Apr 09 2010
2 Yr ATR Anniversary - All is well, 5K, tennis, yoga-scar still looks bad, so no leg modeling in my future
ATR rupture with MRSA and big hole - 2 years later
Hello there! Yesterday was my 2 year ATR anniversary. I tried to post then but the site was having some trouble. I’ve come a long way in these past 2 years. After I ruptured I had a 1 1/2 inch diameter hole in the base of my achilles where the staples didn’t hold. Multiple grafts and wound finally closed after 6 mths. MRSA fun and all. I’ve been enjoying getting stronger each day. I’ve been playing tennis for a long time now, but in January I began a RunnersWorld.com training program and am doing a 5K next week. I can run for 35 minutes without stopping, and I’ve NEVER been a runner. Funny that my achilles feels great running, but when I play tennis it’s that damn side to side motion that is really hard on my bad foot. I still get deep tissue massages every so often to try and break up the scar tissue. The thing that is really helping me (at least I think so) is Bikram Yoga. It’s always been on my bucket list…so, at least 3 times a week I’m in a damn hot room (106 degrees) doing these crazy yoga poses. The heat (I think) is helping the stiffness in my ATR foot because I’m not as stiff as I used to be in my bad foot.
I’m always making sure I stretch out before tennis really well. In the winter my tennis partner and I were in the middle of a match (she ruptured her left foot 6 mths before me). And, all of a sudden she goes to hit a ball, and her other foot, her right foot, POP. Once you’ve been thru this before, unfortunately, you know what you’ve done. So, drove her home and her crutches were still in the garage so back to the beginning. I think of her when I play now…while I think that if you are going to rupture..it’s gonna happen…BUT, I’m trying to do as much as I can to prevent anything…if there’s such a thing as prevention.
This site has been so helpful during the year when I ruptured. It was the one place to turn to read advice from folks that are going through the same things. Great job Dennis! Happy healing to you all! You’ll be better soon. Patience, I’ve found, is essential. I wanted to share a pic of what my scar looks like now. It looks like hell…but, it’s been closed forever, and I’m so active, more active now than I’ve been in a long time. Have a wonderful Spring! Thanks Dennis for this great support site! -Kristin in Atlanta
How fantastic to hear from you again, what a long road you went down and how well you have done! What would we have done without this site and Dennis, the man should get a medal.
You are an inspiration to others to see that no matter what is thrown at you you have to have a positive attitude and you certainly have that.
Good luck with the tennis, sad for your friend though.
Annie
Yup, the scar is very ugly, alright (though the freckles are cute!). Is the scar always a little “angry” and pink like that, or did you take that shot right after tennis or running? I guess the “ridges” take more than their share of rubbing from your shoes, so maybe they don’t get a chance to really “relax”. (I got a case of “golfer’s elbow” from volleyball a few years ago. The condition eventually went away, no pain or weakness. But it left a bump that gets scraped when I dive for a volleyball, unless I’m wearing a sleeve over it.)
Surgical complications can be a SOB, as you know. Glad you overcame so many of them. Send your next friend who goes “POP” to my blog to check out the new science supporting the NON-surgical cures for ATR. (I think a lot of the US is now starting to publish stats on infection rates in different hospitals, too, which is a great idea in so many ways!)
Like your friend, I also tore my OTHER AT, 8 years after the first one, doing the same sport that tore the first one (in my case, competitive volleyball). I’m 17 weeks into the NON-surgical cure of the second one, having had successful and “routine” surgery on the first one in late 2001. Tearing the second AT sounds like the end of the world, but I’ve actually found it way less tragic than the first one. (And I’ve posted some thoughts on THAT, ’cause I’m that kind of guy!)
The studies on second ruptures say we’re all at much higher risk than “normal” people — well, not me, any more! And the studies on stretching before sports are inconclusive at best! Cold stretching (before warming up) may increase injury risk! And serious stretching (like going to your limit and holding it for 10-30 seconds) seems to decrease athletic performance! (There’s a good NYTimes article on the subject online.) Almost everything old dudes like me learned about stretching from our coaches and gym teachers turns out to be wrong.
Come to think of it, your friends might benefit from some of the links I posted even if they do get the surgery. The new studies I linked are all using rehab protocols that are much quicker and more aggressive than most of us get, with or without surgery. Great results and way less time on crutches, what could be bad?
Hey Annie! Yep, long time no hear!
Like so many others, I’ve been guilty of staying away. I’m so glad to be more active than ever!
Norm - I’ll definitely check out your blog. Sadly my scar always looks like that. I guess that’s what an open wound that took 6 mths to close, and MRSA can look like. Glad you like the freckles, and glad you didn’t see any leg stubble.
I’ll read the NY Times article. Before I run I walk for 5-10 minutes, run, then stretch afterwards. Same thing in tennis…I try and warm up really well, then stretch…and I stretch throughout the match too. I hope I don’t re-rupture, or rupture the other foot. If I did..maybe I should head to Finland…bet that Dr. is great since pretty boy Beckham went to him. I’ll check out the non-surgical methods.
Thanks for your message guys. This site is WONDERFUL!
Kristin - happy 2nd year anniversary, and it’s nice hearing from you again. I remember the early days, and I am glad that your wound has completely healed. Glad to see you are playing tennis again, and now that the weather is nice here too, I am out playing tennis as well. Keep checking back more often, and I hope your scar goes way with time. My scar looks a little better too now with time.
I had to laugh when I saw your post title. My scar is so ugly that my husband suggested I get a tattoo over it. He thought I zipper might look nice.
Deanne (aka DREAMS)
Cute, both of you!
Kristin, it sounds like you’re doing the stretch thing the “modern” way, and you’ll probably find the NYTimes article reassuring and reinforcing.
Great progress! So glad your story has a happy ending. And your scar looks cool.