My hopeful road to recovery

I visit a hospital last night it was being done after three weeks I got some changes on it some off the flows that I notice on it. I need to know why this happens so I get dissertation help they were known as the management head on it so they told me about the up-gradation.

thanks

Something that I found helpful from when I ruptured my left 2 years ago is lots of pool pt. Running/ walking in the shallow end and then bobbing from the bottom to the top is great for the muscle without severe straining due to the buoyancy in the pool. Other than that assisted heel raises and restricted heel raises are good too!

The massage of the scar tissue may be a bit painful, but my PT is rather gentle, she lets you go at your own pace. You should not be doing exercises that are too painful. Pain is a sign to stop. You work against some soreness, but not excessively. Also a new exercise may be difficult and uncomfortable first time, but if you practice them at home several times a day, you should be able to work up your way to more and better repetitions by your next appointment.

If you can move your foot around and you don’t feel a gap, you’re fine. Many of us have done something similar without re-rupturing the tendon, I did it twice.

I THINK you would feel more than just a little sensitive. I dunno, after 7 weeks you would think that it would be a little harder to re-rupture unless you really did some harsh lateral movement with weight. I found that with every extra stress my area would swell a lot and be achy, so extra sensitivity would not be a surprise. I agree with 2ndtimer that a rerupture would be very reminiscent of the first time–limp foot and a gap.

me, when i went to the boot i wore it all the time for the first three weeks, including the loo. It was all kludgy and took great patience. I think I probably saved myself from injury more than one time, though.

Good luck and stay in the boot for a while.

Oh-oh. Late nights on the loo and ATR do not mix well….
I hope you are feeling better now. When I re-ruptured I felt something come apart inside and could not move my foot much anymore. Also felt the gap again.

You could try a compression bandage, in addition to elevating and icing. Massaging up towards your heart helps too….and feels nice!

Congrats on getting into the boot! Back in shoes before you know it

Swelling is normal and will stay normal for some time. Especially after using the leg, no matter how carefully. For the first few weeks, I kept the boot on ALL the time, even in bed (per my doctor’s orders). I would have been anxious about getting my foot twisted in the sheets.

For the past couple of nights, I was sleeping with the boot off. But yesterday, my ankle was pretty swollen (no elevation during the day) so I put the boot on for sleeping. It helped a lot. No question the foot feels great when it’s bootless, but sometimes that compression is actually helpful for the ankle. And it will get to feeling better and better

I always took mine off to elevate and ice.

If your doctor allowed you to take it off for sleep and bath, I think you can also take it off when you are seated and elevate it (you can put it real high on the back of a couch), and wiggle your toes to reduce the swelling, improve the circulation. When you do not move it the circulation is worst. Also, you can massage your calf and foot. Feels good!

That is good that you can take it off for baths and to sleep so many doctors have such different opinions, my doctor told me never to take it off not even in the shower or to sleep. when my foot gets swollen I make sure I elevate it , your foot should be elevated above your heart in order for the swelling to go down.

everyone is different. I work on a PC at a desk. I took a couple weeks off before I cam back to the office. I was going stir crazy at home. Swelling isn’t a bad thing…that’s how tissue heals

Thank you all for your comments. I have the boot now for 24 hours. I sleep with it off. am allowed to take it off for a bath. but on taking it off my foot was very bruised looking and swollen especially around the ankle. Is that normal at first and what is the best way to reduce it. please please someone help me understand?

Every case is different but, to put some of the other responses in perspective, I had surgery Monday, stayed home Tuesday and returned to work full-time on Wednesday without giving it a second thought. Granted, the fact that I have an office job, it was my left Achilles so I could still drive myself and it was June so crutching outdoors wasn’t too treacherous had something to do with it.

I had surgery Oct 2nd, went back November 30th. Way too early.
Worked a week and couldn’t do it.
Took 2 weeks over holiday break and went back today for 4 hours.

I’m exhausted, they moved my desk way away from the printers and there is a long hallway covered in slate tiles.

I’m not going in tomorrow for longer than 2 hours.

I had my surgery on a Wednesday and wanted to go back to work the following Monday. The doctor said I could but my office said I couldn’t. They finally agreed to the following Monday, so I was off for 7 working days. It was a nice break. I read a book a day for those 7 days.
Just like everything about this injury though, each persons road to recovery has been different. I had someone who drove me to and from work, and I was able to work from a wheelchair. Like MaryK just said, my mental state improved greatly once I got back to work. Just be careful once you do go back. And don’t be too proud to ask for help!

He put those restrictions in place for one month after I returned to work. Glad to help. About going back to work- I found my mental health improved tremendously once I went back to the office. At home I was way too mopey!

I must be a wimp then. and need to get my head sorted., Thats good knowledge though the 3 hours etc as I have not been told that , thanks MaryK

I had surgery November 19th, and was back at work December 7th. So that makes 2 weeks and a bit before I went back. I do have a job that is not physically demanding and I was able to keep my leg well elevated much of the day. The doctor’s release stipulated “no more than 3 hours standing or walking per day and no lifting.”

If you’re using crutches, they are quite unsafe on tile or vinyl floors when the tips are wet. I found that out the hard way. I was actually more concerned about that than I was about slippery sidewalks. If you actually have a large area of true ice to cross it won’t be easy or even safe no matter what, even for someone without an ATR.

Thank you GerryR. I do work in an office. Just worried about the icy area this time of year. i feel very anxious about iit. Thanks for your reply so much. I go on tuesday for the boot maybe it will be better but i am not b anking on it.

I ruptured mine on July 27, had surgery on August 3 and returned to work August 10. That said, I think it depends on a couple of things, the most important being what kind of work you do. I work in an office so getting around on crutches there was not a big deal. If I was a construction worker I would not have been able to go back to work. The other issue is how are you going to get to work. If you can’t safely drive, then someone has to take you.

Do not worry, as they move it only about 15 degrees, I did not feel any pain. Especially if the technician cuts off the cast, and you have a little time till the doctor comes, wiggle your toes, massage your ankle let it loosen up a bit.

I have receiv ed 4 wonderful comments. I was very upset today and on reading them I have been given a boost. I go to the hospital tommorrow. I think they will move my foot a little more and replaster. Here is hoping it wont hurt 7/12/09 10.50 a.m.

Thank you all it’s good to blog !

As a psychologist I would say theres a big chance of anxiety and depression with this. its a huge loss of independence, activity, role, the lot! Add the pain, the slowness and no wonder we need support like this. My employers, having overworked me last 6 months, decided two weeks post op was a good time to ? My performance at work and have tried to stop me returning! Nice huh? One of them actually said to try to use the time constructively! She was left alive but it was so insensitive. Have spent most of my time in my own defence, reading policies, etc. When this is over some folks will have big fences to mend. But remember to look after your mood too, not just your leg!

Hey there,

I think what you are going through is very normal, because yes, for a time at least this is a very life-changing injury. I am a mum too, and work and study at university, and my first reaction was simply that I had no time for this!!

The first month is the hardest, and then you begin to see progress and experience the kindness of both strangers and loved ones, and you realise that the problem is far from insurmountable.

You, like all of us, will have to just go with the flow. Look after yourself, try to find ways to have a laugh - it really does help. And keep blogging and reading here because it also really helps to know you are not alone.

Good luck!

There are many in similar situation to yours (moms) on this site. Hey, it is time to teach the family independence! My children are teenagers - so they spent the summer learning grocery shopping, cooking, laundry… was a valuable lesson! Of course it was not easy, but gave us a different bond. I think my son grew up a bit being responsible to drive his mom to doctors appointments etc.
I definitely hope you will not be in cast for 18 weeks. I think the longest is about 10 weeks in general. And I can assure you, I do not have a limp anymore, after 5 months.
You have some hard times ahead of you but it is not forever.
Keep blogging. Good Luck!

There is most definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Almost all of us on this site have had much difficulty dealing with losing our independence. But I assure you there is hope and this is only temporary. Use this time to slow down your lifestyle…..do things you may have never had time to do previously…….and above all else, depend on others and strengthen your relationships. None of those things will be easy…..but I promise you, it will get better and you will be back to normal! Best wishes……