Back in the water
Posted on April 17th, 2009 by jgsquash
Today I have:
- Done 35 minutes on a static bike, nothing too strenuous, enough to raise the heart rate a little (up to about 130 bpm). Tried to keep the rpm at about 70 which felt about right. Did feel slightly odd on each rev due to the tightness of the tendon.
- Swum 800m (2 sets of 400m) the first normal front crawl, the 2nd with a pull buoy
Felt good to be back doing some form of exercise, just need to be careful not to over-do it.
Wii-Fit games are “interesting”, tried the ski-salom and the marble game and the tightrope. I know others have found them a useful addition to the exercises. Tried to do some “Rowing Sqauts” but just don’t have the strength to push down into the “blue zone”, which if nothing else serves to remind me this is a marathon and not a sprint. I have no power in my right leg and at this point there is no way I’m able to go anywhere on tip toe on the injured leg.
Still one “limping” step at a time!
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Hi jqsuash,
Hope your recovery is going well. I was wondering if you’re experiencing any pain whilst walking. The reason I ask is that I was NWB for upto 6 weeks post-op. I was subsequently given an AirCast and was allowed to place FWB. I find that my tendon/ankle is fine in the mornings. However, throughout the day it get’s uncomfortable and by nighttime my ankle is quite red and swollen. Elevation and ice sorts this out. I also find that my tendon is stretching when I walk in my cast with one cruch. I was wondering if you experienced similar problems when you first started placing significant weight. I look forward to your response.
Hi Rudedog,
Good to hear you are FWB with the Aircast, I found it great having been NWB (I could only stand 2 weeks!)and could at least get around a little more easily. I don’t think I’ve had any of what I’d call “pain”. The tendon is stiff and I get twinges and at times it is uncomfortable, but not really pain. I guess walking around gravity plays its part. Certainly, like you I’m finding in the morning all looks pretty normal, but by the end of the day there is some swelling (although not really red) but I consider this “normal” given that the lymphatic system in the leg is probably struggling to deal with things right now. Stretching the tendon should be “good”, mine felt really tight, but each day it feels better and looser. The physio I’ve have been to says there is no way with my own muscles I’d be able to re-rupture the tendon at this point. So, sitting down with your leg strectched out I could quite happlily dorsiflex my foot and using just the shin muscles only feel a “nice” strectch in the tendon. At all times I was listening to my body and not pushing it further than it wanted to go. I’m just coming up for 6 weeks post-op and I will have been 2-shoes for the last couple of weeks. I see you have your first physio session tomorrow so be interesting to hear what they say.
Good luck and I look forward to hearing of your progress.
Cheers,
JG
Hi
Thanks for posting on my blog. Good to hear you are back exercising and swimming. I’ve been doing lots of good foot cycling on an exercise bike, keeping the busted one elevated and out of the way. It is good to do some exercise and is helping to keep the lbs off!
All the best with your recovery, hope you continue to progress well.
Si