good old terra firma

Posted on December 18th, 2008 by glm21

Well, the ground may be covered in lots of snow and it is -20 C but after 8 weeks of NWB, I get to graduate to PWB.  The specialist said it’s time to get moving.  I’m not sure he felt much of a tendon and I don’t think the Thompson test was really successful, but I get to touch the earth anyway.  I even got really lucky and was able to book in for a physio appointment today.  It will be private pay so I am sure that helped too.  I get to go again on Monday.  Of course even with the little walking that I did and after the physio, the back of my ankle hurts.  I hope that is normal.  Physio was really painful.  The therapist masaged my calf and it felt like she was stabbing knives into my leg.  Then she massaged my good calf the same and I hardly felt anything.  She promises that it will get better.  So now, I need to sit without the boot and try to move my foot 3 times a day.  The therapist also suggested heat whenever I can to help relax the muscles.

The plan is that I will keep the boot on for another 4 weeks and within the next week try to wean myself off of crutches.  The therapist thinks that might be a bit quick so we will work on that and hopefully 2 weeks.  When I go back to the specialist on Jan 23 I am to bring a shoe.  Holly cow.  After dreaming for this day of even touching the ground a bit, I am scared to death.  It is good to read all of your journey’s and I hope that mine will be a successful as yours.  For those who are just starting or continuing to go through this, I wish you the best of luck and quick healing.

Well, off to the next step, literally.

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6 weeks and counting

Posted on December 6th, 2008 by glm21

It is 6 weeks post rupture and I am very intrigued by those who say that they can feel things connecting.  To bad there wasn’t a little sign on our ankle with a percentage healed update on it, perhaps it would make it easier to be patient.  That would also help me to feel confident that when I get to see the doctor on Dec. 18 he will tell me that I can be PWB and start PT.  I have read a few posts where after 8 weeks non-surgical people have still had to wait and be NWB.  Wow do I feel for you. 

I managed to loose my balance the other day and came down quite hard on my foot.  No immediate pain but of course lots of mental anxiety.  My achilles seems to be aching a bit lately (even before the loss of balance) and I hope that is just because it is healing and just stiff.  This is weird for me because after the initial injury I really have not had much pain in that area, just the rest of my body.

With Christmas coming I am trying to find some energy to get out and shop some but by the end of the work day I am beat, even though I sit most of the time.  I am getting good at lists though and my son and husband got some shopping done today.  The internet helps too but I am one of those who enjoys browsing and finding the unusual gift.  Considering the economy and disabilities that other face, I am realizing how blessed that I can at least think about shopping, period.

I hope all are starting to be able to get excited about the holiday season.  For those who are starting on the ATR journey, chins up, it will get better.

 

 

 

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5 weeks down

Posted on November 29th, 2008 by glm21

Hello everyone.  It is now 5 weeks and 3 days post rupture.  I wish I could proudly say that I have done everything right and the all is well with world.  I know that those who read this understand fully the frustration and fear.

Thank you for the stairs lesson.  Unfortunately I have not been able to put enough pressure on my knees to be successful at that method so I continue to have to touch down to balance.  I have wanted to try and slide down on my hind end my my husband is very concerned about the concreate steps and how he would successfully get me upright once I am at the top when I go back up.  So here I am, not FWB by any stretch of the imagination and there never has been any pain so I am hoping that this has not impeded the healing too much.  At least I have not fallen again and the anxiety attacks are less.  My challenge now is to not take the boot off and keep poking around the injury site to see if I can feel a tendon.  The next 3 weeks before I see the doctor again is going to be long.

For those reading this looking for hope, I can honestly say that my arms are finally stronger and other than the stairs debacle, am completely NWB.  I have even managed enough strength to get out of my favorite chair on my own!!! My shoulders still cause concern with pain and the other day I actually could not move my right shoulder, not the best for crutches but anti-inflammatories and ice have helped.  Since it is the weekend, I will rest more which I know will help too.

Looking back over the last 5 weeks, although work has helped me keep my mind off of my immobility, I wish that I would have taken at least a week off and got proper rest.  Not everyone has that luxury, but if you do, take it.  Rest and move as you can, but focus on yourself.

Now a question.  The last few days I have noticed that my toes on my injured foot want to curl under.  I suspect that it is from muscle atrophy and that has me very concerned.  Are there any suggestions that I could do to help slow this down?  I try to move my toes frequently but would love to know if there is something else I could do.

I hope all is progressing with all of you and here’s to the days of walking on two feet again.

Take care.

1 Comment »

Thank you

Posted on November 19th, 2008 by glm21

Thank you to all for your kind thoughts and words of support.  I have never been a patient person and all of you have helped me to realize that this will end, just not nearly soon enough.  The ideas for sleeping have helped.  Strange to say, but you helped me feel like I am normal, at least as far as ATR is concerned.  I will cross my fingers for all of you that your recoveries will be totally successful and you will never have to experience anything like this again.  I look forward to continue to follow your journeys.

I can officially say I have gone one whole week without falling.  Of course I haven’t made it to bed tonight yet.  I can still not get up or down stairs successfully.  I am not putting full weight on, not even by a long shot and I feel no pain, just tons of anxiety that I am prolonging or damaging recovery.  Part of the problem is that I have to go up the steps when I get home from work and I am just so tired.  I am also still having anxiety attacks and now I can’t figure out if it is because I’m scared of crashing again or the frustration of the steps and touching down.  I will keep trying to search out for ideas and try some of yours.

I am very intrigued by the accounts of being in an aircast on one second and shoes the next.  This is definately going to be an interesting next phase.  Just 4 more weeks to go (hopefully) and even if I could officially PWB it would be better.  All of this will fly by, it’s just unfortunate that we have to wish for time to fly when we never seem to feel like we have enough time. (not sure that makes sense)

I hope your days are more sunny and that recovery is speeding along.  Take care.

3 Comments »

Hello

Posted on November 16th, 2008 by glm21

First of all, thank you for the development of this website.  It looks like it has helped many people and will do the same for me.

October 22 was the day for me.  I tripped over a box at work.  I think that I actually injured my achilles this summer while on holidays but this accident did it in. 

I was lucky and got to see the surgeon the very next day and go figure, his specialty is feet and ankles.  It took him about 2 minutes to diagnose the tear and gave me two options, surgical or non-surgical.  I am petrified of surgery and after asking him a few questions he suggested the non-surgical route may be the best for me.  The main reason was because of the medications I am on for rheumatiod arthritis, he was concerned about the high risk of infection.  He gave me the statistics of the chance of re-injury of surgery vs non and the time frame for healing.  He also said that the end result should be the same and I am not a high performance athelete.  Then he basically said that I would be in an air cast for 10-12 weeks.  He mentioned talking to my family physician during that time.  I needed him to fill out some forms for work and he did the bare minumum.  He wrote that I may need modified work duties.  No kidding, I am a lab tech and work on my feet all day.  I must have looked a little scared because then he seemed to “soften” and be a bit more open when I started asking him questions about physiotherapy and when to start, so he said to book an appointment with him for 8 weeks, try to be non-weight bearing, he acknowleged that it is hard, and that I would likely need a cane or crutches.  No kidding.  Fortunately my husband had picked some crutches up for me.  The clinic staff set me up with an aircast, sort of looked at my crutches and away I went.

In retospect the biggest mistake I made was not having someone with me to help me think of and ask questions.  I’m sure I was still in a bit of shock from the fall the night before.

So, week one was interesting as I kind of went on what I could sort of remember.  I was not non-weightbearing as crutches was a whole new world and as I ran into people I knew who had used crutches, I realized that they needed to be adjusted.  The arthritis in my shoulders, hands and wrists flared up big time and I did not sleep well due to the pain in my arms and shoulders not my ankle.  When I had asked one of the nurses in the clinic about sleeping with my aircast on, I kind of got the impression that I didn’t really have to so I didn’t the first week, as well as I did step on my foot in the shower without the aircast.

My husband brought up the computer to the main floor, as we discovered that I would not be doing alot of stairs and I finally got on the internet to find out more information and started to realize that I was likely not doing anything right.  I spoke to the health nurse with my company who encouraged me to get a wheelchair for work, there are very long halls there, and to call my doctor. 

One week after the injury I finally found the energy to start thinking and called back to the clinic and spoke to a nurse there and went to see my family physician.  The nurse in the clinic layed it out.  Completely non-weightbearing and yes, sleep with the cast on since the ankle should be immobile.  So, here I am.  I am a disaster waiting to happen with the non-weightbearing and I am so scared that I am not healing and second guessing everything I do or think.

One big mistake I made was not taking any time off work.  The doctors didn’t think I would need to.  I am a supervisor and do have office work so between employee health and my bosses we came up with a modified work plan.  Besides, when I am working, I don’t have a lot of time to feel sorry for myself.

The exhaustion I am feeling is absolutely debilitating.  I am getting from reading this site that this is more common than not.  The exhaustion has resulted in me falling twice and injuring other parts of my body.  The first wall was 10 days after the tear and I fell onto concreate and the second fall was 2 weeks after the injury when I fell off the bottom step outside of my house.  So now any confidence I have is absolutely shot.  I am having panic attacks everytime I have to go outside.  My supposedly good leg looks like it was hit repeatedly with a baseball bat and my good knee is swollen and stiff.  I can’t be 100% non-weightbearing, I need to touch down a bit going up and down stairs (trying no to touch down was how I fell off the steps) and the chair I have picked as the best to sit in at home is a recliner and difficult to get out of.  I am so scared that everytime I touch down on my foot, which is not even close to full weight, is undoing any healing that I have done.  I am trying to be as mobile as possible but now I am scared I am going to fall again but know I have to move to get stronger.  It doesn’t help that I am 48, carrying too much weight and not in top shape.

I keep thinking that I need to talk to the surgeon again but hate to bother him as I know that there are people way worse off than I am.  Going back to my family physician wouldn’t help much as I am about the 3rd tear he has ever seen.

So, if anyone is reading this, I would love to hear back from you.  Is there anyone out there who did not have the surgery and is going the route I am?  Did I make a mistake not having the surgery?  Am I doing more harm or severly delaying healing when I have to touch my foot down?  When I am sitting, what is the best way to rest my leg?  How about sleeping, how did people sleep?  As soon as I put the blankets on it feels like a 50 lb. weight is on my leg and I can only sleep on my injured leg side.  Does the aircast serve any other purpose that just immobility?  Sometimes the cast feels loose and “dangles” a bit, is this causing harm?

I am blessed with a husband who has litterly become my slave.  He has stepped up to most household duties and putting up with me and all of my obsessions and mood swings.  I have trying to look to the positive as I know that stress delays healing but just seem to get more stressed.  Dec 18 seems like a long time away and that is only to find out if I can start physio.  The thought of trying to prepare for Christmas is causing me to stress even more.  What is the hardest is that I am the person who is always in control and always doing, so this is something totally out of my league.  How on earth do people with permanent disabilities do it?  This world is not geared towards anyone who can’t walk on two feet.

I must sound like a raving lunatic.  As I sit here, it is snowing and I am actually strategizing how I might be able to pull off not getting out of bed for the next 5 weeks. 

Thank you to anyone who has suffered through this to the end and to anyone who might respond.

7 Comments »

Hello world!

Posted on November 16th, 2008 by glm21

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/glm21/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 »

  • Achillesblog - Updated Posts

  • Recent Comments

  • escobar135 | December 13th, 2008 | 5:23 pm

    yea i feel you on the unusual pain of the ankle. I ate it pretty hard at a party couple of weeks ago and totally thought that was the problem. I think at the begining your leg fits so snug in the cast that it feels and fits just right. But by week six when the swelling is down the cast became loose and the weird feeling started to come. But i think its the same for everyone. I just got my cast off yesterday and ive been on crutches for 8 weeks and had a cast for 6. its been the longest two months of my life. I get my boot Monday so im excited for that but i got another 4 weeks of the boot before i can even start walkin on my own.

    im athlete and being in top shape IS my job so i was worried about being alble to come back from this but ive hear alot of sucess stories so i say just follow exactly what the PT says and take it easy.

  • JasonK | November 29th, 2008 | 6:13 pm

    I had a similar problem with my toes. When I first went to PT, they would massage and stretch my toes. Once loose they had me try to pick up a towel, barefoot, with my toes. For example, spread your toes out as wide as you can and then curl them to grab the towel.. I would do sets of 20, 2 times day. After 1 week, my toes stopped aching and they did not curl up on their own. Good luck.

  • Richard | November 20th, 2008 | 8:17 am

    A,
    I demonstrated the technique to a physio at the hospital who had to admit it was an efficient way to get up the stairs and couldn’t really find anything to criticise apart from the top of the stairs conundrum - I can feel a leaflet coming on!!

    R xx

  • annieh | November 20th, 2008 | 7:53 am

    Richard you have been following me, how very dare you!!

    That is just how I did it. When I got to the top of the stairs I held on to the bannister and just pulled, we have old house, with old very very strong banniser, so no matter how hard I pulled it never moved.

    Annie

  • Richard | November 20th, 2008 | 7:06 am

    Dear glm,
    I am pleased you are feeling a bit better about things - a problem shared and all that!

    I have developed a stair climbing technique which may help.
    Face the stairs and put the knee of your bad leg onto the second stair, good leg still on the floor at the bottom.
    Move your crutches up the stairs so they are out of the way ( you won,need them until you get to the top.)
    Step up one stair with your good leg supporting yourself with both hands on the stairs in front of you.
    Move bad leg knee up one stair and so on until you reach the top
    Between each move you can lift your crutches further up the stairs in front of you.

    Having just read that it sounds complicated but it isn’t once you get in position.

    The hardest part is at the very top of the stairs when you need to get up again - I’ve tried various techniques involving chairs,wife, son, and finally settled on a reckless hop up on to the landing(not recommended)

    Disclaimer - Don’t blame me if………… Tee Hee!!

    Jolly good luck,keep me informed

    Richard xx

  • bernardhg | November 17th, 2008 | 11:33 am

    Hi glm21

    I am a conservative route person.

    I had a light weight below the knee cast (one surgeon was trying for an above the knee cast…. and I said no thanks), for 8 weeks. As UKnodger says this gets angled up to 90 degrees in the later stages…….. about twice for me.

    After 8 weeks… i was out of the cast….. tendon in place……. and asked to put weight on my foot straight away…. no airboot, moon boot or anything……..straight to shoes (my safety site boots)…….. I had a physio 2 days after the cast was removed.

    I have ditched the crutches about two weeks ago….. I can walk…… I have had about 5 physio sessions to date …. having another tomorrow…. they are doing ultra-sound on the wound.

    Everything seems to be going okay…. with or without surgery… the body can heal its self….. if you believe it will happen….. and how many people do you know who go around with permanent ATR….. in fact after my ATR…. I suddenly was informed by various people I have known for ages… that they too had ATRs…… so be positive…. I am self-employed… so I could not take time off…. I just had to pu

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  • uknodger | November 17th, 2008 | 10:24 am

    Hi. I am now 5 months post rupture having elected for conservative treatment. Progress has been good, if slow to begin with. You will get there. I had 8 weeks (felt like half a lifetime) in three different plaster casts. Foot started at a natural “hang” ( c. 45 degree pointing down), then was repositioned towards right angle with each cast change. Does your airboot point your toes towards ballet points, as that takes the tension out of the heel and will help those loose ends to knit. Touching down on teh bad foot is best avoided… I was lucky as I could get up and down stairs on my butt, and heft up onto some low chairs for rest. Hard work, but safe.

    My ankle was completely immobilised so I wasn’t able to rotate my ankle… not until you are out of your cast perhaps. Wiggle your toes and try some leg exercises, alphabet writing with heel etc.

    After plaster I had 3 or 4 weeks in a removable aircast, which eventually allowed me to ditch the crutches. Would suggest that the airboot works best when fully inflated / tight and would also suggest you leave it on all the time. Any ankle movement will put stress on the wound. Again

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  • Richard | November 17th, 2008 | 7:54 am

    Hello GLM,
    I think your post summed up how we all have felt at some stage. It seems to me whichever route you take the recovery time is much the same and the results are pretty good either way. Read uknodger’s page for a good non-surgical account’ he is now back on his feet and beginning to function again.

    Keeping your chin up is easier said than done - you will go through bad patches psychologically we all do but they don’t last forever and that’s where celebrating the little triumphs becomes an important exercise.

    I have to say reading your post I don’t reckon the medical services have done you many favours in terms of post -injury advice it’s almost as if you’ve been left to muddle through! - however virtually every thing you need to know is on this site, its a great source of advice, support and entertainment.

    I’m rambling on a bit now but there’s one more thing - all our personal situations are different but one thing is for sure - you’ve got to look after yourself because if you don’t the nightmare of re-rupture can raise its ugly head and that back to square one scenario is not good.

    Keep

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  • Smish | November 17th, 2008 | 6:23 am

    GLM: My heart goes out to you. I understand your frustration as do probably everybody on this site. I took the surgical route but I have read a lot of research about the non-surgical and the results are great.

    As for sleeping, I had to sleep on my side, with my injured leg outside the main covers. I then got a lighter but warm blanket and laid it on top of my foot and leg. I slept in my cast for about 8 or 9 weeks because I usually get up at least once in the middle of the night and I am usually stepping over my greyhound’s stick legs. I didn’t want to trip or misstep on one of them.

    Have you seen those wonderful things called roll-a-bouts? I didn’t use one on my first surgery and was terrorized by my crutches. I used one for my second surgery and had great mobility. Maybe that would help you at work. They are nice because you can move around a bit and still have at least one hand free. Plus since your injured leg is not all the way down, being up isn’t so painful. The other nice thing about it is that you can sit down on it anywhere you need to just sit.

    Hang in there, I’ll be thinking happy thoughts for you

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  • jonathan9 | November 17th, 2008 | 5:28 am

    Hi GLM,

    I’m the same procedure as you but now at 14 weeks. The most comfortable way to sleep is on your back with a pillow under the injured foot, but keep it up towrads the back of your knee, otherwise your knee will ache due to hyper-extension. When you first get into bed, try lying on your front with your knee bent and your bad leg pointed upwards just to assist getting the blodd out of your leg….it’s quite relieving.

    If you’ve got any questions, don’t feel scared or embarrassed to ask them. I fell and put weight down about 4 times over my 6 week incarceration…..as did everyone else on here.

    It really is a ‘baby steps’ injury, but you’ve got to keep your chin up and get a slave at work to do the coffee run.

    Happy healing,
    Jon

  • wintermute | November 17th, 2008 | 5:19 am

    All of the things you talk about are very common with this injury - both the physical and pshycological aspects. To help you with some of your questions: I went down the non-surgical route. I am very active and participate in a lot of sports and my age is 37. There are pros and cons for both the surgical and non-surgical routes. Both have the same outcome though and that is to get you back on both feet. After that, it is down to good rehab, plenty of rest and a positive outlook (the last can be difficult of course but it is vital) for you to get back to new. The tiredness, pain, worry, frustration, anger etc etc are all common. You will find that your supporting leg will be sore (stiff in the morning when you first get out of bed), your hands will be sore and fingers can tingle etc etc. I consider myself to be very fit and healthy and I have encountered all of these aspects and more. The human body is a very fascinating and resilient machine and will adapt accordingly. This injury is fixable, will heal will be a good as new as long as time and patience are applied. I live life at 100mph so to go down to 5mph was a massiv

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  • annieh | November 17th, 2008 | 3:00 am

    Sorry to hear about all your problems, I had surgery but I had no option as tear was too bad to go non-surgery. There are several non-surgical members on the site who I am sure will contact you in time. But, most importantly you must, rest, elevate, rotate your ankle and be positive in your outcome.

    I am nearly 60, overweight (not too overweight!!) and not in the best physical shape, but I am walking and that was my main aim, I did go through a period when I thought I would never be able to walk without a crutch but that was on the days when I was really fed-up. My main exercise is walking and I try and walk as much as possible considering I work at a desk. I constantly get up and walk up and down the stairs at the office just to keep my circulation going.

    Although I don’t suffer the same as you I do have problems with my neck, I have fused discs so when I first used the crutches my neck and shoulders were very painful but your body adjusts to that.

    Keep positive!!!

    Annie

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