jimminyc’s AchillesBlog

Back on the Bike - 14 Weeks

So, I am approaching the 14 week mark now and it has been a while since I blogged, sorry for my absence and I hope everyone is doing well, I will be off the the main site to check on people after this.

Things are going okay, I have my first physio for 4 weeks tomorrow as she sent me away last time to work on my walking and to just regain confidence in my foot. Overall that has gone well, I have been driving to some nice places with my wife and kids at the weekend, doing plenty of walking and finally got rid of my limp (98% of the time) last week at 13 weeks. That is not easy, it is difficult to shift!

At the weekend I decided to try my bike, I have a CX bike with SPD pedals, first I tried with normal shoes and went round my village a few times, it was ‘okay’. Then, I spent some time staring at the soles of my SPD shoes thinking about moving the cleats backwards, but then my shoes would catch the wheel so I thought this would be more dangerous than leaving them where they were. Finally I juust threw them on and went round the village again. IT felt better than normal shoes and my foot felt much more stable and predictable. Luckily I have a pair of Northwave MTB shoes so they are quite comfy and have a Vibram sole, I think this helps. A couple of pointers for thos thinking about getting back on the bike.

• Screw the spring tension right out on the ATR pedal
• When setting off, which I do with my right (bad foot) on the pedal, start not clipped in with the pedal more tawards your heel, for a short instance all your weight is on your foot and it feels safer this way
• Use your good foot to pull up and assist your bad foot in pushing down
• Concentrate and look ahead for dogs and other hazards!
• Remove both feet from the clips at junctions

Yesterday and today I have done the 11 mile round trip to work and back and each way takes about 5 minutes longer  but I quite enjoy my relaxed ride in. I do not have to go on any main roads as I have a disused railway line to ride to ride on, this is very useful.

Other news, I still get quite a swollen leg, ankle and foot every day by the evening time which returns to normal size while I sleep. This does not seem to be getting any better at this stage, did anyone else suffer from that out there at this stage??

Also, people think I am better now because I am driving, walking and cycling slowly, I have to reasure them that I am still not anywhere near back to normal yet. I think you have to have medical knowledge or have suffered an ATR to understand the implications!

Good luck to all, off to see how people re doing!

5 comments May 31st, 2012

Normality Brings Progress - 10 Weeks

Thursday night I decided to have my first evening out without my boot, someone was leaving at work and was going for a few beers and a curry, I set some simple rules for myself before leaving:

• Don’t drink more than 3 pints
• Don’t try to cross the road unless there is a big gap in traffic
• Always (ALWAYS) look where I am walking
• Don’t go too hot on the menu choice due to bed to toilet transit time!

It went well, and I enjoyed the freedom of having no boot in a social environment.

Saturday I decided to have a go at driving, my right foot being the injured one this has not been possible for me so far. I did a few laps of my local area then drove to the shops. It felt fine, but was hard work to begin with.

Yesterday I did some more driving and then 2 hours of gardening (Aircast back on for mowing the lawn) and yesterday evening I was really feeling like I may have done too much, my AT felt tight, my calf was hurting a bit and I had concerns. This morning however, my AT and ankle felt really good, a bit like your legs feel after a long bike ride, tired but well exercised.

So, I think that I have learnt from this weekend that it is okay to push, within limits, and in return you get rewarded with some progress, all be it fairly minor. Obviously this is a long road but every degree of ROM returning is a little step in the right direction. I drove today, 300% easier than Saturday, such a difference for 2 days.

My next goal is cycling (actually on a bike, rather than he physio exercise bike). I have this in my schedule for end of week 12.

Happy healing all.

3 comments May 7th, 2012