I had a good news.  My doctor told me that I could follow an “early weight bearing” protocol that will allow me starting exercizing my foot and ankle with the help of a special orthosis.  I was really looking forward to get that news since it will release me from my cast and allow me to sleep better, and take bath. 

Couple hours after getting the “ok” from my doctor, I had my cast removed and bought the orthesis.  I thought the orthesis will be more like a walking boot but it was just a simple orthosis placed on top of my foot that keeps my foot from going over 90 degree.  It is made of hard plastic, and it is stapped around my lower leg, my heel and my foot.  I am not familiar with the medical vocabulary (specially english medical vocabulatory, since my primary language is french) but i think the proper term for this orthesis is “brace”.

So now, I have a bunch of exercise in order to find back mobility in my ankle and foot.  My next appointment with the physiotherapist is in 2 weeks.

Me and one of my coworker are fan of the Dr House Tv show.  In the first episode of the 2nd season House wrote 5 words on his white board: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.  These words come from the Kubler-Ross Model.  The model describes, in five stages, the process by which people deal with personal loss and tragedy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model

Me and my coworker we use to make fun with the Kubler-Ross Model and apply it at every situation happening at the office. 

Five days after the surgery I was feeling depressing about not moving, and I wished to get my running shoes and go for a long run.  Then, I remembered the 5 stages, and start laughing because I could apply them to me.  I would say that I am half way between Depression and Acceptance, I will need several months before reaching full acceptance.

I had a quick appointment with a physiotherapist while waiting at the hospital for the surgery.  I had the surgery two days after the injury. 

The physiotherapist gave me the information about the recovery protocol.  I will get a special orthosis that will allow plantarflexion movement but restrict dorsiflexion.  The foot will not be allowed to lift above 90 degree.  My first recovery appointement is in two weeks.

The surgery went well (around 40 minutes).  I had a hard time to sleep the first night.  I took pain killer but I was still feeling light pain.  My scar was burning.

“Out for the season”, this is the first thing that came up in my head right after the injury.  I knew right away that the injury was a bad one, and that it will keep me from my favorite sports for a while. I never thought it will be for that long… 

I ruptured my Achille Tendon during a softball game.  The injury happened while running from 2nd to 3rd base following a sacrifice hit in the right field.  After 3 steps in the run, I felt like I has been hit by the ball behind my lower left leg.  I went directly to the hospital a few minute after the injury because I had a bad feeling that it was a severe injury. 

I was really angry when I heard the doctor say it was a AT rupture.  I am not really an emotive person but inside me I was out of myself.   I am an active person running around 3 times a week (around 22 Km or 13.7 miles per week ), playing softball during the summer and ice hockey during the winter.   I play hockey since I am 4 years old.  So learning that the recovery is 6 to 8 months was terrible.  It meant no hockey for the upcoming season.

I was also really sad for my kids and girlfriends.  I have 2 young kids, 1 and 3 year old and  they are really active.  They like running and bicycling, and we were used to do it every day before the injury.  Now, I can not even take the youngest one in my arm.  I feel also that I am leaving my girlfriend on her own since my helping is really restricted.