Nov 18 2008
Hey! Still here at 8.5 mths, still scabby wound…Tmrow is another day, one day I’ll never be scabby wounded again…
Hey there fellow ATR friends! I’ve been on a little blog vaca and haven’t posted for a while. But, I do check in and read your blog. Love the recent Black Dog post, how true! I’m about 8.5 mths out (April 6th rupture). I’m still hanging in there. Limping some still. I’m able to ride the stationary bike for a long time, and elliptical. A few times I’ve been able to do a little, teeny, one-legged calf raise. My wound closed over a mth ago, and I’m still dealing with the never ending circle of scab opening up in places and raw skin underneath. Mind you, I’m keeping vaseline, bactroban and silvadene on it when it’s needed to balance it being too wet or too dry. I’m getting electro stim at the rehab place once a week. Increasing blood flow is key. I’m going Thursday to a massage therapist that can work on massaging gently and breaking up scar tissue. Life is good these days, other than the perpetual wound thing. One day I want to have normal skin there…I still can’t swim in a pool or things like that. At times I get a little tired of dealing with wound issues since my surgery on April 6th. I still think there is some magic potion out there that my wound dr and ortho don’t know about. I may even see what a dermatologist has to say…maybe they have special magic wands they can use. :) 
Also, I’m trying Vitamin E on the wound. If any of you have any other ideas on how to have my wound heal underneath the scab it would be great. I leave it uncovered when I’m home. But, when I’m out I put cream on and a sock or something…to protect it from getting dirty and getting kicked. :) We are spending Thanksgiving in Florida again this year. This visit I can walk on the beach! Yeah! Kids are looking forward to the outing. I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving! Happy healing everyone!
Kristin,
It’s good to hear that your wound is closed. You seem to be doing great. The final “scabby” part of my wound recently fell off. I have a couple of very small cracks along the incision that look like they could open up at any moment. Obviously, I don’t need that to happen. I haven’t applied anything to the wound to control the dryness. I probably should….
Take care–Kevin
I was just thinking about you…and your leg. Sorry to hear that the dang wound is quite finished with you. But I have to imagine it is a little (if only a teensy weensy bit) better each day.
One more thing I thought you might consider trying is Active Manuka Honey. I have not used it (but was seriously considering it during my “dark days”). I know it is mostly used for wound healing but not sure about the stage you are at. Anyway, it might help and if not, the kids can use it on toast.
Happy turkey day.
Hey Kristin,
Good to hear from you!
As Daveleft says, a little progress every day. Compare where you are now to where you were 6 months ago, and you have to be happy.
Have a great Thanksgiving vacation!
Craig
Hey Kristin,
Glad to hear things are getting better, I have began my walking program and tennis lessons. I have no footwork though. I am hoping to play a match Dec 13.
Where in FL? We will be at Amelia Island…..
Sandy
Hey all! Kristin, happy to hear that you are doing well and looking forward to Thxgvg in Fla! Hey Sandy…sounds like you are doing great! Are you able to serve yet? How close is it to your normal motion? I hope to get out and at least stand in one place to volley once I get the boot in a couple of weeks. (end of 6 weeks in a hard cast!). Good luck with your match on Dec 13. Let us know how it went.
Happy Turkey Day All!
Bill
Pretty soon you will be able to forget that you have this wound issue. I am glad that you are able to continue to progress and enjoy more freedom and normalcy.
Your journey will be a great story for future ATR suffers who have wound issues — to see that yes, it takes longer, but wounds do heal. I think you have done a great job telling your story. Your humor and strength are amazing.
We all wait for the happy ending….I know it is coming.
Hi Bill,
I actually just learned a new little spin serve and I look forward to using it because I will need to have a few tricks up the sleeve to compensate for lack of movement. Since I am a 4.0 player with a 3.5 rating (I know thats bad) I think line 3 doubles at 3.75 - will be fine. It is also looking like the 13th is the weakest opponent, so it will be a good first time out. Just take it easy when you get back ou there and you should do just fine. Just hitting the ball again feels good. I think I am going to play 18 holes in FL on Friday, so that will be a great feat also. Have a great Thanksgiving!!
Hey Sandy! I’ll be pulling for you on the 13th. I’m sure you will take a point. But more important…you are back! Can’t wait to hear about the match. Hit’m good Friday in Fla.!
Hey hobbly family! Thanks for your well wishes. Sandy-We were in Seaside Florida, near Destin. Great weather! Any weather is great when you are looking at the ocean. Still couldn’t get in…but, at least I could walk on the beach with my foot covered of course.
Saw ortho again today. I’m going to go back to plastic surgeon for his opinion on my wound. Ortho thinks the wound may have closed down on each side, leaving an open area in the middle. We’ll see. I would go back to Wound Center, but I think we’d keep doing the same thing. So, I’ll visit the plastic guy and see if he has any tricks up his sleeve. Hard to believe that it’s been since April 15th. Time flies. I’m mentally willing myself not to limp. I don’t think I’m limping…but when someone watches me they say I still am.
Sandy-how was tennis on vacation? I hope great! We should have an ATR reunion.
Hi Kristin,
I didn’t play tennis or golf in FL, I was too lazy. Had a wonderful time though walking on the beach really helped my situation and listening to the waves all night was just what I needed. Walked around the town center and ate some great food. I am hoping to play my first match on Dec 13th, but if she has enough people, I will pull myself out of the lineup because tonight will be my first mixed practice and I plan on having 2 lessons within the next week, but the mental thing still plays on my mind, plus the tendon still gets a bit sore at times. It actually woke me up last night night, which was unusual, but I think its because I am really focusing on heel-toe and pushing off when I walk to strengthen the calf. Anyway, I want to play, but at the same time, I want to be safe. I am at 21 weeks (which has flown by) so I will let you know. We ATL people should get together one of these days and compare stories!!
Sandy
Hey Sandy, did you play golf last Friday? How was it?
Bill
Hi Bill,
NO, we were too lazy because of listening to the waves all night long. Actually, we realized the cost of renting clubs (we did not have room to take ours) and the green fee, we decided to go into Jacksonville and watch the “Black Friday” shoppers. I did have tennis practice this week and will have a private tomorrow and Tuesday. I also ran a mile Wed night and again, 12 minutes on the treadmill last night. It seems to be getting much looser and I can handle coming down stairs almost normally now. Still not sure of playing on the 13th because the side to side is weak,, but we are not in contention, so it does not matter.
How was your Thanksgiving?
Sandy
Hey Sandy! Thxgvg was great. Lots of family/guests…of course it wasn’t easy trying to help my wife entertain from a knee scooter and crutches. But it was all good. Sorry you didn’t get a chance to play. Now that i have my “boot”… I’m planning to at least go up to my course do some putting (when it warms up). By the way, our mixed doubles team (Alta) starts practice Sunday. I guess i will go out and watch (if its warm!)!
We started practice last Wed night - chilling and there were only 4 of us. I lasted 4 games. I had a great lesson Sat, but I think I am not going to play USTA Sat - my coach said I should wait. He said I could play well enough, but one match, why bother until after the New years. I think I will listen because we have 2 parties to attend that night. Yep - go sit and have a beer. We got bumped up to A-6, so we will see about that, we struggled at A-8 so I am not sure why the big move up, we only added one A-1 man. Well, if we do poorly, we can always go back down!