What happened…..I think!!!
Here I sit after having my torn achilles repaired and it’s more than I thought it would be. Run down of what happened is this….. I’m a sports photographer and not one to stand around to get the shot either. I like to get different angels and be in the action….or make it look that way but that isn’t always the case. I had a broken foot few years ago while shooting basketball…..see, only me can this happen too!!
Anyway, I rarely stand when shooting sports, I squat so I’m able to get up and move if need be. After shooting one long weekend in Spring of 2010 I woke up to a very stiff achilles and intense pain when I walked on my heal. Nothing came to mind from the weekend, it all seemed normal but no idea why I was hurting so badly. I went to my orthopedic Dr, whom I’m well acquainted with from past injuries and he said it was achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis (which ended up being ruptured) so into a boot I went. That went on for 10 months and still hurt out of the boot but 0ver time, and I say time was 2 years, my heel did heal but my achilles did NOT!!! If I got out of bed and didn’t stretch, it would feel like my achilles would break, thats how stiff it was. I even remember saying that to my husband on several occasions. As things progressed I had problems wearing shoes, my achilles would burn and become inflamed after a game. I was shooting, not playing but just the movements bothered me. I ended up in Chaos all the time and this was a problem where cleats are around or it was winter!
I returned to the Dr. when a knot formed on the back of my achilles and I walked sideways in grocery stores so no one would hit me with a cart. Bottom line is it hurt to be touched and driving was painful so I had to go. The know was there every morning and stayed big until I warmed my achilles up and as the stiffness went away the know went down in size. It returned when I sat down for a period of time and I would have to stretch a little more. At the Dr. we did an MRI and it showed my tear. It was a longitude tear and dang it…….it required surgery!!! My heart just sank….it sank because I knew what I deal with in all my past injuries, surgeries and recoveries and I knew this one was going to be a doozie! Dr. said I could go on with it like that for a while but he knew where I needed to be and when I needed to be ready for it….Football season!!!!! Our’s here in East TN starts early and I will be a cast for the start of the season only to go to a boot before the second game. My son is playing now, freshman, along with all my son’s from other mothers so I have to be ready. I expect it…… and so do they!!!!
Surgery was scheduled for June 13, 2012 and I am now 13 days post-op.
Hi, although our rehab approaches and injuries differ enough for perhaps there be no synergy in our recoveries our timelines to full recovery appear to the be the same - just wanted to wish you a speedy and straightforward recovery.
Best wishes
Andrew
Comment by Andrew — June 24, 2012 @ 2:37 pm
Thanks Andrew, yes the more I read about everyone and how different things are……the one constant is the recovery…..ugh!!! I wish you a speedy recovery too! I also read here that full tendon strength take about 6-12 months once healed and ready to start strength training. Wow!!!! Learning too much from these blogs….not sure if it’s good or bad. LOL
Comment by Jenifer — June 24, 2012 @ 3:14 pm
Well I think it’s mostly good on the things we learn here some frightening tales at times but incredibly helpful and instructive. Particularly norms very helpful tips and others who are so caring. After reading for months I finally face my own surgery this Wednesday morning for paratenon excision and possibly tendon repair. Although the MRI shows only tendon thickening from paratenonitis my foot ortho said if he seems damage best to debride it so we don’t have to go back in later. Tried every conservative approach there is for many months now finally resigned to address it. A mild osteochondral medial side talar dome defect from past ankle sprains has become symptomatic in the process and may require arthroscopy in the future or it could improve as the ankle is strengthened from rehab and post surgery. Wish me luck all will keep u posted and try to start a blog as well. Starshep and norm and Ali and others have offered such wise advice to me some without even knowing it! My best to all I being my own road to recovery soon. Ps am 54 6′3 174 lbs very fit never had surgery in my life!
Comment by Xpf72q — June 24, 2012 @ 5:41 pm
Good luck, all of you! I love hearing that I’ve given “wise advice to me some without even knowing it!” and I’m sure the other two do, too. Thanks for the thanks.
Comment by normofthenorth — June 25, 2012 @ 2:21 pm
Your welcome norm you have no idea the help you have provided me and I’m sure many others in your thoughtful posts. I have been reading them for months and as I face my own surgery tomorrow on my tendon I count myself much better prepared on a host of things from using crutches to icing plans elevation you name it. You r the best along with the others here that offer selfless help! Will keep u all posted.
Comment by xpf72q — June 26, 2012 @ 9:30 am