5 month funk
The most common question I get these days is “so how’s the Achilles…all better now?” I am not even sure how to answer. All better? Far from it! I walk with a limp, am in pain much of the day, still take stairs one at a time, my PT progress could be measured with a microscope and I still can’t do much that involves breaking a sweat.
To be fair I guess none of that is visible on the outside (other than the limp). My friends and coworkers see me walking and driving and minus all devices….in other words, all better.
I am not even sure what all better means or if I will ever be. I am more and more frustrated and impatient, not less. I feel awful with extra weight, low energy and accumulated stress. I feel even worse for having so much self pity…it could be so much worse. In the scheme of life, this is nothing. Still, it is my life and I hate it at the moment. So much of what I love and what held my life together has been taken away. Worse, its hard to imagine that I will ever get it back…the road to recovery is so long and then I will need to start from zero to build back any level of health and fitness.
I am sure many of you have had these moments of frustration and despair. What did you do to get through it? Is there anything I can do to move things along?
One day I think I just need to push myself harder and so I take more naproxen and go. The next day I often find myself on the couch exhausted and in more pain. Waiting isnt helping me get better but pushing it doesn’t seem to work either, especially when I have a family of five to take care of.
Advice, support or even a kick in the rear welcome
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Cross-fit? Boot-camp? Are/were you a cyclist? Is there something you always wanted to try?
You’re welcome to support from me — or a kick in the rear, if you think it would help!
The “mental game” is often a challenge, especially after the rapid pace of the early achievements gives way to what one sage here called “the frustrating plateau”. All I can say is hang in, keep moving, and keep believing that it will get better. Because it WILL!
And one more thing — actually a trick. If your problem with stair-walking is going down normally, because you’re nervous about flexing your “bad” ankle that far with that much weight on it, I discovered a little technique that can get you walking down stairs normally — or at least so normally that nobody will be able to tell that you’re using a trick. And you’ll get down the stairs twice as fast, too.
It works in 2 shoes, and it also works earlier, for people who are still in a boot or a walking cast. (I keep meaning to post this on a blog page by itself, or to have Dennis post a link to it, because many people have told me that it worked magic for them. . .)
Basically, instead of always leading with your “bad” foot then catching up with your “good” one, do this:
When it’s time to lead with your “bad” foot, instead of putting it deep on the step, so it’s on the flat stair, plant it so it’s around half on and half off the stair. Your heel will be securely planted on the solid step, but the ball of your foot and your toes will be sticking out, over air. Start with your weight on your heel, of course. Then step PAST that step with your “good” foot, while you ROLL or ROCK or PIVOT your “bad” foot around the “nose” or corner of the step it’s on.
You don’t ever have to flex your ankle at all! That’s why this can be done in a fixed boot, too. But that rocking pivoting motion can support your weight just fine while you finish the step.
If this move seems too scary at first, you can break it down into two steps at first: Plant your “bad” foot as above, then catch up with the “good” foot (leaving the “bad” foot half on, half off), then step down ANOTHER step with the “GOOD” foot. If you can do that, you can do the whole smooth, symmetrical, “normal” stair walk.
I hope that helps — and adds a needed psychological accomplishment to your part of the “plateau”, too!
Thanks much. I had heard the plateau was coming but it caught me off guard I guess because I never really had quick improvements. This whole recovery has felt like a plateau. Of course I look back and I can do things now that I couldn’t 2 months ago so I know it’s getting better. I am not really afraid of hurting it as much as i just have a lot of stiffness (ankle joint locks when walking forward likely due to imobilization for so long) and also tightness in calf muscle.
Another factor is that over thanksgiving I was on vacation in the Carribean and it felt great. I don’t know if it was the rum or the ocean water or beach walking or what but I even heard myself say “I think I am ready to start running when I get home” By the time we landed in Miami I was stiff and in pain again.
I figured the stair trick out too and that does help speed up life. I think you are right that it does help to have psychological tricks. I need to find the next trick to help me thought the next week.
Kristin-
Cross-fit? Boot-camp? Are/were you a cyclist? Is there something you always wanted to try?
A possible suggestion for you: find something “completely new” to do. Perhaps a new sport/activity/exercise-class which would involve your Achilles and beneficial to rehab… but at the same time, not have a previous benchmark that you were always comparing against. Might give a fresh perspective/outlook, and provide something where you could see steady improvement; because you’d be so bad to start
I’d also suggest trying to find the middle ground- a way to push yourself that doesn’t cripple you the following day. People ask me if I’m feeling better… the answer is honestly no. I have found a pain/discomfort level that I can tolerate. I’ve been at that level for probably a couple of months now. I dial up my activity to a level that gets me back to that pain level. What IS changing is what I can do. I’m not really feeling any better… but I’m skating faster, riding harder, jogging longer, etc. But, at the end of the day, I usually hurt about the same
Great suggestions. I feel like I’ve been trying to take that approach…focusing on more Yoga, bought a hula hoop for hoop dancing (not a great outdoor sport in WI but I am working on setting up a class with a teacher friend), have been trying to embrace swimming with a friend who had bunion surgery and just got a new bike trainer (cycling is my love) so hoping that will give me a spring training goal. I am still looking for a new fun activity and do believe that this injury is an opportunity to learn and try something new. Don’t think I am ready for boot-camp yet. I have a feeling that in another month or two more things will open up to me. Other activity suggestions welcome!!!!
I think you put it perfectly Ryan…I am able to do more in yoga, walking etc than last month, but the pain is the same at the end of the day (if not a bit more). Maybe I need to adjust my expectations and accept pain and build in couch time every evening along with more Ibuprofen during the day
Thanks all for helping me to feel that much of this is all normal. Feeling better already!
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kristin…I’m only three months since surgery and was given green light to put weight on foot yesterday, just a few hours of “walking” with use of a cane, but I’m happy. Point being, you are 5 months advanced and let yourself be human to have bad days (mindset), but reflect on the 5 months of progress from time of surgery. This is NOT a lifetime disability, you know that and with a family of 5 you have alot of demands. While giving yourself some room to feel down, you then must (as you know) take control of your thoughts…and appreciate the day…for what it is. You won’t get it back and I would suggest not “look past” it as we may not get another one. When I go to PT…like you I realize our fate is not as bad as it seems. There are people I see with nebulizers (lung issues) in PT and people with strokes. It’s not easy to say we got it good…but I just thought you can reflect up the fact that one day…you will run, if you want to do it. We each are in this and time is the issue, not question of “if”. I would just hope you don’t allow feeling down (which is human!) to pull you FAR down. You need the positive (if only, others have it worse…) to keep you motivated and allow time to be something that doesnt make you feel imprisoned, but rather, help you take things slower, until you get all amped up and stressed with the fast pace of life again. I kinda think we will all look back on this period of recovery, and say, if nothing else, we were able to relax - - a bit…and what we do with this time, is of our choosing. I look up to you for being farther along in the process and know you will continue on, even closer to full recovery. I’m jealous for now, but I’ll try to keep follow same path. You keep going…and value allllll that you have : ) it’s all so good!
Wisconsin. Mid winter… snowshoe’ing? Or, cross country skiing?? Both are fun things you could do with your family too-
And of course, if you’re in Milwaukee… I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest you go check out the programs at the oval (Pettit National Ice Center)- I’ve got friends/contacts over there who could help get you started
I am near Milwaukee…what’s at the petit? Not sure ice skating would feel all that great although I am taking my kids today.love cross country skiing but need snow and to find some flat trails…my usual spots are quite challenging. I was planning on trying snowshoeing too once we get snow! Keep the ideas coming!!!!!
I just downloaded a spin workout and felt great breaking a sweat. I actually think certain activities like biking are easier than walking. I have been focused on the walking difficulty…ie “I can’t even walk, how can I workout” but maybe this is a later skill to master?
Sorry if I have been whining, I feel like I have been optimistic and looking for the opportunities in this experience, but sort of feel like I have had enough. Hopefully this is a low point and I can only go up from here
http://www.thepettit.com/speed-skating/learn-how.htm
cool! Speed skating….I’d do it just for the cool olympic-style outfits
That seems a bit out of my reach at the moment, but maybe this winter. Thanks!
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kristin123,
Thank you for your post, I feel the same way.
Coping with a devastating injury is overwhelming and healthy people cannot relate to us. Only someone who has experienced this can know how difficutl it is.
No matter how you sugar coat it, an ATR is a life-changing event and we are survivors. It is frustrating when people around you want you to be doing better, so they can also feel better, but you are not. That’s why when people ask me how I’m doing, I just say “I’m surviving”. Because I am not really living, and I will never have the life I had before.
As you said, we loose so much, and so many dreams and goals have to be postponed or abandoned. To me, this is the saddest part of this injury, the lost opportunities.
In a way, we were robbed of time. This is the aftermath of injury, it is both physical and emotional. Nothing we can do to change our fate, we just have to accept it.
Just know that grief is a normal part of the healing process, and mourning the loss of vitality is necessary to reinvent ourselves. Best wishes for your continued healing. Claudia
I feel there’s a readon for both good & bad. The hard part is to decipher which is which. My ATR has been eye opening on many levels. Either good or bad there is a reason for everything, thats my mantra.
Positivity has been key for me….it is what it is & things could always be worse. Stay strong & keep the course.
Claudia…you hit it on the head. It is a loss and a grieving. I feel like I have lost much of my social life, my health, my mental health, my libido, my passion/goals, my self-esteem and confidence, and a year of my youth (if I can say that at 44!)
Yes, it is nice to spend time reading, watching movies, knitting, meditating and other joys of slowing down, but I feel like at my age time is ticking and by that time I am back to half-marathons and duathalons I will be in my late 40’s so I think the length of this recovery gives me a sense of urgency that I might not have if I were 10 years younger. I had basically ignored my health and body for years while I gave birth and nursed my babies and finally I started to prioritize myself and it was paying off with weight loss, lower cholesterol, fun and energy. The day before my injury my husband and I finished a 150 bike ride and I had said that I felt as healthy and strong as when I was 25. I was on top of the world! I had just joined a soccer league and was so psyched to learn something new and spend time with my sister-in-law and being coached by my son. More layers of loss.
Its so demoralizing to watch that all go away and to know how much work it is to get it back. It also feels a bit like I am being punished for being “selfish” for doing things for myself. I know this isn’t true but it feels like that sometimes.
I think acknowleging these negative feelings and losses doesn’t diminish the positive. I have experiences (and blogged about) the unexpected gifts that this injury has brought to me as well, and there have been many. I like what Claudia said about necessary losses in order to reinvent myself….sort of like a forest fire…the loss and destruction is necessary for new life.
Housemusic:
> Because I am not really living, and I will never have the life I had before.
Most folks with this injury DO have a full recovery. There really shouldn’t be any reason that you won’t be able to resume all of the activities you had pre injury. Take away lessons about patience, persistence, and discipline; things you’ll need for recovery, and apply them to whatever sport/endeavor you want to get back to.
Like him or hate him- Lance Armstrong’s book has some interesting observations- he asserts that his experience with cancer was key to being able to endure the suffering needed to win all those races
Hi Kristen,
I’m just a little over 5 months from ATR and have felt a lot of the same emotions that you have. I think my biggest concern is re-injury. I don’t know how much I should push myself. So far I’ve only done 3 to 4 mile walks but I’d love to be able to add a slow jog and build up to more. By the way, my surgeon said bike riding is a great post ATR exercise.
I really enjoyed my physical therapist and his sense of humor. Back at about 3 months post-surgery, he said to me, with a smile, “Force yourself not to limp. Limping is for losers.” I kept this in mind and really worked hard at not limping, even if I had to walk very slowly - and I love to walk fast.
Limping becomes a habit that you shouldn’t let yourself develop. Good luck with your recovery. Sounds like you’ve found some great ways to keep yourself motivated.
So how did the skating with the family go Kristen?
For easy cross-crountry skiing, see if the golf courses in your area are open for that. Some places I’ve lived at, the golf courses essentially turned into cross-country ski parks in the winter time, and they were easy/flat trails very suitable for beginners… or us rehab cases-
Didn’t skate-just let the kids have all the fun….earlier in the day I had a great experience doing a spin work out on my new bike trainer and it felt great so I didn’t want to trash myself for evening. Also, I didn’t think the skates would feel great on my scar…even tennis shoes hurt there. I am psyched for biking though!!! Today was power yoga and I am happy to say that my arm muscles were shaking more than my ankles
I hear you all on the limping. I don’t know how to ‘not limp” though. I think the problem for me is that I have some joint immobility in the front of my foot. My PT explained it that my ankle bone is supposed to slide back out of the way of the leg bone when we walk but mine is stuck so the leg bone can only go so far before it hits a wall. There are manipulations that others can do that help but it is only good for a few hours. I am hoping that when that resolves it will help a lot because its hard to strengthen the calf if I can’t really even use it.
Great ideas everyone! It does help to hear from others who are at different points to realize how far one has come and how much better it will get. I have to remember that my brother did this a few years ago and he is training for his 3rd cc ski marathon, plays hockey, bikes etc. All that probably seemed impossible to him once upon a time
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Kristin,
I am dealing with the 7 1/2 month funk and aside from our 18 year age gap, it pretty much sounds like we’re dealing with identical issues. I am currently enrolled in a college certification program to become a personal trainer/group fitness instructor. I’ve spent this entire time on crutches, debilitated, watching others exercise without appreciation or recognition of my reality and it is far more crippling for me to not have the exercise outlet and the independence I’m used to. Your posts are so perfectly worded and I can relate as I am not generally a patient person… All of the patience I have is diverted to what seems like a never-ending healing process.
7 1/2 and still struggling…ugh! There is just no way around this being a year long recovery, is there?
Is much as it sucks that you are going through this now, you will be an amazing trainer and fitness instructor because of what you are going through. I am sure you will have an eye out for injury prevention and will be able to help motivate people of all abilities (everyone struggles with something).
Hopefully when we are all able-bodied again we will always appreciate the gift that it is.
I too ruptured my Achilles playing soccer, I am only 3 weeks post-op though. I can relate to many of the things said in your post and subsequent comments such as self-pity and lack of understanding from others. My attitude has become a little more upbeat since I got a new, lighter cast… it’s the little things in life! One thing I’m going to try to keep my spirits up is keeping a log of all the things this injury has taught me. While this has had some pretty negative affects on my life and could have not happened at a worse time I really have learned some great things about myself and life. Some things I have learned have been pretty immediate and obvious but as time goes on I think some important lessons will be revealed, anyways I’m hoping. Another thing that I thought sounded pretty cheesy at first but I’m definitely going to try when I start physical therapy are self-affirmations. For me, I tend to get discouraged and stressed easily and I know that will make my recovery harder and probably slower so I’m trying to do whatever I can to stay positive and hopefully it’ll work! Good luck to you and hopefully you will find something to lift your spirits and get you out of your funk.
I have not yet made a post but have really appreciated reading the blogs. I am 6 months Post Op and have been back at work (Teacher) for a month. I have been very fortunate that the injury happened at work so Work Cover is covering all Physio costs/Medical bills -I was playing Teachers Versus Students AFL footy and it snapped clean. I have been given a FullTime teacher to support me and I still go home after 4-5hours of work, swollen and sore and having to spend lots of time resting up and Icing. I feel that people are looking at me as if I have it really easy -I don’t limp much now (I have really tried hard to work on a straight gait). I keep getting people say how’s your foot ? and I just don’t know how to answer it without sounding too whingy, so I say “It’s getting better” -which although true -the improvement seems so slow. I feel that the Work Cover people are trying to rush me into going back to fulltime work, without support so they can save money -I am meant to attend a School Camp in 2 months and wander whether I can commit to that -lots of walking.
Aussie Vic - another 2 months should see you with some real gains and although I do not know how your physio is treating you, I do know from my own experience and others I have contact with on this site, 8 months would have you at least 80% and most likely more so the school camp may not be as much of a problem as you think. What to tell people? I still get asked and it is best to say ‘it will take a long time but I am getting better’ ‘a broken leg takes less time to heal’. Most people see you walking around and think you are OK and are just bleeding the system. If you were limping still then they would think you were still recovering. NOT limping is one of the best things you can do for this recovery. I live in Victoria now (High Country) and my page is Xplora. Good luck with it.
A quick update…2 months later (7mo) and life is a lot better…80 percent is about right. Still a ways to go but I can spin bike, cross country ski, and yesterday I ran two half miles (not quite the half marathon I did last year, but still!). I too tell people that I am getting better but there is a ways to go. I tell them about the NYC marathon tracker and most people are taken aback, as if they don’t want to believe that it could actually take a year. I need to work on not limping. Walking is still my hardest activity (not counting jumping which i cant do at all). Some days it’s easier than others. I have found that most of the pain comes from a tight calf muscle so if I take a foam roller to it and keep moving I am better. the best is that most days I am grateful for what i can now do and feel positive about where I will be by summer.
Hi Kristin
I have been following this thread how is life now
N
Test
Wow…RE reading these posts really brings me back. An update? Well I just finished a run on a Jamaican beach so I guess things are going well…lol. I think that I got to about 90% around a year and have pretty much stayed there. I have struggled with what to tell people who ask ” so are you all healed up?” Or ” are you back to 100%?” On one hand I am in better shape and can do more than I could 10 years ago, but on the other hand my Achilles is certainly not what it once was. Last summer I was happy that I did the same150 mile bike ride that I did the day before my injury and a month later I did a duathalon with the same time I did pre surgery.whooohooo! It’s the little things that are still hard…certain shoes rub, driving long distances are hard and walking down stairs in the morning is with I limp if I don’t stretch first. Still, its a amazing what the body can do to heal. I feel like I could do anything I wanted to do for my age so I am grateful.
Hi Kristen.
TEST? No one said nothin ’bout a test. I DIDN’T STUDY!
Is it closed or open book? Can we use notes or do we have to memorize everything?
I NEED HELP!!!!
Jack
(Sorry, I’m bored!)
Many thanks kristen
Kristen, it’s funny how the easy things are often harder than the hard ones when we’re hurt! I’m dealing with a deteriorating right knee now. It enjoyed warmup plus an hour of Competitive 4-on-4 indoor beach volleyball last night, but today it doesn’t enjoy standing after it’s been still for a while.
A couple years ago I strained a Medial Cruciate Ligament (”MCL”) in my left knee in the middle of a Whistler ski week (trying to get up out of super-deep snow with no pitch!). It didn’t bother my skiing AT ALL — but when I swung my feet out of the bed to get up, I thought I would DIE! So I skied normally, but I worked up a new “bed dismount” move!
Go figure!
Hey, RRR, you tricked me into misspelling Kristin’s name!
Hey sorry about that Norm and Kristin, just for that, I’m going to a small donation at the weekend to the site