I’m Cured!!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Well, not really, but it was time for my 6 month post and I wanted to start on a good note. Hello fellow bloggers, hope you are all doing well. My heart sinks every time I read about a rerupture, dvt or wound problem. Even after 6 months, I consider this a special community with “strangers” linked together with this bizarre and life changing injury! Thanks for the all the posts, comments and information. It was so helpful when I really needed it.
But now the update - October was a great month. I celebrated my bday in Rome (turned 52, yes, I am really old…) walked up and down the hills and cliffs of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Postano, Capri and loved every minute of it. Later, I went to PT about 6 or 7 times, and saw continued progress with my flexibility, strength and overall confidence in the foot. I walked 18 holes of golf, and I started wearing normal shoes to work. One week early in the month I felt sore and the heel felt swollen….then a week later I forgot I was injured. Now that is a great feeling! I wish that for all of you very soon in your recovery.
I am done with PT - I know the exercises, I just need to do them, so I will go to the gym on my own time and work out. The doctor suggested I hold off running til November. That is OK with me as I am biking and using the elliptical, and walking uphill on the treadmill at a good clip. I can do one legged heel lifts. My calf is still thinner but my husband and PT noted it was filling out. 
I am a type A - but I have surprised myself by not pushing the recovery stuff. Even though I am not 100%, I am enjoying all the stuff I can do, and confident that I will make it to 100% some time. I am surprised with my own patience. This is the same person who was FURIOUS that I had to wait 5 days between injury and surgery! Go figure. So now that summer is over ( and what a long summer it was…) I can finally start to do all the things I wanted to do during all the nice weather. Such irony.
Again, to recap - surgery May 1, cast for 6 weeks, walked with cast around 3 weeks, boot for 5 weeks, and no PT until about 18 weeks.
What did you all do with your old boot? I can’t bring myself to toss it. It just sits in my basement by the bike. Hmmm
I would post an Italy picture, but I have not figured that out. Pretty sad for a computer professional.
That’s it from my end of the swamp. The last thing I can say is — go Phillies!
GOOD FOR YOU!! I am far from your stage in this marathon but I look forward to the day where I too can “forget” about my injury. Your story has given me plenty of encouragement, thanks much.
GO PHILS!!
Comment by maestro 10.25.08 @ 12:03 pmNow… lets not argue but I am old!!! I’m 59, so I win that one… but like you I am improving day by day, and little by little, leg is still very weak, nowhere near to doing single leg heel lifts, but I will one day.
Happy recovery
Comment by annieh 10.25.08 @ 2:35 pmAnnie
Congrats on the progress…and patience! I have a couple of those boots laying around the house. Not sure what to do with them either.
I’m curious what your workout/home PT program is. I’ve been doing a self PT and am always looking to add some variety. Thanks!
Comment by daveleft 10.25.08 @ 5:11 pmCrutches went back to the NHS to be re-used, but the Airboot will either be a brolly stand or a vase for some dry fower arrangement I think.
Comment by uknodger 10.26.08 @ 3:41 amCongrats on Progress you six monther! I don’t know what to do with the boot either! its too gross to give away, but I got so many first class tickets and free drinks with it….maybe I’ll just keep as part of my Halloween costume box?
Great job!
Comment by kkdub 10.26.08 @ 3:43 pmHey! So glad to read your post. I’ve been to Capri…wasn’t it WONDERFUL! I’d like to spend a few weeks there..it was so beautiful..like something out of a travel magazine. Awesome strength you’ve got…1 legged calf raise! WOW! I’m handing on to my boot…I know we won’t ever need it again..but, better to save it.
I still have a limp. Guess I need to work a little harder on rehab. Maybe in spring it’s tennis for us??? Happy Halloween!
Comment by kristinatl 10.27.08 @ 8:21 amHi all - thanks for your notes.
Daveleft - my PT includes half hour on bike or elliptical, and I try to push with my toe area so I work my calf muscle. I then do steps for about 5 minutes… (back and forth, left to right and back) on a soft, half sphere that the gym has. I also do toe lifts - both together, and the bad one alone. I strengthen my hamstrings by lying flat with my legs propped up over a large (3.3 feet) plastic ball, raise my pelvis, and pull the ball in towards my body with my legs, working mostly the bad leg. It is a killer. But my favorite is just trying to balance as long as I can on my bad foot. I do this for 5 minutes, trying to see how long I can stand before touching down. It is really hard! Finally, I stand on a step sideways with my bad foot, and drop my other foot down about 4- inches. I also do squats, but they are boring. The PT basically had me doing reps of things…3 sets of 10. So I do at least that, except when I am timing things for 5 minutes.
At PT they had a wobble board that I think helped my side to side strength, but I cannot approximate that at my gym or at home.
Does anyone else have good home strength builders?
Kristin - yes, I could spend alot of time in Capri…or Positano, or Tuscany. Sigh. Maybe some day. Yes, watch out for us repair jobs on the courts this spring. We will be so good because we really want it and know how lucky we are to play again! I still limp sometimes…depends on my shoes, the weather, and what I did the day before.
Oh, let me say my one legged calf raise feels like I am lifting the sword out of the stone….but it is really just a inch or less. But still…..
Comment by tennisjunkie 10.27.08 @ 6:10 pmIf you go to Amazon.com and type in “rocker board” in the “search” box, you will find a variety you can purchase online if you don’t mind spending the money….
Comment by marianne 10.28.08 @ 10:52 amTennis Junkie-Sounds like that you are doing great! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back with you. I have been running on the treadmill and not on anything less then a predictable surface.(Just in case, I’m sure you know that feeling)I dont think I will go back to the old sports that I love, this experience was bad enough. I finally feel healed and it feels great! Hope all is well and continued healing.
Comment by matts 11.04.08 @ 12:51 amTennisjunkie–Congrats. This is a long and winding road huh? I’m 5 days behind you on surgery. I can’t do a single calf raise yet. I had to ease up a bit…possible tendonitis in/around my ankle. =(
Comment by damacar 11.10.08 @ 6:00 pmAs for the Italy pics…I have them all in my mind=) I’ve been to all the places you mentioned. (I have family there). What a wonderful birthday!!
Happy healing.
damacar
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>