Still Smiling *update*

Hello All, 

It’s been awhile since my last post, perhaps because I can’t seem to sit in one place long enough… I am truly relishing the ability to finally move around.

Anyways, I just wanted to say hello and that I am training for a century bike ride in August. I hopped back on my bike this week and did 76.1 miles (to be technical) and my leg feels great. I also went to an 80’s prom and danced for a solid 4+ hours this past weekend.  :)

For anyone who just signed onto this board, good luck and there is light at the tend of the tunnel!

2 Shoes - Finally! :)

Tomorrow I am officially out of “das boot” and in 2 shoes and able to drive.  It’s funny how my mood has suddenly changed.  The last few weeks, as I mentioned before, I was rather down.  However, now, I can’t stop smiling.  It’s funny how much this injury has effected my life and probably those around me. After reading countless amount books, knitting a dog sweater and hat, and bedazzling my crutches, I am finally able to “rejoin” society - with a slight limp. 

Walking around in shoes feels like walking around on a sprain, but it feels great!  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipee/3220744715/in/photostream

Happiness!

I just got back from the doctor’s appt.  and he told me that I can walk(in two shoes) and drive in one week!!!

I can’t stop smiliing!  Never thought wearing two shoes would be so exciting.  Hope everyone is recovering well.  There is light at the end of that long, dreary tunnel!

9 weeks later…

Still stuck on crutches for another 5 weeks! I had my follow up appointment yesterday and the doctor told me that I have at least 8 more weeks until I would be in two shoes. :(  Even my physical therapist was surprised that I was still on crutches. Crossing my fingers I would be crutch free for Christmas, my birthday, or the New Year.  Apparently not. i think I am going to start decorating my crutches.  Needlesss to say, I am still in shocked by how long Achilles recovery takes.

Now I am going to re-read the Black Dog blog.

Good luck everyone.

Das Boot - 4 Weeks Post Op.

This past Monday was my second post op visit and they put me in a CAM boot.  I was pretty elated to hear I was going to take the split cast off after 4 weeks. The leg atrophy quite a bit and my calf was very flabby and squishy. I went to physical therapy the same day.  It was pretty surreal not being able to move my foot.  I never imagined this — reading the blog gave me some insight as to what to expect but seeing it for myself is pretty surreal.  

Good luck to everyone out there.

Post Op - Visit 1

I made it through my first post op visit and it went well.  Stitches were taken out - surprisingly that didn’t hurt. There was only minor bruising.  It felt pretty amazing to have the splint cast off.  Overall my leg did not shrink too much.. Time will tell.  I am overall pretty elated. I month down - 2 more to go.  Pictures to follow.  

As I mentioned before the doctor said that I was the worst Achilles he has ever seen. At todays visit, he stated that it looked as if I vaporized my tendon.  Hmm…is that an official medical term?

Achilles Surgery Pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipee/sets/72157608065554544/

Bringing sexy back!

Post Op - Day 3

So my doctor called me today to check in - (which was nice..) He decides to tell me that, “you were the worst Achilles  I have ever seen - you really thrashed  it.”  Great.  I will be posting pictures as soon as I get back to my apartment to download them.

Post Op - Day 2

Well I am post op- day 2.  Apparently I shredded the tendon and the doctor had a difficult time locating the tendon and ”sewing” the tendons together. The surgery went from 1 hour to 3.5 hours. I am pretty stoked I do have some pictures from the surgery.  They are pretty amazing (better than pictures I found on google.)  I am a bit surprised by the amount of pain I have been in.  I did not want to take the pain medications (Vicodin) however I can not sleep due to the pain and have had a difficult time relaxing.  I have this burning sensation - is that normal, typical?  I do know that I have a larger incision because of the difficulty they had locating the tendon - so that also means that  my tendon is going to be shorter.  Figures, nothing is easy. 

I am really grateful for this website - any suggestions people have with the post op recovery is much appreciated.  Good luck to everyone else. 

My leg is finally not numb.  That really freaked me out - I had to have assistance standing up because I could not move my leg.  Weirdest and scariest feeling I have ever had.  Needless to say, I am happy I know have some feeling back. 

Another One Bites the Dust…

Thursday, October 2, 2008, at 11:30 pm, Another one bites the dust.. I ruptured my Achilles playing volleyball- first match of the season!  I played the first game with ease.  Then middle of the second game, while I was in back row going for a pass I felt this sharp pain in my calf.  After the play ended, I kept asking, “what hit me, who hit me, etc.”  My teammates convinced me that no one or thing hit me. As I hobbled off the court, I knew this wasn’t just a sprained ankle..

Driving home I called my dad and he said it might be my achilles. No way, not possible - I just pulled something.. I  hobbled up the three flights of stairs to my apartment with tears of anger and pain streaming down my face.  Finally I got into my apartment to access the damage.  After taking off my right shoe and ankle brace, I did not see any bruising or swelling. Not good…

Friday, October 3, 2008,  When I woke up my leg was still throbbing but not as bad. Good sign? I decide to go to the doctor, but since I do not have a regular doctor I had to go to the ER.  Initially I was extremely embarassed -thinking I was going in with a pulled muscle or sprain, little did I know 8 hours later, I would be leaving in a splint cast and have surgery schedule for the following week.