3 Years Post-Op: What injury?
I hadn’t thought much about my Achilles over the last 2 years. I saw Ryan Howard of the Phillies rupture his on the last swing of the bat for the Phillies this past fall in their loss to the eventual World Champs, the Cardinals. That was a big time bummer for me and my family since we are Phillies fans. I knew the second I saw it that that is what had happened and now he is going through a long rehab to get back (hopefully he will get back after the All-Star Break). Anyway, mine has been holding up just great. I have been doing almost everything that I had been doing prior to the injury EXCEPT play volleyball. I miss it but figure I am 38 now so I don’t need to be running around playing against 20 years olds anyway. I figure as long as I can help run around and coach my 10 year old son’s baseball team I am happy! A poster had asked if I had a current comparison photo to share so here you go (This one’s for you Eross). Take care and quick healing to every0ne.
Calf Comparison and scar 156 wks post-op
wow, thanks! when I actually bothered to look at the dates i didnt think I would get any response. i’m currently six weeks post-op and your journey definitely makes me optimistic. Thanks again
also, your calves look great! hahaha
Thanks Eross. Wish you the best of luck with your recovery. Hang in there!
Final question for you… You said you dont play volleyball anymore, do you feel like you could but don’t want to risk it or are there some lingering issues? I ask because i am 21 and have been pretty active and athletic. I hope to continue many activities that could be risky like volleyball or whatever. You say because youre 38 and have kids you gave it up but if you were my age would you still play? any help you can give would be great
Eross, you may already know this, but many of us went back to our high-risk explosive sports after our ATs healed. I went back to competitive volleyball TWICE — and largely playing against 20 years olds, too, at ~25 yrs older than JBerton, too!
My right AT ruptured playing 6-on-6 court volleyball in late 2001. Had it repaired surgically, resumed play in the same league ~10 months later. 7-ish years later, late 2009, I ruptured the left one playing competitive 4-on-4 court volleyball. Repaired non-surgically. Not sure when I would have returned to volleyball if I HADN’T needed open heart surgery to replace my Aortic valve, about a year post-ATR#2. But with that, it was almost 2 years post-ATR#2. But I’m back now, playing both court and beach, including 2-on-2 beach with 20- and 30-somethings.
I do have a few “lingering issues” (plus some unrelated ones, like a trick knee!), but nothing that keeps me from playing volleyball at the level I used to pre-ATRs.
I think lots more people choose not to return to their high-risk sports, than are unable to because of “lingering issues”.
Wow normofthenorth! I am impressed by your drive. You are like an Ironman. Congrats on getting back to playing vball after all of that. And I totally agree with you. No reason at all Eross shouldn’t keep on keepin’ on.
Eross, I have absolutely no lingering issues with my ATR recovery. I continue to stay active with cycling, snowboarding, paintball, etc. Mostly I am now active coaching my son in baseball and basketball. The timing of the injury coincided with my son really getting into baseball. He started playing Spring, Fall and Travel ball (basically every weekend from March through October), all around that time. In a nutshell, I am basically too busy to really push myself into getting back into vball but I think if my son wasn’t so intense with baseball, I would almost definitely get back into it. Go for it and good luck.
Thanks for all the info normofthemonth and jberton. It really does help when im just starting out on this to get some info that straight from people who have gone through it all. Have my six week check up in a day or two and hopefully be ill be on my way to PT and complete recovery. Thanks again, through all the stuff ive looked at this has been the most helpful
Quick question for you guys – I had my Achilles tendon repaired (complete rupture) about a year ago (7/7/11), and feel that I am ready to resume playing recreational to semi-competitive soccer. In your return to sports, did you use any type of ankle/achilles brace or support? Did you use heel lifts? I did some research online and came across a product that costs around $110. I am not sure if it is worth it, but I am willing to pay almost anything to not have to experience this again. Any feedback that you can share would be greatly appreciated!
By the way – your calves do look great. Your right calf almost looks bigger than your left. Someone wasn’t skimping on the calf raises!
Thanks TonyM. I haven’t used any special braces, supports or lifts while returning to activity and $110 seems like a lot. If I remember correctly my surgeon said that the reinjury rate was something under 10% so it may not be worth it, unless of course it helps your performance, comfort and/or peace of mind (which is priceless).
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