A pretty crappy weekend.
February 1, 2008.
4 pm: Friday afternoon, thinking about the weekend and getting off work. American Red Cross to the rescue, blood drive in the parking lot at work. Perfect, I’ll give some blood, get a $20 gift certificate to a decent restaurant, and some free tickets to the Lakers (who I hate, but will go to the game to root against them). I’ll head home for a rest and then off to play in an evening co-ed soccer game, cruising right into the weekend. I sign about six pages of disclosures at the blood drive, one of which says something about “no strenuous activity for 24 hours.” Blah, blah - that is for old and fat people, whatever.
9 pm: Soccer match, second half, 5 min or so in. My cleat breaks, WTF? These are great cleats. I go to the ground to check my left cleat. Oh no, this is bad, Achilles rupture. (Being a Certified Athletic Trainer is not always a good thing, especially when you hurt yourself.) Weird thing is, not too much pain. Off to the ER where I see the worst PA on the planet. “Can you put weight on it? Try to walk. Can you push off?” Are you freaking kidding me? Luckily the PA leaves and calls the attending ortho, who told her what to do - the Thompson test. Simply squeeze the calf, foot doesn’t plantar flex, there you go… (The PA should be happy I’m not litigious.)
June 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Sorry to have you joining our group. You know the drill - its a long haul - but just take it one step at a time. Like you, I had very little pain (and frankly hardly any swelling. That, I understand, is good and bodes well for recovery. The surgery for me was much less painful and annoying than I expected.
Great people at this site - hang in there!!
Ed
June 15th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Hey welcome to the ATR nation. I had my ATR at soccer also, 19 days after you.
The thing about your post I like is getting paid to donate blood, I think I’ll move across the pond and claim back my 52 donations !
Good luck with the recovery.
Johnk
June 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Bummer. Welcome to the club.
You know the drill — that’s for sure. So sorry this has happened. As a long-time athlete and college basketball player who spent a lot of time in athletic training rooms, I also knew the implications of the ATR. UGH. Good luck. Take care of yourself and read the posts — they help!
June 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I sympathize. I’m 12 days post op. Happened while at tennis. There seems to be a lot of us out here with this. From what I can gather we will recover but it will be slow. I suspect this will change me. I’ve always been healthy and my body has never let me down. This feels like a warning to look at life differently, slow down a little and appreciate the small things like walking and putting on 2 shoes. The surgery isn’t too bad. The after effects last a few days and the pain killers help. I just got into a cast from a splint. I felt stronger but tripped yesterday on a step. I didnt put it down but the foot and muscles clenched ready for impact and the pain was mighty bad. I’m taking it easier now. So.. be patient and be kind to yourself.
This is an excellent web site.
Paul
June 15th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
So if you hate the Lakers I like you already.
Welcome aboard…grab an ice bag, have a seat and start bloggin!
June 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Thats funny when I tore my AT at my softball game, the ump came out and told me to walk it off. I told him I thought I tore my achilles tendon and he told me that I would be in much more pain. I asked him if he tore his and he said “No”..People I tell ya
June 16th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Sorry to hear that you have joined our club. As Walshie said start bloggin, but I’ll add have a beer or three. This injury will test your patience.
Let us know how you’re doing.
Doc Ross
June 16th, 2008 at 10:18 am
j211,
Looking at your blog, I can see this happened to you on Feb 1st? So, mr. athletic trainer, how’s it been since? I’m guessing your all two shoes and physical therapy, n’est pas? I’m hoping your red blood cell count was high enough for speedy surgery! Sorry that this happened to you, but look forward to your recommendations as the rest of us follow your recovery.
I wasn’t in pain at all. Someone out there must have had the most excruciating experience with ATR, that everyone that ever hears I did this has an involuntary shudder and asks me how painful it is. I try not to showboat my “pain tolerance,” but I’ve indulged in that a few times.
Good luck in your recovery. Good to have you here.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:33 am
j211-
Hope your recovery is going well.
My injury didn’t initially hurt, in fact, I didn’t know what it was. I was working out with my Certified Personal Trainer, running against a bullet belt. We, and the whole gym, heard the POP! I thought he had let go of the band, or it had broken. Neither, so I was going to check my shoe. I guess I thought maybe Shox would make a noise if they broke. Stepped down on my right leg, didn’t feel right. Right then my trainer yelled at me to sit down. I turned around to look at him and saw his face. I said,”OMG, was that me?” He knew, but was hoping it wasn’t…my achilles. He did the calf squeeze. Nothin.
So here’s a good question for you: Have you ever had a client get injured while you were training them? If so, how did you get over feeling reponsible? My trainer still isn’t over it. I told him I may have been the first, but probably wouldn’t be the last. I’m not mad at him and in no way hold him responsible. I will say that i’m thankful he kicked my ass the way he did the last 8 months! I know i’m strong enough to get through anything. Hang in there!
Dani
erie–i’ve done the same showboating a few times. =)
June 18th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
All,
Thanks for the encouraging responses.
dani- fortunately I have never had anyone injure themselves during any workouts with me. I don’t know how I’d get over it. Just another real life example, Brad Faxon (world calss golfer, known for his putting prowess) ruptured his ACL during balance training with his trainer. In all my time on the athletic fields/courts I never encountered an ATR (besides my own). Tough way to get experience. Your recovery should go very well due in part to your training prior to the injury.
eriedutchgirl - To answer your questions… I had surgery on 2/11, hence my userID. The MD needed the swelling to abate. It has been a very depressing phase of my life. (This is my 3rd ortho surgery. #1 - R elbow fracture, open reduction, internal fixation, read “big screw in elbow”, and #2 R shoulder osteochondral defect - chunked a nickle sized piece of cartilage from the head of my humerus. Both during snowboarding. I know, I should land on my feet. ATR has been the worst so far.) At about two 1/2 months I really felt like I was getting better. I got back on my bike, but did too much too soon and developed tendinitis in the “healthy” distal portion of my achilles. I didn’t think that I was pushing too much. Iced after every ride, Vitamin I (-buprofen), elevated, did what I should have. Oh well. If I had anything to recommend, I guess it would just be to take time to listen to what you are feeling, and don’t feel bad telling your doc or PT when it hurts.
Johnk - How are you coming along?
I saw another post where people were asking about surfing, anybody here miss the ocean as much as I do?
June 19th, 2008 at 7:13 am
J211,
Attending PTtwice a week and cycling to work and back 2/3 times a week. Tendon is tender just now, worked 18 straight days, I think it might just be too much at the moment, so ?I am backing off from the cycling until after my holidays.
Glad to hear that you are coming along nicely.
Johnk
July 12th, 2022 at 1:17 am
I take a look at my left cleat on the ground. Achilles rupture? That’s not good at all. When you get hurt, being a Certified Athletic Trainer isn’t always a good thing.) Weirdly, there’s not a lot of discomfort. On my way to the ER, where I’ll see the worst PA in the world. No, I don’t know how to octordle put weight on it. Try to get up and walk. How about a push off?” You have got to be kidding me.
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