Who did that?

Monday i had my full cast removed and had it replaced with a removable cast and foot Shoe.

Still not the Airboot I was hoping for, but a marked improvement on the full cast!

It’s almost the same but split down one side and held together with velcro straps, the shoe is a bulky rubber sole that is strapped on to the bottom of the cast.(also removeable).

The Orthopedic sergeon was very happy with the repair and was happy at the strength of the AT.

After having my new and improved cast i walked (kind of) to the physio department at Northampton General.

I had some basic physio to see how much movement i had in the ankle area and how much movement i had of the AT.

I had a student Physio looking after me and she was very gentle and really didn’t put to much pressure on my leg when manipulating it, even though i felt she probably cound have done!

Now i do have private health care through my work so I have always intended to use this to fund some private Physio. My Ortho kindly filled out my referal and relevant forms to send back to the insurance company. However they won’t except the referal from the the ortho it has to come from my GP!!!! Even though i’ve never seen my GP about the injury! To my horror, i have to pay my GP £48 for him to fill out my form!

I think i will visit my GP more often now to get my moneys worth!

Anyway, my Private physio are happy to treat me even though my forms haven’t been sent back.

I had my first session with them yesterday and it was great! She manipulated my foot alot more and also got me to do some more indepth exercises. She even suggested that by next week i should be able to sit on an exercise bike and gently pedle with no resistance to slowly get my leg working and for all the redundant muscles to remember what they are supposed to do! She finished off the session with some ultrasound treatment aound my scar to help break up the scar tissue.

I left the physio last night feeling really confident and the leg feels great, back again on thursday - can’t wait!

I have also managed to have my first full bath and finally got to wash my left leg….. pure bliss!

I’m going to be in my removeable cast for 3 weeks, and I’m hoping to be in shoes by the end of the 3 weeks if not before!

I’ll probably post after each physio session, to keep my progress updated.

Well, i went back in on Monday to have my cast removed and a new one put on.

The consultant advised me that when i come back in two weeks, i will be able to walk with either a final cast or an Air Boot!

My scar still looks fairly similar to how it did a couple of weeks ago, and my calf muscle has noticeably strunk along with my Quad! I’ve tried exercising my Quad to keep the strength up! Can’t wait to start some physio and getting some form of activity!

I manange dto get my Old cast signed by Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson& Chris Kamara so the hospital let me take it home with me as a souvenir!

Work have finally (fingers Crossed) sorted out me some work to do from home, and I should be back in to work on the 18th all going well!

…Ok so, i’ve only got 5 days untill I go back to have my stripey cast removed and new one put on!

I’ve found the last week and a half quite hard, mainly through  boredom!

I had a scare when taking the stairs in my house too quickly, I managed to some how loose one of my crutches and ended up putting minimal weight on my Left leg! I didn’t have any pain, but scared myself!

I’ve also been getting pins & needles in the fingers of my left hand! Not sure if this is because i’m leaning mainly to the left when i’m sitting. Has anyone else experienced this?

I’ve ventured out a few times to either watch my Sunday Team, go to the shops - Where I nearly lost my crutches again this time on a slippery floor - Nearly wet myself with fear of putting my foot down!

My Sister in Law & Niece took me to the park to feed the ducks in my lovely borrowed wheel chair, it was really good to get out and get some fresh air.

I’m hopefully starting Working from hope this week, after I’ve finally sorted out a connection to the Work Server!

Tomorrow Night I’m off to Kettering to spend an Evening with Soccer Saturday’s Jeff Stelling, Paul Merson and  Sir Mat Le Tissier, can’t wait. I’ll try and get Le Tiss to sign my Red & White Cast!

I’ll probably update again after my next visit to the Hospital.

As If to compound my misery, I recieved my acceptance to next years London Marathon this week!!!!

Excellent timing!!!!

I can at least defer it untill 2010!

Back in to Northampton General Fracture Clinic this morning to have my stitches out and to find out if I’d get a boot or another cast!

Although I’d seen pictures of other peoples Op scars, I was still quite shocked by the sight of my scar, it’s at least 9 inches long!!!!!!!!! (well in my mind anyway)

I got to voice my concerns to Mr George one of the orthopedic consultants, and he was very appologetic about my experience post op.

He advised me that I would be in a cast (NWB) for another 2 weeks, I asked about a boot and he explained that the surgeon prefers a cast as it keeps to leg totally secure and in the same place, where as with a boot I can remove it and the potential to cause damage. I do see their point of view, but somewhat disapointed.

I did however pursuade the nurses to give me a red & white stripey cast as compensation for not getting the boot. My new cast is a Fibreglass leight weight one and a million times better than the heavey plaster of paris one I had before.

I’m back in again in two weeks to have another cast and a new angle for my foot. I should hopefully be PWB after that.

Day 3 Continued - Ok….. back home and happily positioned on the sofa, Sky Remote & Wii controller to hand.

Happy to be in familiar suroundings and still relatively pain free, relegated to the spare bedroom as trying to fit my 6ft4 frame + my cast in the bed takes up the whole bed. Plus with Mandy 4 months pregnant I don’t won’t her sleep to be disturbed.

Days 4 -7…. discovered using the toilet was abit of a logistical nightmare! I quick call to the hospital and a lovely seat raise and frame wee delivered to make it easier to get up!

Starting to get the odd bit of pain, but elevating the leg and the odd Ibuprofen helps.

My days consisting of Skysports News, The Internet (where I discovered this place) and my Wii.

Mandy makes me a flask of coffee in the morning and I’m able to get to the fridge to get some pre made sandwiches for my lunch.

Faily good first week at home, ending with me venturingout on the sunday to go and see my team play.

I went armed with a camping chair and stool so i could sit and watch the game with my leg raised!

Wish I hadn’t gone as we lost 7-1………. clearly missing me n the heart of defence!!!

Days 8 - 13…. This week I’m feeling abit low as not used to being so physically restricted…. So i decided to try and  do a bit of washing up, prepairing dinner etc. Keeps me a bit busier although I did knacker me a bit.

Starting to get bored as well, so Work are going to try and sort me out with access to the work server so I can work from home! ( which is great as I’m offically signed off for 6 weeks but only get 10days paid sick!!! Ouch!)

Noticed this week that their seems to be some big gaps appearing in my cast, which I’m putting down to the swelling subsiding as the cast feels really loose as well.

Venture out of the house again, this time with Mandy to go shopping. Also managed to pop to the pub to watch Footy as well. A bit knackered now but looking forward to Monday when i go back to the hospital to have my stitches out and find out if I’ll get a boot or another cast.

I’ll be armed with plenty of questions, mainly thanks to some brilliant posts on this site - cheers guys.

and that brings me just about upto date!

Day 1…… I was expecting a long painful wait in Northampton’s A&E department and I wasn’t far off the mark!

After signing in at reception I was seen by the triarge nurse who took down a few details and did the Thompsons test.

She advised that I may have ruptured my AT but I still had to wait around to see a Doctor.

After about 2hours I saw my first Doctor and he did the same Thompsons test, and sent me off for an X-ray.

The X-ray was inconclusive and he wanted me to see another Doctor, this time an Orthopedic specailist.

Another 2 hours pass and the Orthopedic doctor saw me and confirmed that I had an ATR,  He gave me the option of a cast for 8weeks or Surgery in the Morning followed by 8 weeks in a cast.

He explained the Pro’s & Cons of the surgery and recomended that I took this option so that I could return to sport with a reduced risk of re - rupture.

I was a tad shocked that I would need surgery but could see the benifits of it, so signed the relevent forms.

I was wisked off to the plaster room to have a temporary cast put on and then up to my ward.

Day 2 - I surprisingly slept well and went down to theatre about 9am, the surgeon spoke to me briefly with loads of students in tow. He advised me that the operation would take about an hour and I that after some rest and a visit from the Physio I could go home the same evening!

I was pleasantly surprised by this and was taken through to have my anesthetic.

I woke up post op in the recovery room about 12pm! and was taken up to my ward.

I was feeling surprisingly bright and not in a great deal of pain, however the surgeon nor the physio came to see me and the nurses didn’t seem know what was happening!

I stayed another night on the ward and hoped to see someone in the morning.

Day 3 - Again slept well, and was looking forward to my breakfast. when everyone elses breakfast arrived and not mine I asked why? I was told I was nil bt mouth as I need to go down to theatre for my Op!!! I politely pointed out that I had already had my Op and I was waiting to be discharged!!!!!!!

After about an hour the physio came and took me to try some crutches and she was happy with me on crutches and said she said I could go home with the the doctors say so.

I had to wait until about 4pm for a doctor to see me, she pinched my toes and asked if i could feel them, to which i replied yes. She then siad “Fine you can go home”…… and that was that!

My first experience of the NHS and I was not overly impressed!