Today was a wonderful Easter Sunday, with a party where I was able to dance with my wife, Lucia. My left foot isn’t lifting the toes as well as the right foot, but I was able to twirl on the right foot fine! 
Enjoy the short Clip! at https://youtu.be/2Tj0VsyryoQ, which I hope I was able to embed.
…. Happy healing!… Manny
Well, this week I wonder what the "small achievement" was. The aching continues moving up from my ankle, and is now at the base of the calf muscle. Swelling has gone done, too. Of course, allergy issues have limited my outdoors activity, but I’m still doing my PT at home. Walking well, balance continues improving slowly, and today I went barefoot from bedroom to shower, dress and go back, though I continue being very careful about not overusing the tendon, (not overstretching it). So, I guess everything is fine.
Happy healing, everyone!…………. Manny
Well, at 13 weeks, with no problems except a swollen foot, my Physical Therapist told me to ice permanently when I was at home, because I was was walking too much… and my foot was not unswelling… now the swelling is not all that bad: I still fit in my shoes.
Oh, and I was told not to try tap dancing moves yet… LOL This rehab protocol really limits a guy, don’t ya think?
My thought is that icing is inconvenient for me, since I’m either at the computer or on my feet. But I guess I’ll have to do it. And the great alternative of sticking my foot under a cold NY shower, works well but can get messy…
Highlights of the week:
Little improvements, with the twinges of pain moving higher up in the calf (now about 3-4 inches from the ankle bone, on the inward side). Still limp when tired or taking longer steps, which reminds me to SLOW DOWN. 
Take care, everyone!……… Happy Healing!…………. Manny
This post was inspired by Crzkdsmom, and her ironic recommendation that we behave while we are having “Cabin Fever”. And for those that don’t know what “Cabin Fever” is, well its what has happened to all of us from being locked up in our homes with our foot/leg in a cast or CAM boot for weeks, specially while we are non-weight bearing, using crutches, scooters or other ways of moving around.
Behave? Honestly, being naughty can be a lot more exciting and fun! But, of course, we cannot take it too far without risking hurting ourselves, falling, or – rerupture.
What you (and I) need always is to DO THINGS! But we cannot do what we always did. Now we cannot easily pick up things from the floor, not even shower normally! And our brain is always thinking of what we would normally do at that moment, but can’t because of the recovering foot. Worse yet, this is a year long process, and while I love being able to wear shoes again, having to learn to walk normally is not easy. Warning to those who are still in the boot: we need to learn to walk again so we don’t risk rerupture, so at first we take it slow and easy, building up strength and stamina, and we gradually “graduate” to walking normally. Please note that even the wonderful Beannie is being very careful and doing limited triathlons and crossfit events, building up slowly to her desired skill and strength levels.
So, lets focus on DOING THINGS that we like but without risking our tendons or surgeries.
In my case, I took online and conference call classes and got my certification as a professional Life Coach, and am now almost a master coach. I also write articles and am working on 2 books, and working a lot in Spanish, which I did not do before. I slowed down video production, and attending events, because both require me to move around too much. Interestingly, I have not devoted much time to my traditional passions: guitar playing, singing, writing songs, probably because of the frustration of not being able to move naturally. This might be happening to you, too, but don’t worry about it since the skill remains. .
Basically, I am DOING things that stretch my brain and allow me to forget that I am recuperating. And you can do the same! Beannie does exercises and triathlons, Metonia does Aquatherapy and puppy raising, Crzkdsmom goes shopping and mall trips, Granny does gardening, Stuart works out (hard), mountainclimber treks and pushes limits, Shady gets friendly with swimming pools (inside joke – read his blog), and I’ll stop while I’m ahead …. LOL
To conclude, then, one key element to successful rehab from Achilles Tendon Rupture (and related surgeries/treatments), is to find a safe way of doing things, instead of just losing control. Most of us in this site have fallen, with or without crutches, with and without further consequences… Most of us have gone through moments of fear that we really hurt ourselves or overdid something… Most of us have had moments of great frustration at being stuck at home, or in a chair, or at a public space with no place to rest and elevate our aching leg. Hey, that’s normal for the Achilles Tribe. And every one of us is doing things, too! We celebrate our small achievements, and measure progress one small step at a time (yeah… I couldn’t resist the pun).
So, read our many posts and our blogs, and find other members of the tribe who are similar to you. Find things to be happy about in your recovery period and also share your not-happy moments to find out how others have dealt with the issue. Our community is a world wide English speaking mutual support group, and you will soon find yourself helpting others figure out how to sleep, shower, move around, adapt and learn. And that, I think, is a great way of “behaving”.
Have fun with your "Behaving", then, and if you do get naughty… let us know! LOL
Guys, this blog seems to have an issue with approvals… some posts have to be approved by the "owner", and most don’t… but yesterday, I wrote a post on my own site, and it went into the "pending" folder and did not post.
Checking this requires you go into your dashboard and see if the total posts is equal to the approved posts… any difference is in the pending folder, wating for you to approve it.
This is important because these messages not only tend to have important comments on our progress and needs, but because we are sometimes waiting for a comment from a knowledgable "achilles friend", and get sad if we don’t get it… there is plenty of waiting in the rehab process, and this blog tends to limit waiting to one day.
So check your pending folder regularly!
Thanks and happy healing!
Well, technically I make these posts on Wednesdays, but tomorrow my calendar is packed, so I decided to do it right now. Progress continues slowly, gaining strength and balance, but I admit the foot is swelling up on me (yeah.. elevate and Ice… which I don’t do much…)
Well, I’m happy with the results for the week. :-) Take care and happy healing, everyone!……. Manny
Hi, Everyone! Just one day short of the 3 month-ersary of my rupture, I walked in the St Pat’s for All Parade in lovely Sunnyside, Queens, New York City, with the Mayor, Assemblymen, Members of Congress, Council Members, and other fellow State Committee members! I’m back in the public limelight! jajajajajaja. Enjoy the 12 second video clip:
https://youtu.be/oia_xH75aKQ
and yes, my foot is still complaining this morning! LOL But I’m off to PT and then to walk some more!
Other highlights? Well, I can put my pants on without sitting down or leaning on furniture! And, at the post parade Irish bar celebration, I didn’t have to lean on the furniture, either! LOL
I am still avoiding carrying my guitar or any heavy packages on public transportation, since my balance is not perfect, but I am getting there!
Take care, everyone, and happy healing! Every day, in every way I am walking better and better and better!
Well, to be honest, I was holding on to the Physical Therapist with both hands, but yesterday we started working on my balance and strengthening my legs. And, since my foot is swelling at the end of the day, so I’ve got to elevate and ice regularly.
Other milestones:
I continue doing my exercises and working on getting back my strength and stamina. And I’ve lost about 8 lbs since my ATR! Downside of being back on the street: it is so difficult to walk past the junk food vendors… LOL
Take care, everyone! Manny
My general doctor prescribed this antibiotic for me, for what he thinks is an internal infection, but my pharmacist warned me not to take foods with calcium or lots of iron, and to avoid exercise for the week of treatment and the following week. I asked about my physical therapy for my ruptured achilles tendon, and he told me the antibiotic is associated with a risk of tendon rupture and fractures… totally scared me and I told him I’d call my doctor on monday. Do any of you know anything about this danger or risk?
Of course, I’m very glad I didn’t do a mail order pharmacy for this one: live pharmacists give direct information on the risks and characteristics of each medication they sell…
Manny
yes! today I was able to open one of those push on the pedal to open trash can with my injured foot! And I worked! No screams, no pain, no embarrasment in the public restaurant…
This is big! Now, when I dance it will be possible to step on toes with my toes … maybe even play footsie? LOL
Another milestone was on Sunday, my first subway ride into Manhattan in 2 shoes, which went well, though I had to ice when I got home. Today was my first walk in the rain in two shoes, and the shoes got all wet, but my foot did fine.
Showering is also going well, and I am able to go a couple of steps barefoot. I still don’t dare walk barefoot without my heels so I grabbed old sneakers and put in heel lifts for house slippers. Overcautioous? Maybe, but my wife is happy as I learn to go up and down stairs "normally" again.
I am getting back into my regular routine of community and work meetings and events. So that is another milestone.
Have a great week, everyone.
