Lee’s Achillies Recovery blog

Hi all

I drove my car today, for the first time. Only round the block mind, with a few hard breaking maneuvers, to test out the old tendon. By all accounts it went well, no pain, I felt as if I had gone for a long walk. Ached a fair bit, but much better than I have been dreading over the past months. I will keep it to short journeys to build up more strength. But the feeling of real  freedom at last is a good one.

I am walking without crutches now. Yes I still limp, but no more heel pain. I am exercising at least three times a day or more, Riding my exercise bike, I have a wobble cushion for stretching, which hurts less now, I am doing two feet heel raises, and lunge stretching: thats knee over toes to freeshmen, which is still stiff and uncomfortable. I march on the spot a lot, and have even managed to walk over a mile a couple of times, I am buggered when I get home though. My stamina is getting better, but long walks remind me how weak I am.

I still go to PT once every two weeks, although next week I have been downgraded to an ankle class “hurray”, as opposed to “one on one treatment”. The swelling is getting better. I think in a few weeks, I may be able to wear some of my normal shoes, and stop wearing my clown sized 10’s, which are making me more clumsy than usual.

I went shopping with my wife last week, the things you do to get out! Anyway, I am walking around a supermarket miles away, when paranoia turns to real fear in an instant. An old girl is walking up behind me, looking at the food, oblivious to her trolleys front lower BAR, BLOODY HELL, it’s at AT height, and about to bump into my healing AT. I was gripped by real fear, and made a very fast exit. To close for comfort, but a lesson in how not to become to complaisant about getting better. Re-ruptured by an old age pensioner, now that would make them laugh at the hospital.

I hope you are all getting well, or even better walking, good luck to all of you, and watch out for the shopping trolly.

Lee

Hi All

My Physio told me to stop using the crutches today, as my walking has improved so much over the last week. So I am walking un-aided on Christmas eve yeha, and all through the holiday as well.
Also today, I walked up the stairs in a normal left foot right foot fashion. It must be Christmas working its magic on me, I am so happy.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a happy new year. I hope Christmas works its magic on your AT as well.
Lee

Hi all

A quick post to let you know how things are progressing. I am still walking with two crutches, but this week I have taken my jelly heels out, and my heel pain is less. My knee is now over my foot by the end of the day, but not by much. But as Chris said any progress is good, so I am being positive about it all.

Yesterday I did walk twice as far as I could at the weekend, so it is all coming good for me. Its my heel, the pins and needles, that turns to mild pain that stop me walking. It is getting better, so I will keep at it.

Oh and today, I made it down the stairs, using the handrail with no crutches. It did hurt a bit, but made me feel great.

My PT agrees with the consultant, in that my previous leg injury, of twenty years ago, is making my recovery so slow and painful.

At least now I am doing things that I have wanted to do for months. Like visiting friends and family, and getting out more. Every day brings a new challenge, like getting that cup of tea to the front room for my wife. I think she will be as pleased as I will.

Lee

Hi all

Just a short post to let you all know that I stood on both feet today in trainers, with no crutches. I have a small Jelly heel in, but it felt ok for a couple of minuets. What a fantastic feeling to be on my feet again. Happy days

Lee

Hi all

My doesn’t Time fly when you are not having fun!

My last post said “into shoes” well it did not go according to plan. My first problem was my foot is so badly swollen that none of my shoes fit me. I am a size eight and a half, So I went out and bought a wide size ten trainer, just so I could get my foot in it. I have had problems with pain in the heel and my calf as well.

As the weeks have gone by my PT appointments were frustrating, because I did not seem to be getting any better. I was doing exercises 2 or 3 times a day, with the odd bit of walking with both crutches. As per my pysio’s instructions but my ankle in particular kept going stiff, to the point I could do nothing at all. So my physio changed my exercise to little and often, just keep moving, this was at week 12. At week 13 my ankle started to free up, and the stiffness has almost gone away now. I am moving my foot as often as I can, and my walking is improving daily. Still not FWB though, and I still can not straighten my leg properly yet. Mind you it  is only 2 degrees so I am nearly their. Getting the balance right on PT is difficult, when I am so paranoid about re rupture. But I think I have found a reasonable level of exercise and stretching, that seems to be doing a lot of good.

I want to be walking without crutches for my birthday next month. That’s four weeks away, I hope I can do it. With Christmas not far away, it reminds me I missed the summer this year, so next year I will make up for it, by being outside all of the time, and walking everywhere.

Lee

Hi all

I went for a check up today, at the hospital. All seems to be very good, my AT is quite solid. So starting tomorrow, I have been told to wear my trainers. Take it easy, and over the next two weeks progress to FWB walking, possibly with the aid of my crutches. At least now, after my PT appointments, I feel I can now do it. I will keep you all posted.

Lee

My first Physiotherapy appointment went really well today. Most of it was obtaining history Pain and ROM evaluation. After which an exercise plan was devised, to improve my leg straightening and ankle ROM, she also measured my leg angle, or the best I could manage, so as to monitor progress next time. Rolling a football on the floor to help this was really good as well, think joystick movement fwd and aft then left and right, as well as rolling clockwise and anticlockwise. But mostly little steps to loosen me up for  my next appointment in a weeks time. It felt really good, and at no time was I pressured to move to quickly, or do anything that would hurt me. Although this will change as time progresses. I think I will feel less vulnerable and be able to tolerate more. The PT said I would have to have some discomfort in order to get better, but compared to what I have been through these past two Months, its a small price to pay. At least now I have defined boundaries of what I should and should not do. Like the exercise bike, would be counter productive in my current state. Give it a while before trying that. I now have a sheet with a set plan of what when and how often to get me to my next PT. Its all highs and lows, and at the moment no more pain. So I am on a high.

Lee

Hi all

I have not been on since Friday, sorry. Mainly because on Friday afternoon my foot started to feel uncomfortable, so I elevated it. Later in the evening it puffed up like a football, my ROM was reduced to zero, and then it became very painful if I moved my leg at all. So I took the old Paracetamol and Ibuprofen coctail, to get some sleep, sleep as in “bugger all”. The pain went on through Saturday, when I tied the hot and cold water treatment. This did help a little, and the swelling went down a fair bit, and so the pain backed off as well. Today Sunday, all is a little better, and I think I may sleep without pain killers tonight.

With regards to what went wrong, I think I stayed with my foot down for to long on Friday. Is 3 to 4 hours watching films too long. I Guess it is, but compared to some of you and your stories of swimming and exercise, I do feel I should be able to do more at 9 weeks. I am hoping my PT appointment on Wednesday will give me an indication of how things are progressing , and what I can do to help things along.

I have felt a bit low these past couple of days. I know these set backs get you that way. And It’s not that I don’t want to rush things, but just walking with sticks seems a lot to ask of my AT right now. Ho hum.

Lee

Hi all

I am sitting on my bed massaging E45 into my foot. Its getting better every day. But after a phone call with the offer of work in a few weeks, I don’t know if I will be able to drive to the office, I cant even walk properly yet. Has anyone just started driving? if so how far did you get. I need to drive for over 60 miles. I have been advised that I need to be able to perform an emergency stop, otherwise don’t drive. Its so frustrating being like this, I know take it slow.

Lee

Hi all

I went to the Hospital today, and all is very well. My Achilles is rock solid. To show me this, my Registrar grabbed it and wiggled it from side to side. If that’s just made you three weekers faint, think how I was doing, ha ha Thanks Ilona. I now have a plan, that includes exercise to get me FWB by the weekend. Because next week, I start PT. My boot is at 90 degrees, with a flat sole, Its a little stiff in the AT calf area, but not too bad. I take it off all the time now, thanks 2ndtimer. Its getting better every day. At last I can see light at the end of the tunnel, no its the wife with a torch, we have just had a power cut. Happy days.

Lee