Week 15- The little miracles
3.15.11: So, it seems that the large milestones have come to an end, (I realize only for the time being). The next few large ones I suspect are a ways away, like jumping, running, etc. But, for now, and for the last 3 weeks or so, I’ve been paying close attention to all the “little miracles”.
A few weeks ago I accidentally took 3 running steps. Not necessarily a “good” thing, but, I recognized it in one way, as a “little miracle”…considering the reason I took those running steps was that although I was out in the yard, walking in snowboots in 2 feet of uneven ground…I had forgotten that I was recovering from an ATR. My repaired achilles felt just like the other one, and during that brief walk outside on that sunny, snow-filled day…I felt like my old self for the first time in 3+ months!
Just this past Friday my tendon started to hurt pretty strongly, in a really odd spot, and it seemed really sporadic. I was a bit worried. I hadn’t felt these types of pains before. I also noticed a few other “odd” spots on different areas of my foot and in my calf that also felt sore and “sharp”, again, sporadically, but strongly. I took it easy, and layed-off the PT over the weekend, and just tried to keep the foot loose and moving. It was still hurting on Sat., and on Sun. as well. By Monday evening as I headed to the gym, it seemed to subside…once I got to the gym and started my PT exercises on the BOSU ball, it was like I had a new achilles! My ROM was HUGELY improved over just the previous Thursday. My calf exercises on the weight machines had a MUCH larger range of motion w/no perceptible stiffness at all, and my heel raise lowering felt stronger than ever before, and way, way more controlled. It was like that soreness was just my achilles and the surrounding muscles stretching out, strengthening, growing new tissue…whatever, but it was good. And I appreciated it, and I took the time to notice it.
Today, as I was walking around at work, my achilles felt “normal”. There was no stiffness, no slight weakness, it just felt “normal”. No soreness sitting at my desk w/my legs crossed for an hour, no need to pull up a chair to elevate my leg… I know that my achilles is not “normal” yet, and I know that I still can’t do a 1-legged heel raise, and I can’t run…but…I can sit comfortably now, and I can walk, and I can walk well, and it FEELS good to walk, and it FEELS normal. I pay attention to that!
These “little miracles” aren’t me jumping or skiing or running a 5K, or playing a round of golf…but they were me feeling small achievements in BIG ways, and they feel really, really great!
I urge you to just pay attention to the “little miracles” of each day!
James said,
March 15, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
I’m one week post op, sucks to be on crutches. When were u full wt bearing
iski7b said,
March 15, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
FWB as tolerated, at week 4 (which ended up just being FWB).
A knee roller is a nice alternative to crutches. I rented mine from a local medical supply place for about $80/mo. Well worth the money.
I had a VACOcast, which is what I was FWB in, for about 6 weeks. I recommend it highly.
Week 1 post-op is a tough time, one of the worst….it just keeps getting better from there, truely. If you can get past the first few weeks and keep a positive attitude, you’re “home free”!
Keep yer chin up!
lsjoberg said,
March 16, 2011 @ 4:14 am
hey, none of those sound like little miracles to me, those are all a big deal!!! I would kill to be able to comfortably work the leg on a weight machine, for example : )
janet said,
March 16, 2011 @ 11:56 am
Gotta celebrate the victories….even if they seem small to everyone else…we know differently. I, too, would kill to be able to do anything with my legs…dead lifts, squats, even lunges…which I have always hated.
My goal is to be able to do a spin class before summer……I may not be able to stand when riding yet…but to just be able to do a class and sweat would be absolutely wonderful.
Congrats on the miracles….can’t wait to feel ‘normal’
liverpoollass said,
March 17, 2011 @ 12:35 pm
They may be small to other people but to us ATR people we know how significant they are. It take sus so long to achieve the little miracles so celebrate them, enjoy them and use the positivity they generate to kepp you moving forward. Well done and carry on healing.