Week 16 updates
Week 16 January 6th, 2010So its been 5 weeks since my last update and things are going OK but in some ways a little disappointing.
I am still seeing my private PT once a week and NHS PT once every 2 weeks. While the strength is returning to my calf the pain and soreness in my tendon and surrounding area is a concern. The PT has me using a glorified Tens Machine to boost the strength building in my calf - and its working well. After having a couple of sessions on the Isokinetic Dynometer, my private PT was concerned that my strength was not returing as quickly as expected and introduced this Tens thing. It basically electrocutes you (!) with varying degrees of pain and stimulates the muscles. The pain scale goes from 0 - 999 and I managed 340 last time. The more pain the more gain! A professional rugby player he has been treating recently managed 900!!! That must of hurt!
My main worry is the soreness in my tendon and ankle area. When I go for a brisk walk or use the treadmill at the gym (on a steep incline) I can manage 10 minutes until pain sets in and I have to stop as it gets really uncomfortable. I just thought after 16 weeks I would be further on with the soreness management! Running after 6 months is looking increasingly unlikely 
Other than that all progress going well - I only have a limp when I get the pain.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and enjoyable New Year!
Cheers Graham
January 7th, 2010 at 02:09
Graham, I am sorry to hear you are disappointed in your progress. But you are at 16 weeks only. In the coming weeks you may experience great improvements. The pain in the tendon is a warning sign in my opinion to slow down. I never liked all this machinery, the treadmill forces you to keep up the pace while walking on the street you might stop for a moment when you feel the need of it, or slow down, it is more natural. Also on the treadmill I think you use less forward propelling motion, each step is tensing the tendon, but in the end it may give the calf less work? It is just my idea. Anyways if your goal to run was at 6 months, that is still 2 long months away, lots of time!
January 7th, 2010 at 02:36
I bet you just love saying “Isokinetic Dynamometer”. I’m going to try to find a way to drop it in conversation tomorrow.
One real comment: I recall talking with a podiatrist some years ago who said that he wished the incline feature of treadmills could be abolished. I didn’t pin him down as to whether he meant for walking or running/jogging - but I think that is something you might want to discuss w/your PTs. I’m 2 weeks ahead of you and the only time that my PT has put me on the treadmill (with some incline - I was surprised) was when I asked him if I could be cleared to push patient gurneys up the ramps at my hospital. Since I was able to walk w/out pain, he cleared me.
January 7th, 2010 at 13:35
Graham, good to hear from you. I was wondering only yesterday, when visiting the site, how you were getting on as it had been a while.
To be honest, when I read your line: ‘when I go for a brisk walk or use the treadmill at the gym (on a steep incline) I can manage 10 minutes until pain sets in’… I was quite impressed. Personally, I think brisk walking on an inclined treadmill is good progress. I wonder whether you’re pushing yourself a little too much…?
January 7th, 2010 at 13:44
Thanks chaps for your words. I am going to ask the private PT tomorrow about the treadmill and the pain. I will report back!
January 7th, 2010 at 13:48
Hi Graham, Sorry to hear you are a bit disenchanted - I still get the odd day like that too. I am now at 10 weeks post op and have been using the services of a sports rehab therapist(SRT) -3 sessions, plus my PT. I have to say that the SRT has been brilliant - and I walk away from the sessions with no pain and no limp. Some of the stretches and exercises are brutal to say the least - on quads, calf, hamstrings etc he has me doing wobbleboard/bosu board exercises that I didn’t think possible at this stage. But they do seem to be strengthening the bad leg. He also encouraged me to stand on affected limb and lift good foot behind/out to side and in front for 15/20 seconds each - its a very good balancing exercise and you can actually feel the muscles and other soft tissue really working overtime on affected (and even good foot - as you have to do that too). The hard bit was then having to close your eyes and do it {:O).
I, like you, have discovered that its not a straight line recovery and if I have done too much my foot lets me know and I ice it and try to elevate it for a while. I am cross training, cycling, walking on treadmill but only for 5 mins (advice of SRT) on an incline. Also have a full exercise programme that SRT has developed for me - including upper body work out (as I appear to be out of line/listing to one side - there’s a surprise!). If you are interested I can email you a copy (he is the South African Badminton Team SRT).
January 7th, 2010 at 13:53
Thanks Sandie for the offer but I am going to ask my PT who knows my symptoms and progress. He has been the the physio for the Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks rugby teams here in the UK and he is focused on my strength recovery. That is working its the pain that worries me.
In the gym I am only following what I have been told by both my PTs so either I am pushing it too far or the exercises are not working for my tendon/ankle.
January 7th, 2010 at 20:51
Well - sounds like you have the world of rugby in your corner {:O) Hope the pain gets sorted soon for you.