Posted on February 18th, 2011 at 5:23 pm by gailbuddy and
So, I have been hounding doc and pt that I have to get on my bike during this beautiful weather we are having at the beach. My pt is still not too happy about it but recommended this orthopedic support called “AchilloTrain Pro”. It is designed to promote lymph drainage and circulation and help reduce swelling. It is also recommended for post surgery Achilles patients that want to exercise with some support as it fits the lower shin. You measure the smallest part of your ankle(which is not too small right now). I ordered it and it was here in about three days.
Well, I put it on and it felt so good. There is a pad of cushion that sits right on your Achilles. I was just trying it on for fit and when I tried to take it off I panicked. How am I going to get this thing off without ripping my foot off? It is a snug fit sorta like an ace bandage but an all in one piece. I COULD NOT GET IT OFF! I tried everything and the more I tugged the more it hurt. I had to go next door to my neighbor’s house for help. How pitiful is that? With her treating it like a riding boot and my hands down into it we finally got it off but it hurt like a mother!
Now I’m icing and hoping I’ve not torn anything in there. I know I haven’t but what a pain. I guess the form fitting type stuff is out for now or maybe even a larger size. I think I’ll let the pt measure.
If I ever get it right with this thing I’ll let y’all know but right now it’s back in the box!
Link Here | February 19, 2011,
Some years back, I bought a “dry suit”. Mostly for windsurfing, and for sailing and racing dinghies when the water was REALLY cold — otherwise, I wear a “wet suit”. The dry suit was made of relatively thin waterproof stuff, but all carefully sealed, and with wide strong rubber gaskets at the neck, wrists, and ankles (and a fancy roll-over seal at the waist, because it was a two-piecer). It wasn’t too hard to pull the ankle gaskets over your feet, but there was a trick to getting it back off — stick three fingers into the gasket like a shoe-horn and pry it off. HAH!! Maybe 3 of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fingers! Several times, pooped from wind-surfing or sailing, I thought I was going to be stuck in that @#$%& wet-suit “for the duration”!!
So did that mean no bicycling on the beach? Me, I’ve been dying (poor choice of words?) to go for a bike ride here in Toronto. We’ve come out of the deep freeze for a few days, but mostly into a freeze-and-thaw cycle that’s been even scarier for traction. Thursday morning set some sort of record for number of pedestrians showing up in the ERs after falling on the sidewalks! I’m not sure, but I THINK I’d be taking a break from bicycling now, even if I hadn’t done the heart surgery 2.5 months ago. . .
Comment by normofthenorth |
Link Here | February 20, 2011,
Can always depend on you Norm for an excellent narrative. You’ve had a few years of bad luck, seems to me your’e due a good year or two.I can’t imagine the weather where you are. Sounds awful! Also, I know nothing about recovery from heart surgery but imagine it’s nothing to mess with. Good luck with your recovery and stay off the sidewalks!
I haven’t windsurfed in a couple of years due to my aching ankles, this could be my year. LOVE it and want to paddle board this year too!
And no, I didn’t ride my bike that day or yet. Pulling that stupid thing off my ankle left it really swollen and now the joint at my big toe is so inflamed that I can’t put all my weight on it…again. It’s probably compensatory damage from limping around. I have a dr’s appt this week thank god cause right now I have an ICY/HOT patch taped to my toe joint and can’t walk w/out a lot of pain. It is always something with me. I have a partial tear in my right ankle that is really acting up right now too…..oh well….
Comment by gailbuddy |
Link Here | February 24, 2011,
Hey Gailbuddy
You have quite a way with a story….I’m half laughing here and half horrified. I’m sorry it hurt but the mental image of trying to get it off made me smile.
I think that I won’t mail order anything.
I miss doing spin classes…..but every day is one step closer to them!!!
Comment by janet |
Link Here | April 16, 2011,
Thanks Gail. The boot has made a difference to my quality of life, the difference between not being able to stand more than 5 minutes and walkng a bit further, but it has not eliminated pain, just given me more support and rest to the achilles
You are right, surgery not for the faint hearted, not an easy option but the word I keep hearing is long.. and in your words long long. ICan’t quite believe this is all happening but i will need to accept it a bit more as much patience is needed, I have been trying to keep going as normal when nothing is normal right now! so glad to hear you improving and recovering, these blogs are so encouraging.
Comment by alison