LarryLove’s AchillesBlog

Still plugging away and yet to meet anyone (in person) who has torn both. First I tore my left at 25yo. and then I tore my right at 36yo. I had surgeries with both.

I gotta say these injuries have severely slowed (basically ended) my athletic career. I have officially retired from lacrosse and anything close to running so hard.  Any major explosive movements have stopped.  I have recovered but am a shadow of what I once was. Now I just do my slumbering jog at about an 11 or 12 minute mile. Both tendons are still very stiff and I have a very weak push off.

At the end of the day is all that matters is; I’M AM OUT THERE, AND WE ARE OUT THERE!!! I try not to worry so much about my time and focus now on just staying healthy.

Once again, I wish everyone well and best of luck with their recoveries.

Hey all!!!! It’s been a long 8 mos. I have been back to full duty a little over a month and I am still a little hesitant…When I get out if the car in the middle if the night I look like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz!! I’ve been back at the gym and hitting the treadmill and elliptical for 1 hr at a time. I am able to do a walk/run on the treadmill carefully at speeds ranging from 3-6mph…so it’s coming….I think because I have done both sides I just feel extra stiff = extra old at 37

The other thing is I still have a very tender spot (repair) which is still delicate to the rub….hopefully this will go away along with the slight numbing which is still there!!!!

I hope everyone is healing well!!! And it is so nice to see the site back up!

Jan 1st will be 6 months post op for me. I saw my doc the other day and he has given me his blessing to getting back on the road on Jan 9th.  Desk duty has been killing me. I am ready to snap at a moments notice dealing with all the day shift drama…..

While far from the machine that I was before the injury, I am learning to run again……all over again.. It is a slow sloppy run…but it is getting better…. by all means will I be setting any records anytime soon. With focus on each stride, it really is important to pay attention to the goal that each step is getting me stronger. Sounds corny but you will know the feeling when you get to this stage…

In both of my ruptures I have found that it is a full 6 month recovery. No matter how you slice it…..what pills you take…what excersises you do. My biggest obsticle in both instances again, I will say is just having the patience to wait it out……The first month is definately the worst….

After going to therapy twice week for the past 5 months, I felt like I was breaking up with an old girlfriend after telling my PT I did not have to come to her anymore… As this PT was also there on my first time around (11yrs ago)  she practically has become like a girlfriend…lol

I wish everyone well with their recovery………..

Well it is offical, I am 5 months post surgery.  I am still working light duty and can not wait to get back on the street. I am losing my mind working a desk and hope to be back full duty the first week of January 2011.

I have found once again that the biggest obstacle is having the patience to weather the storm of recovery. Today I actually did some very very slow light jogging/walking. The run was very awkward and did not last very long but hey…..its progress! Considering  I have not jogged or ran in 5 months it was a definate milestone in the recovery process.  Maybe now I can try to fight the 10lbs I have gained loafing around during recovery.

My limp is pretty much gone, but my achilles is still very tight.  Each and everyday I feel like progress is being made as I have learned to consentrate on my walk and focus on “the push off”.  Its funny the heel and outer edge of my foot still have a numb sensation and my PT says that should eventually go away as it is a possibilty that a nerve was struck during surgery.

Anways……there is finally light at the end of the tunnel….Hope everyone is keeping their head up and staying positive……remember you will get better, it just takes time……

Well its been 10 weeks. I saw the doc yesterday and he said everything is looking good.  He was impressed with the ROM and stated that it looked like I was running a month ahead of schedule.  Needless to say, I still have very little strength. The doc said despite this situation, it was still going to be a full 6 month process….. I have started working out again, mainly upper body with some air squats mixed in……..Can’t wait to get back into things………so for all you still struggling, there is still hope!

Stay positive……. I know its not easy.

Almost 6 weeks post op. I am now in 2 shoes!!! The past couple weeks I wittled my way from 2 crutches, to one crutch, to a cane, to now boot free.  Its really weird to see my foot in a shoe again. My foot is still really swollen. I have definately have to still take it REALLY easy……but I am progressing! I think its time to hang up the lacrosse cleats for good.  After the second time around, I can not afford to do this again.

Things are progressing very slowly, however leaps and bounds faster than the first time around. I am PWB which is starting to feel ok as I have become more secure. I have finally stopped taking anything for the pain. I needed go back on something for a bit because the pain became too unbearable, especially while trying to sleep. I have slowly moved from the couch. As I have brought my leg down more frequently the throbbing has just about gone away, thank GOD!

I stopped wearing the boot while sleeping which has made things much more comfortable. Thus far I have removed two levels from the boot bring my heel that much further down. As each level is taken out its just one day of discomfort before my foot makes the adjustments. Therapy tomorrow!! I hope to go back to work light duty soon because all this TV watching is making me CRAZY!!!!!

Since surgery on 7/1  I have done nothing but elevate (above my heart) and ice. My leg THROBS so bad when I have to get off the couch.  I have since run out of percs as I do not want to get addicted, but I had to finally brake down and get a script for vicodin. The trobbing pain was that bad…  I have been totally couch bound and it sucks.  Thank God for my wife and my mom.  Both have been a huge help and I would not have gotten by with out them.

Today was my post op appointment.  My cast came off and back in the boot.  The doc took out my “stitch”, and pulled it out like one long rope.  My cut is only about 4 inches long compared to my old 8+ inch scar. The doc said he had to graft my old achilles, thus explaining the scar. He wants me to lose the crutches in two weeks and then start therapy. Things are moving way quicker this time around!!!! A little nervous about ditching the crutches…….

I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID IT AGAIN!!!!!! W/M 36 5′10 200lbs.  In very good shape, l lift weights 4/5x a week, and run about 10 miles per week on the road.  I have had two complete ruptures!! In both instances I was playing lacrosse, simply running down the field.  Nothing crazy when I went down.  Both times it felt like I was kicked from behind or got hit with the ball.  Both times I went down alone, with no influence from anyone or collision of any type.  In both incidents changing direction appeared to be the common denominator.

Incident #1 happened 11 years ago.  I completely ruptured my left achilles.  At first I thought I broke my ankle the pain was so severe.  I was 25 and at the time my ortho doc said I was one of the youngest he had ever seen with such an injury.  At that time I was a police officer on a walking beat, and the doc told me it would be 6 mos. before I would be back on the street… After surgery it was a very long, painful, and slow road. Rehab was the key.  I remember showing up at rehab on day 1 and thinking I was never going to walk again.  Honestly, I was in soo much pain I think part of me was alright with that! After about 6 mos. things did finally all cometogether and  I was walking strong, without crutches or that frickin boot.  I have an 8+ inch scar from my surgery, because the doc  had to graft part of my upper achilles with the lower since it had been so damaged.

Incident #2 came on 6/27/2010.  Again, in the same exact way. Playing lacrosse when I went down.  This time it was my right leg.  I could not believe it.  I knew immediately that it was the achilles.  Again, I went down alone.  When I looked around and saw no one near me, I knew I was in trouble.  This time it did not hurt as bad, although I still had to be carried off the field . I was able to hobble to my jeep using my lax stick as a crutch. Since having a standard with my previous achilles injury my next run of vehicles had to be automatic, this was an expensive lesson to learn but that is a whole other story!
I was able to drive myself to the ER.  They confirmed the injury and had me follow up with my same ortho doc.  After his confirmation, surgery was once again scheduled in a matter of days.  My surgery went well, its only been 24hrs as of this writting. I am not in so much pain this time around. I think the nerve block helped a ton this time around. Also think the incision was not as big as my orginal. My first incision runs half way up my leg!! I asked my doc if this was common and how often he sees people who tear both.  The doc told me this was very rare and he did not remember anyone else in the situation. JUST MY LUCK!

I really think its my genetically skinny legs that had something to do with both these ruptures.  My achilles are probably this thickness of tissue paper! Aside from these freak incidents I have never had any other major health problems or injuries…….

I will be blogging around and checking in probably on a daily basis as I am homebound…. To all who read this, PT is the key. As bad as it hurts and you may think its not doing anything, PT is the make or break point for me the first time around.