I find it easier with soes on)
ryanb said,
August 2, 2012 @ 4:38 pm
Great progress! I do have a suggestion: before starting out on the track, I would work into slow jogging on the treadmill. I’m really not sure why, but found I was able to run on the treadmill several weeks before I was able to do so on the track. So, you might find it is an intermediate mode you can start out with even sooner - and I’m a big fan of breaking down progress into as many little incremental steps as possible.
Hala said,
August 2, 2012 @ 4:53 pm
So, I’ve not been given standing calf raises yet, is it just liifting both heels at once? Do you have to hold it for long?
mountainmarco said,
August 2, 2012 @ 6:21 pm
It is best to do Calf Raises slowly. It works best for the tendon when you slowly bring it up all the way you can. Hold it for a second, the slowly bring it down completely (so your entire foot is on the ground).
I found out it is not about doing 50 of them quickly, it is about doing 10 of them the correct way.
Kimjax said,
August 2, 2012 @ 9:22 pm
Hala,
The PT told me to start doing them, but they’re still too painful. I’m pushing the ball of my foot against the wall for isometrics (straight leg) and doing seated calf raises. Understood from Ryanb that straight and bent leg calf raises work two different calf muscles.
Hala said,
August 3, 2012 @ 3:43 pm
Hi Kim, where is your pain with your heel raise? I dont have any pain but not sure Im doing it right! We’re all so different, its amazing
Kimjax said,
August 3, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
Hala - I only have pain afterward when doing 2 legged standing raises. I swell up and my AT gets tender. Last week it hurt behind my ankle at the AT when I tried it. It went pretty well today - I went up on both, down on injured for 10 reps. We’ll see how it feels tonight! You have no pain?
eastcoastrunner said,
August 5, 2012 @ 12:28 pm
Wow, this week my foot feels totally different. Since I have started being able to do the standing single leg heel raise, my forefoot is feeling LOTS better! It’s more of a burn than sharp pain now. BUT, now I feel the AT, behind my ankle bones, and the area on my heel where the screw is and where all the extra bone was removed. I guess it’s a good thing to feel the area where I should have been feeling all along- just surprising!
Kimjax– seems we have similar issues with the forefoot andbehind the ankle. Mine seems to be subsiding though. Hope your’s will as well!
Ryanb– thanks for the treadmill suggestion. I agree about breaking things down to little steps. My PT wants me to stay off the treadmill though. His reasons have to do with the slight bounce back with each step and also with having less control since the “ground” is moving at a set speed, even if the speed is slow. I am not totally in agreement with him, but I don’t mind waiting one more week. Between walking, hiking in the woods, the Spinning and the elliptacle, I can feel my AT leg getting stronger each day! I am planning to take the road bike out this week, too. I am looking very forward to that first run attempt!