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.