I am sooooo bored stiff. I am only two weeks post-op and all of this waiting is driving me batty. Does anyone have any suggestions to pass the time (other than the TV, computer, and books) ?
Hello everyone! I never thought, as I am sure most of you are, that I would end up with an injury like this, with lots of time on my hands to think and write. My journey started on June 8th, 2008 while playing my eighth softball game in eight days. (two tournaments in a row). It was the third game that particular weekend and we were in the bottom of the fifth inning when a line drive came down low in front of me in centre field. I took a quick step for it, (it was an easy catch) when WHAM! something hit me in the back of the leg and I landed on my hands. I turned around thinking at first that someone had hit a homerun on the field behind us and I had been hit with the ball. When I saw nothing I thought #!%$@!, because I knew exactly what had happened. My husband ran over and I told him what was wrong and they carried me off the field. The pain wasn’t that bad and I watched the rest of the game with a big pack of ice. Since we had all 3 of our kids with us, my husband dropped me off at the hospital and took the kids to the in-laws and went to the next game.
The emergency doctor was really nice and I joked with him to hurry because I had another game in 2 hours. Since I could wiggle my toes I thought that maybe things weren’t as bad as I thought, but the doctor said “You are just kidding yourself, this is a really bad injury”. He put me in a 200lb plaster cast and made pre-op arrangements for the following Thursday. (my injury happended sunday afternoon) After seeing the orthopaedic surgeon, my surgery was scheduled for Friday June 13th.
Waking up from surgery wasn’t pleasant. I had some kind of nerve compression from the cast being improperly applied while I was still asleep and within an hour of recovery I was so pumped full of Morphine and percacets that my heart rate dropped to 48 and my oxygenation alarm kept going off . The nurse kept saying “breath honey”. It also took 14 hours to be able to use the washroom afterwards. The pain after day 3 was virtually gone and I was off the percacets which were making me throw up. I lost the last 8 baby pounds in the 5 days post-op! What a way to diet.
Two days ago I had my first post-op appointment. I only had two stitches, one at each end of an incision about 4 inches long. Apparently the rest were internal, dissolving stitches. The incision didn’t look too bad, but they had to straighten my foot back out because the first cast rotated my whole foot inwards towards my other foot. (very painful). In two weeks I go back to get my third cast when they will start stretching me out as far as they can. I have been advised to take lots of pain medication before I get there cause its “gonna hurt like hell”. That scares the crap out of me. The surgeon told me it had been a really nasty rupture and that he had to go “fishing” for the other end. He says that is why I have had so many cramps in my calf, because the muscle was bunched up for the 5 days waiting for surgery.
So here I sit, mother of 3 with my youngest only 9 months old at the time of my ATR. It has been especially difficult because I cannot pick him up, carry him to change his diaper, or chase him around while he crawls and plays. Luckily, my oldest just turned 13 and since school was almost over we took her out for one week to babysit. This past week, mom and mother in law have been taking turns with the baby. It really sucks. Poor little guy is scared of my cast and crutches, and unless it is covered with a blanket, he cries when people pass him to me. What a crappy way to spend your maternity leave. At least I am not at work teaching high school biology!! I don’t know how people go to work shortly after this injury. I have recently started having significant pain again due to that nerve compression on the top of my foot. I wish I had known earlier that the position was wrong, but I have never had a cast before so what do I know!!
Anyhow, I have been fit and active my whole life and I am just pissed off about this whole thing because it really sucks. Especially when I see people who are overweight walking around. I can’t even do that right now. Oh well, I am hoping for a speedy recovery and am excited to see all of the stories here on line. It has made everything much easier to deal with. Good luck everyone, and hopefully we will all be in 2 shoes in no time!!
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Congratulations Jenny, on your baby girl. I guess she isn’t brand new anymore… About 6 months old?
This is the first time I have checked this site and the first time I have read your June 2009 post.
My girls are 4 and 2 now.
It’s been a year & a half now since the ATR. Things are going well. I am running fairly regularly and doing aerobics classes at the Goodlife.
Thinking about playing basketball again, but very afraid. Have you played any sports yet? You had mentioned you were going to wait a bit before attempting slo-pitch.
Your thoughts???
Hope you are well.
Shelley
From my experience the purple toe thing is totally normal. Even after two weeks FWB my foot still goes a lovely red color first thing in the morning. Although it now quickly regains a normal colour. Wiggling the toes definitely helps and so does slowly increasing the amount of time each day that you have your foot in a normal position.
I think once you start PWB/FWB the increased usage of the foot tends to help the blood flow and lots of these issues clear up pretty quickly.
Hi, I am 5 weeks post operation, and like you I have tried very hard to keep my foot elevated. When I go to the bathroom, on crutches, as I put my foot down, not on the floor, it feels as if the blood is rushing to my toes. I can only leave my foot down, for say four to five minuets tops. Otherwise my toes go a shade of purple. Also, my AT still hurts, also with pains from my calf occasional. but it is getting better. I am seeing my consultant next week. I can not even think about FWB or physiotherapy, it scares the hell out of me. Keep resting, see if you can get to your doctor or consultant. Good luck.
Congratulations, you must be made of steel to cope with achilles and being pregnant. Hope you have a happy time ahead
Hi
Its very encouraging to hear such news. congratulations on the new arrival. i have just suffered a re-rupture while still in cast and have to go through the whole process again. but your energy and happiness is a great help.
I have 3 children and am really looking forward to getting back in to the groove with them again. take it easy and don’t try to get going too soon. it seems that re-ruptures are all too common and you really have a lot on your plate there. also - tendons after pregnancy are not at their best and still pretty loose with all those hormones. so take care.
anna woodfine
uk
Congratulations on the newest addition to your family and hitting the one year marker! Haven’t been to the site in a while and was glad to see so many posters hitting the “marathon” ticker end.
Hi,
I am in my third fibreglass cast. The second one was causing a sense that the wound was opening. Just as tennisjunkie did, I ended up going in because I was sure it was too tight …
They were happy to open it up and it was also just fine … but a little red.
Hi
That sounds horrible poor you. I hope you’re having better luck with your new cast. I would totally agree if you feel uncomfortable/sore or more pain then usual go and get it checked out. I broke my ankle about 3 weeks ago now and I had a non weight bearing cast after the operation for a week which was fine. My foot was healing ok when they took it off to put the plaster cast on which I was supposed to wear for 10 days. It then it went down hill. After about a week I started getting pain in my foot. It felt like something was stabbing in my toe and I noticed my toes were bigger. I went to the doctor they said the circulation was fine and just to stay off my feet until my 10 day check up which was 3 days away. I stayed in bed with my foot elevated. The pain was just getting worse and worse and I was on really strong pain killers but they were doing nothing for it. In the end 2 days before my 10 day check up I noticed some blood on my toes. I decided enough was enough and went to A&E and they cut off the cast. They found that my toes and the front of my foot had swollen up badly and I had blisters because the cast was too tigh
Jenny,
Congratulations on your pregnancy and continued recovery!
Regards,
Moms “owie”
hi Hobblit, It is supposed to help with circulation and swelling. I have noticed considerable decrease in swelling aroung my ankle since I started it one week ago, but my PT also started the electrical therapy at the same time so I am not sure if the results are from one or both
I get that pain sometimes when I’m carrying my 30lb daughter. I haven’t thought of acupuncture. How does it help?
Jenny,
Glad to hear things are progressing well for you. Sorry can’t answer your question, but I hope it is scar tissue breaking up & feels better for you soon.
Shelley
I’m sorry you are having a hard time I’m now at 13 weeks and pretty much independent again - driving, walking (SLOWLY) and with gimp limp. But I know how you feel. Suddenly it will be three months and you won’t believe how hard it was to do anything. Hang in there…it does get better…BUT you should take your moments of frustration and sadness. This is NOT hero’s work. kkdub
I’m in the same boat as you, minus kids and responsibilities. I too try to remain positive, and in truth a lot of good things have come out of this, but any way I slice it I’m just plain sick and tired of it all. Ok, that was not encouraging. Go team go!
Hey Jenny,
Sorry to hear you’re going through a rough patch. I can understand how it’s frustrating to not be able to do things after such a long period of time. This injury is teaching us patience, that’s for sure. No rushing it. Our body will heal at its own pace, no matter what we want.
Try to give yourself a break and rest a bit. I know it’s hard with the responsibilities of being a mom, among others. But this time will pass…
Shake it off and keep positive!
Shelley
Jenny, let yourself get angry - don’t bottle it up. This injury sucks. That being said, look ahead 6 months and think of how you will be looking back at this relatively short period of your life.
Hang in there - there are good days and bad…
Ed
Hi Ladies, thanks for your support. My PT went a little better today after the rest on the weekend. I guess I will just have to cut myself a little slack and ease up for a while. Patience is a virtue!!
Walking barefoot I still consider a NO-NO unless on the carpet in my bedroom. Outside the room there’s linoleum, etc - so that’s my rule for myself, even though I’m out walking and driving now at 12 weeks. Your husband is what he is, and worn out himself by your handicapp, but still what counts for you both is that YOU recover, and that YOU be the priority for these last few weeks. Take it as EASY as you can, consider it a “call from heaven” to contemplate, think, read, rest and even restore other parts of your health.
I was pretty mad back in June but by mid-July I was heavily into reading and DVD’s - also writing critiques on these books and films at http://www.epinions.com, just to “kill the time” but also to get feedback on my ideas. Travel books are great, e.g. “Fried Eggs with Chopsticks”, about travelling alone as a woman through China and having a HARD TIME - yep, these books cheered me up, that I was in lovely USA.
Michael Palin’s DVD series, “Around the World in 80 Days”, is another one; he’s got trials and tribulations of all types, like diarrhea on an 8-day dhow ride near the Suez Canal. I love this kind of stuff!
[...]Jenny,
I cannot believe it has taken so long for you to hit the ‘wall’, but rest assured this awful feeling will right itself. You are tired, exhausted, frustrated etc. etc. You must rest a little more until you gain your positive side again. We have all been there and you will come out of it. I could cry for you!!
Take care
Annie
Jenny,
Even though I just posted positively for a change, I feel your pain…..but you should try to not get down on yourself. This is definitely a “rollercoaster of a ride” type injury. We all have the small rewards and the set-backs as well–emotionally and physically. We are at the same time-frame and I too am thoroughly sick and tired of all of this, am also still experiencing quite a bit of discomfort with the swollen, reddened portion of my incision. I would follow your PT’s advice and give yourself a break…..easier said than done, but try to let the things that can wait, wait. I too am walking very slow and still using crutch/cane. I never walk barefoot, mainly because I still can’t get my heel flat on the floor. Maybe try leaving shoes on so you won’t hurt your feet? Speaking of exhausting PT, I’ve got to go now to mine…..just thought I would let you know, you are not alone…..i expected to be further along by now also….but we are, where we are and we’ll all get through this at our own paces.
Marianne
Jenny,
I’m doing well. It’s nice that there’s no pain.. just more of an inconvenience at this point. My knees are bruised big time from carrying my baby around the house but I am managing. My 2-year old has been amazing and is being so good to her baby sister, which is a big help to me.
I have made a list of “Pro’s” for this ATR happening. One was that I am spending better quality time playing with my girls, instead of driving around to various activities, playgroups, etc.. just trying to keep busy. We play on the floor, colour, read, lots of attention & quality time.
I am very grateful to be getting so much help. My parents are here to help me almost every day while my husband is at work. It will be nice though when I can actually take care of my family on my own again and feel a little more independent. I’m sure that will come as I can start to weight bear.
Seeing the doc tomorrow for 4-week post-op. I will post pictures & update.
How are you doing with your little one?
Hi Shelley, I have an appointment on Oct.2 so I will see what he has to say then. How are you doing?
Hey Jenny,
Have you talked to Dr. R. about your osteopenia? I wonder if he has seen this before. Seems like we go a long time immobilized before getting into the boot compared to some on this site.
Hope the bone density in your foot comes back with time and you don’t have to worry about this, as well as your AT!
Take care,
Shelley
Jenny,
Very normal to have osteopenia following immobilization of weight bearing bones. They should take films of the opposite leg so that it can be determined that in fact it is from the immobilization and not of another cause. If its from the casting than time and weight bearing will increase the calcium in the bones. You should take a calcium supplement. Also with rehab make sure you are careful and not to overdo it so as to avoid stress fractures of those bones. Give it time and everything should be fine.
Good luck
Doc Ross
Hi Marianne, They are called “Wright Sock” Running Lite and come in small, medium, and large. I believe they are listed as “crew” socks. They come up about five inches and end about 2.5 inches above my incision so no rubbing
After I read your post, I immediately went to the Running Room online store to look for the socks you bought. I have yet to find a pair of socks that don’t irritate my incision. Could you tell me the exact name of the type of sock you bought? There are so many double layer socks to choose from online at the store site, but none that say “frictionless”..I would really appreciate it. I am desperate !!!!
Thanks in advance and congrats on all your wonderful progress!!!!!
Marianne
Congrats on the two milestones! That’s so exciting. What a good way to celebrate - with a new pair of shoes. I think i will do the same at that point.
What kind of exercises are you doing for PT now? Are they suggesting doing lots of walking?
Nice that you can drive again. It must be nice to not have to depend on other people to get around now.
I called ACU about my cast, and they are supposed to call me back. Hopefully they can fix it for me.
Take care.
Shelley
I started driving after 1st post op at 1 week. Doc said OK just use the left foot. I had to buy an old car with an automatic because both of our cars are manual. Of course I only drive 3 miles, in town, to work each day. My wife drives everywhere else. You should be fine. Just be cautious.
