justjacks23’s AchillesBlog

Consultant Appointment: 20 April 2016

April 21, 2016

Firstly, it is nice to have received such positive comments from other ATR victims.  I take on board all the messages.

Well yesterday was my appointment with the consultant, normal procedure - fracture clinic, remove cast, up to Ultrasound, scan, back down to fracture clinic, discuss surgery or non-surgery options then, what should have been a re-cast of my left leg.

However, things are never that straight forward.  First off the ultrasound dept. were saying an ‘Urgent’ scan meant a 3-4 week wait.  Cue a trip back down to the consultant who rang through the urgency of the matter and with a bit of internal politics at the hospital we were actually dealt with as an urgent case.

The wait for an Ultrasound was about an hour but when I was seen it was confirmed that I had an 8mm full rupture of my left Achilles’ tendon.  No miraculous news of it’s just “a really badly sprained ankle”.  I was kidding myself as with what I’d read on the internet when you hear that elusive “Pop” you can bet your bottom dollar that it’s gonna be your Achilles.

What I hadn’t counted for was the additional news.  I have been suffering with an acute pain at the top of my left calf just behind the knee.  I thought it was just a muscle ache where I have been holding my leg whilst on the crutches.  No such luck……a DVT, or blood clot to keep things simple.

So, back down to the consultant at which point I thought I’d be getting a new plaster cast back on (something for my girls to paint) but no, with the blood clot he said that the plaster is too tight and I’d have to go straight into the Robocop boot for 4 weeks with the 3 wedges in the heal.  The first, I think, comes out at the 4th week and then another at 2 week intervals.  I was then taken round to the ACU to have blood tests and have been put on blood thinning medication to sort the clot.  What was amusing was the consultant came round with me and was told it was a 6 hour maximum wait.  Apparently my risk of pulmonary embolism was low but nevertheless they did bump me up the list….god bless the NHS for having common sense, some of the time.

Now I was wavering on surgery or non-surgery.  I was told that one of the orthopaedic consultants had opted for non-surgery and if he’s an expert in the field then you have to give some thought to that.  However, the clot pretty much made the decision for non-surgery…..not sure they want someone on blood thinners on the surgery table!

So, I have an appointment booked for 4 weeks time; a line in the sand and a horizon in the relative short distance.  Having goals certainly helps the mental side of things.  I will continue with my upper body weights as I don’t want to turn into a fat dad!

I feel like seeing the consultant has brought everything into focus.  I’m not going to wallow in self pity.  I have a family holiday to France mid-August.  My goal is to be confidently walking, swimming and playing with the kids by then.  More than enough time.

Simon

p.s. I have tickets to take my son to see Watford v Crystal Palace at Wembley this Sunday.  I had lined up his god father to take him but it’s an experience I wanted to share with the lad.  It’s his home town team playing (Watford, I’m a Brighton fan) and his first experience of Wembley stadium.  It appears that Wembley have great access and assistance in getting to the ground from Wembley tube so I think I’m going to go for it.   I’ve got 3 days to rest up before then.  Here’s hoping for the right result on the day⚽️⚽️⚽️

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