My Ruptured Achilles

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February 20th, 2010 by marina

I’ve decided to put some photos and watch the progress, this album will be frequently updated.

Photo Sharing by MyPhotoAlbum :: marina7’s MyPhotoAlbum Gallery :: Achilles tendon.

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Started yesterday heel raises, at last! My therapist did same things at first, stretching did not hurt as much as first times and ROM is almost there, actually when I’m there it’s pretty much same as good foot, but at nights it still gets swollen. Walking is doing okay, I do walk with a limp most of the times because my ankle is killing me.
So, after the rubber band, I stood up, got my hands on the bed and did some heel raises on both feet with around 1/5 of my weight (I’m 56kgs). That hurts on the tendon, but I also feel my calf finally working. So, I’ll do this at home also and ice it soon as I finish.
I’m finally REALLY FEELING a progress, just wish I didn’t had this ankle pain…

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To play or not to play?

February 17th, 2010 by marina

Well, this is the question, here are the facts:
I play basketball since I was a little kid, for 21 years now, on a local league in Athens, Greece. Since I’m not a pro, sometimes I got paid, some others not, which is the most common case. I was encouraged to turn into pro sometimes from my coaches, but that was not something I wanted, this is my hobby for AGES now, it is my passion, my whole life, something I didn’t ever want to do professionally and lose all its values. This is the way I see it.
I have been a part of many teams until today and I can say from the bottom of my heart, that I had a fantastic time to most of them, as far as the girls and coaches were concerned. However, if I search deeper, to the heart of each team, I never felt I was secure to none of them, nobody really paid a cent for me for minor injuries or PTs ever (or to other girls). This sure is a big issue (not to be solved here), but this is the reality, this is a fact and I’m just presenting things as they are, to help me get a decision. When it comes to mind, I think that I’m 33 years old, married recently, got a great husband and of course family that love me the most. I’d like to have my own family sometime and be able to do things for my kids and have a normal life. It is wise to say I’d stop basketball now, I don’t want to get through the same again or destroy my feet.
But when it comes to heart…this was really my last season, but was cut off very early. Only played 5 games. I don’t know if this is another excuse to keep on playing, but this is the way I feel. I don’t want to stop it because of an accident, I’d like to stop it because I say so. Because I’m prepared to stop it. Because I have decided to stop, no injury can decide for me. I see every Sunday my teammates playing and I’m so jealous, I want to play with them so badly!

My doctor says that my foot will be stronger than ever now, but I’m so afraid that I might tear the other one, or maybe same, that I think that even if I play, I will not be able to enjoy it. I’ll certainly miss all the fun. They say that time heals everything, but I don’t have time. I’m not at my 20s anymore. Really confused on what to do…

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3 days left to complete week 12

February 16th, 2010 by marina

Here I am entering week 12. Seeing my PT today again after weekend and Monday, which was a public holiday in Greece. Tendon is feeling itchy inside (hope this is good), mostly when I walk around and I noticed I can walk with my toes watching up front pretty nicely last couple of days. I try to keep the tendon fairly warm using fluffy leggings. Can’t wait to meet my therapist today. Did much exercise all 3 days I spent home with the rubber band. I’m a bit anxious on the ROM, when I finish my session it feels great and seems like it’s gaining some degrees comparing to the ‘good’ foot, but in the mornings I still feel it kind of stiff. Also my ankles are feeling MUCH better, I’ve iced them the whole weekend and they seem to ‘remember’ my way of walking and at the end of the day it’s not that swollen anymore, I’m pretty much happy.

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My story so far (up to week 11)

February 14th, 2010 by marina

So, I ruptured my Achilles tendon on the 21st November 2009, starting a sprint at first dribble on basketball practice. Felt like somebody was behind me and kicked me. Pain was terrible for few moments, but creepiest thing was actually seeing my foot without the tendon. When my coach and teammates tried to lift me up, I realized how huge the damage was, not been able to stand on my feet or even feel the ground underneath. We ran to the hospital where the doctor officially diagnosed a full rupture on my right Achilles tendon and put me on a splint. 6 days later I got an operation that lasted appx. 1 hour. Soon as they took me to my room, on my splint, I was frightened, not been able to move my legs from anaesthesia for about 15-20 minutes. Same night I suffered A LOT of pain, thankfully nurse visited me many times giving me painkillers. I slept a total of 4 hours that night. Next morning I went out and spent the night over my parents house that was close to the hospital and I can say it was pretty comfortable, unless I had to go to the bathroom. My foot was terribly swollen and numb, which made me really want to keep my foot elevated at most times, as the doctor suggested.

I visited the doctor each week for 3 weeks in a row, to check my leg. At first weeks, I wasn’t feeling much comfort (even though I had my husband and people and friends around me to do things for me) but I manage to go to work 4 or 5 days after op. I didn’t ever think I would say this, but it really helped working and joking with my colleagues, it made me forget my injury for a straight 8 hours.

All this time I experienced much of problems. First week after op, I visited the surgeon again and made a change on the bandage. Same night my heel suffered a lot like I was standing on a rocky beach barefoot for hours. My husband helped me unwrap the bandages and I put the splint to a position that felt comfortable and re-wrapped it again. That pretty much solved this until the week after, when I visited the doctor again, so I did same thing, same night..I was sleeping with pillows underneath my foot and kept the blankets folded where my foot was, as I could not stand its weight at all times.

Soon as I got rid of the staples (had 14 staples on) it felt much better. A week later I got rid of the splint also and was put on the cam boot. I spent 2 first weeks on the high heel and it was nice feeling again my foot on the ground, even with the crutches. When I reached one level prior to flat, my ankles where injured, since the boot was too tight on the sides, no matter the padding inside. This is when I started PT, mid-week 9. After getting my second PT, my therapist advised to remove one crutch, which I did, and the day after I left the other also. Wooh hoo! Here I am, FWB at last!

PT starts with tens, ultrasound (must say this feels uncomfortable when it passes over my incision), massage and tendon stretching. This hurts a lot! Last week I wear two shoes and I drive. I limp, but my therapist advised that I should walk normally and not on the side, to remind my ankles and foot how to walk again, no matter how slow. Last one week, I started also a bit of strengthen using a soft rubber band and he gave me ‘homework’ also with this band. I try to keep the tendon warm (after bath or using fluffy socks) prior to the exercise.

Last week, I visited the doctor for the last time (unless if I need him myself again) and he advised that I should go back to sport activities in about a month. That is of course, a little running, not full activities..looking forward to it!

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To play or not to play?

3 days left to complete week 12

My story so far (up to week 11)

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