Comments for np13's AchillesBlog

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by normofthenorth

normofthenorth — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:12:36 +0000

A few folks here have had trouble “winning the mental game”, Bree. The injury is a bummer for all of us, though lots of your neighbours are suffering with worse. Stay sane, keep coping. There aren’t any freak-out moves that will make anything any better — definitely including cutting off your cast!

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by Xplora

Xplora — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:13:11 +0000

Bree - I felt the same about the cast and I found I had a type of claustrophobia. Go to your GP Doc. He can help you with some medication to ease the anxiety in the short term and then see about getting into a boot ASAP.

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by Hillie

Hillie — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:40:57 +0000

Stay calm Bree. When was your atr? Can I suggest that you post on the main blog, achillesblog.com or create your own blog within it? Do you have a rehab protocol and timeline? Op or non-op?

Take it in small chunks of time and try to manage what you expect and when. Definitely read the posts regularly - helps you to understand that you are not alone in this. Masses of real life experience too.

If you’ve been in the cast for more than 2 weeks, ask why. In many cases you could be in a boot after diagnosis, and certainly at 2 weeks. Mobility as soon as possible, and don’t leave the weight bearing too long.

Keep posting - being ‘crazy’ will slow you down! But I know what you mean…

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by Bree

Bree — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:59:04 +0000

OMG I went through this last night, which is how I found this thread. I can’t deal with this cast, I just can’t. It’s all I can think about, it’s making me crazy and I am not normally crazy or dramatic. I fear I will cut it off at home tonight!

Comment on About by Xpf72q

Xpf72q — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:11:47 +0000

Hey there cwessels I also suffer from tendonosis in both legs much worse in the left am in a boot now for less than a week after trying eccentrics for 3 months plus physical therapy and iontophoresis . Did u have a Debridement or tendon transfer and how are you doing? My doc suggest no surgery at this point the MRI shows tendon thickness but no partial or full tear although I am sure there are many micro tears . This site is wonderful many good folks on to encourage you and offer sound advice I have found a few wonderful folks here.how long have u had the tendonosis and did u try orthotics and such first as well? Hang in there it will get better I hear!

Comment on About by cwessels

cwessels — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 01:10:54 +0000

I suffer from achilles tendonitis in both legs and had surgery on the left one on Tuesday, April 10. I ran across this blog today and am finding the posts really helpful. This is the first day that I haven’t taken pain pills during the day. I’ve switched to ibuprofren. Didn’t realize I was going to have a cast and just today received the cast cover I ordered Tuesday, following the surgery. Am looking forward to a real shower tomorrow! But first, I’ll need to crawl up a flight of stairs.

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by cwessels

cwessels — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:16:43 +0000

Can anyone tell me how to start a blog on this site? I’ve created a user ID and received a password but can’t seem to find where to begin. I know it must be staring me straight in the face somewhere!

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by Christina

Christina — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:31:24 +0000

np13- I also had an experience very similar to yours. I had a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle (surgery with a plate and screws).
My “attacks” happened twice; both times in the evening. It was always much harder for me when the sun set… I became really nervous about night time coming.
I too thought I was going insane and it felt like a rabbit hole that I might not be able to come back out of. The worst thing I have experienced in my life and I consider myself a brave person. I am lightly claustrophobic (I am OK with elevators but not so good with MRI’s). This was a feeling like I was trapped/locked in a 2′ by 2′ box and couldn’t get out… but there was no box. I can also remember thinking while I was going through this that I did not want to live with this feeling…. Could not live with this mental state and I have never had that thought before in my life. I can remember thinking please let me not remember exactly how this feels. It was very traumatic. That is the best way I can describe it. And if you are not a claustrophobic person I don’t think you are going to “get” any of this.
Both times I had these “attacks” I had to eventually partially remove the splint and then later the cast to escape this intense claustrophic feeling.
I had had the cast on for one week before I had this attack the second time and my cast was very comfortable I must say. I ended up taking the cast partially off with wire cutters. If I didn’t have the wire cutters I was contemplating going to the ER as it was night.
The following day at the doctor’s office I refused to have another cast put back on and my doctor (not happy with me) fitted me for a boot. I felt it was either my mental health or my leg.
I am about 5 weeks post op. now and have done very well with the boot. It was the right choice for me and I know it was healthier for my skin and my brain.
I did change doctors as well because of the first doctor’s lack of concern with my mental health. He was a good surgeon but had a terrible bedside manner.
I too was on anti-anxiety pills and they did help but they were addictive too and then I had to deal with coming off of them as well (withdrawal is not fun either). So keep that in mind when you start relying on pills to help you through this… ask about how addictive they are.
Feel lucky if you cannot relate to any of this.

Comment on cast-claustrophobia/anxiety… by broomfieldbill

broomfieldbill — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:19:22 +0000

Hello np3…i’m sure you are out of your cast by now! congratulations..i envy you. i just had Achilles’ tendon surgery 6 days ago and have already had some minor cast induced panic attacks. this same thing happened to me 2 years ago when i had another similar injury. this time i asked the dr. to prescribe something…he did…prescribing an anti depressant, Trazodone..i think it’s helping a little but i TOTALLY relate to waking up in the middle of the night and going somewhat crazy…”let my foot out of prison!” I was thinking today about a way I could explain the feeling…similar to when I used to ski and I recall a great feeling that I had at the end of a long ski day when I would unbuckle my ski boots and remove my feet…ahhh…how sweet. I just WISH I could reach down NOW and be able to do the same with this cast….drats…I guess I’ll just have to hunker down and try to keep it together…here we go!

Comment on It’s been awhile: 13 weeks post surgery by Videos of Baby Birth

Videos of Baby Birth — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:27:51 +0000

omg. this baby is