Hi everybody, hope you are all healing well and keeping positive. It has been a month and a half since the last time I posted and progress has been slow but steady, with dorsiflexion up to 10.5 cm on the bad leg (up from 5cm at the end of November) but still someway to go before matching the good leg at 15cm. Double heel raises are now more comfortable but the single heel raise is still elusive…perhaps it will happen soon.
Walking is improving and I managed to keep up with my wife and friends on a trip to London yesterday, although the ankle did stiffen up everytime she wanted to go to the shops!
If you get the chance go and see the Cabinet War Rooms (the underground complex from where Churchill directed the war when London was being blitzed). Its a great attraction and gives a real insight to those dark times. The picture is of the Great Mans War Cabinet meeting room in the bunker.

I have been going to ‘Rehab’ (the Rehabilitation Centre at my local hospital) for the past 2 weeks and the range of movement and strength is improving. Twice weekly Gym sessions up to now have comprised of  static cycle, wobble board, rower, a couple of balance exercises and quad squats with the aid of an exercise ball against the wall. Today the activity level was increased by adding  stepper and treadmill work,  eliptical cross trainer was attempted but proved too difficult due to reduced dorsiflexion. As a result I am now bloody knackered! That Gym supervisor is pure evil.

In terms of measurable capability, I now have a moderate limp when walking at greater than 2.3mph (my wife rates it at 3.5 out of 10).  Dorsiflexion is reduced compaired to the good leg (on good side can push my knee to the wall with foot 13cm/5″ back and flat to floor as opposed to 5cm/2″ for the injured leg). Physio reckons that the dorsiflexion will probably never get back to pre-injury level. Double heel raises are still very challenging.

I am determined to prove the Physio wrong and my new goal is to achieve 13cm of dorsiflexion on each leg before Christmas. Any advice on exercises to help with this would be appreciated.

Keep on getting better.

Having waited the 3 weeks for referral to PT, I had my first session at the brand new rehabilitation centre at my local hospital (QA, Portsmouth, UK) on Monday. I was greeted by my Physio (Diane) who proceeded to carry out an assessment of my range of movement and physical capability and then prescribed some home exercises to be carried out twice daily. Then I was shown to the fully equipped Gym to have a twice weekly programme drawn up consisting of static bike riding, rowing and various balance board exercises. They expect that I will be going to the gym for about the next 2 months, with PT assessments every 2 weeks.
I am now cleared to swing a golf club again at the Driving Range and to cycle again (in low gear and not uphill). Driving can start again as soon as I am confident I can perform an emergency stop safely, however I think that’s still a way off (right leg ATR and manual transmission).
After just 2 days of home exercises & massage I have noticed significant improvement in the range of dorsiflexion (upward movement of foot) allowing me to press my knee against the wall when my toes are also against the wall, also improvements in swelling of the foot and reduced limping.
Tomorrow I go for my first proper Gym session, I can’t wait!
All the best to everybody out there coming back from AT injury. Life does get better again.

I had my latest appointment at the hospital today (QA Portsmouth, UK) and decided that rather than get some unsuspecting  relative to drive me, it was time to make my own way via public transport. Walked the 1/4 mile to the bus-stop & the 1/2 mile at the other end to the hospital without incident in the trusty boot.

The Consultant examined the heel (Thomson test & general feel of the area) , declared all was progressing OK and the next appointment would be in 4 weeks. Furthermore, the boot could be officially retired and did I bring another shoe with me?!

20 minutes later I got the 2cm heel insert from the orthotics dept & I was on my way. Chickened out from walking out with 2 shoes & stuck with the boot until I got to my parents house, when I then took my first weak steps in a pair of shoes for 11 weeks!!!

The rest of the day has been spent sans boot and I will go to my Pub quiz tonight in trainers.

The ankle feels weak and steps are very small with a huge limp and pressure pain on the ball of the foot, but progress is progress and I cannot wait until PT begins next week, when the hard work begins (and hopefully the 12 pounds I have gained can start to come off).

Here’s a picture of Kaiser Soze for all you movie buffs.

Until next time…keeeeeeeeep dancing!

Guys,

I saw this today and thought I would share it with you….

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71…….

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs.. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain
Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show
business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else that may
be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.

Well, after being cleared to PWB for 1 week last Tuesday, today was the day I decided to go FWB all day. Moving around is actually slower than with crutches - strange how the body adapts to adversity. What a great feeling to have both hands free to carry things again, the small pleasures in life are so sweet.

Shuffling about on both legs has immediately relieved the pressure on the good tendon. Psychologically the relief of not thinking a 2nd ATR of the year being imminent,  is immense.  Additionally,  the numbness in my hands has started to recede, with only my little fingers still suffering.

The leg feels a bit tired now, but its been a great day.

Keep in touch.

Chris

Just a couple of shots of Taba reef inhabitants.

Hope you like them.

Hi Everyone, just back from a 2 week holiday in Taba Heights (Egypt), which is part of the Sinai region.

I was really glad I progressed out of a cast to a removable boot just before going away, because it allowed me to sunbath without the boot on and also to swim & even snorkel in the Red Sea on 3 occassions!  The coral and the brightly coloured fish were spectacular and being able to swim was a real lift to morale.

The day after returning I had my latest check-up at the hospital & the Doc was happy that the tendon was back in one piece.  He was happy to move my foot up by 22.5 degrees to a neutral position with no plantar or dorsi-flexion. I am now officially PWB with a view to going FWB in about a week (although I now hobble around the house without any crutches when nobody is looking!).

Talk to you soon.

Chris

Well went for second cast change yesterday after 5 weeks ( 1 week earlier than normal due to imminent holiday in Egypt) & was given the boot! It’s a Donjoy but the bad news is you cannot swim in it like the Vacoped, so will have to sit in the water without any bracing & just be careful. The boot is black with velcro straps & has a hefty soleplate so will be ideal in just over 100F on holiday!! Suppose I should just be grateful to have progressed onto the next stage but feel a bit resentful I won’t be able to swim properly.

The first night without any protection on the achilles was a bit nerve wracking with moderate pain getting into bed & worry that I may just ‘pop’ the AT again by moving overnight, so sleep was at a premium.

Against all odds I survived the night & managed to shower the leg for the first time since ATR - to discover my skin was shedding like a snake when I started to towel dry, so I decided to then have a bath & almost blocked the plughole with dead skin (how gross is that). I felt sooooo much cleaner after a good scrub though.

Muscle atrophy is quite severe & I cannot bring myself to take measurements but see photo. Foot is still quite swolen & I hope this will subside quickly now I can ‘air’ the leg when not mobile.

Well, until the next time, take it easy out there folks.

Almost 5 weeks in 2 casts & I go to see the Doc again on Tuesday.  The leg has really wasted away with the second cast quite loose now despite hours of toe wiggling! Strange aches high up in the calf are now a daily norm, but the tendon does feel attached again.

I really hope I can get into the boot then, as this will be much better for travelling on holiday (Egypt on the Red Sea in just over 1 week).  I am determined to go swimming & snorkelling even if this means putting my trusty Xerosox Dry Pro (rubber stocking!) over the boot. Does anybody know of a smaller waterproof brace that you can swim in? That would be a true Godsend.

Happy Healing folks!