Posted on April 27th, 2014 by racquetballjunky33
13 weeks post op and started a rigorous PT program a few weeks ago leaving me very stiff and sore, particularly in the ankle joint and incision area. After hearing some good feedback and reading on good information, I bought some kinesio tape this weekend and what a difference it has made. I no longer wake up stiff and sore and the foot is definitely more tolerable throughout the day and the swelling has decreased. My range or motion is 99.9 percent as my good foot and the walking also feels better. Definitely something I will continue to use on a regular basis.
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Posted on April 18th, 2014 by racquetballjunky33
Today officially marks 12 weeks since surgery and things are starting to feel normal day by day. The swelling in my foot is very minimal and I almost have complete range of motion. The limp is almost completely gone and I’m able to speed walk around the track for a few laps. My ankle does get sore by the end of the day but I dip the foot in ice water four times per day and it really helps that my wife gives me a deep massage at the scar every night. Feels good to be able to get out and do normal activities with my family again. My next goal is to get back to jogging within the next few weeks. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.
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Posted on April 6th, 2014 by racquetballjunky33
Happy to report I’m back in two shoes and walking quite normal for the most part. The swelling has definitely gone down significantly and the range of motion and calf strength seems to be increasing each day. At 10 weeks post op, the doc gave me the green light to resume normal activities at my ability and told me just not to do anything crazy. Took my beloved motorcycle for a spin on my first day out of the boot on a beautiful south cArolina day and it was so awesome to have some freedom once again. Next goal is to increase calf strength and get my butt to running again.
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Posted on March 17th, 2014 by racquetballjunky33
Hope everyone is off to a good Monday.
Things are looking good with my AR recovery. Had the surgery 24, January and placed in a splint for two weeks. Two weeks post op I had the stitches removed and placed in a cast for four weeks NWB with foot placed at decline angle. Had the cast removed at the six-week mark and doc gave me the clear to ditch the crutches with the assistance of a boot. I was so excited to hear the news, although ditching the cruthces was alot easier said than done. Since having no mobilization of my foot since 7 January 2014, my ROM was very limited but doc gave me some basic exercises to gain movement, basically, he gave me a resistance band and instructed me to do side to side and down exercises and doesn’t want the foot to come past the neutral position coming upward. I’m a military flyer so the protocol is to visit my flight doc after every visit with my civilian doc. The flight doc put me on a bit more of an intense physical therapy with the on-base physical therapist and already i have seen drastic improvements. within days of going to the physical therapist, i have gained full ROM side to side, down, and am slightly past neutral in the upward position. I got past the mental blocks of placing weight on my foot and ditched one crutch and feel confident enough to ditch the second one by the end of my seven-week mark.
I know i shouldn’t have, but this past weekend, i walked around the house without the use of the boot, but only for going to the kitchen and purposely to get my foot aclimated without the boot and I think that really helped loosen the tendon. I am very happywith my progress, and just as all the veterans on this blog recommend; progress should be incremental and in moderation.
Personally, this accident has been an incredible journey and a blessing in disguise. This past 1.5 years has been very busy for me. Before the accident, i was deployed for 8 months in Afghanistan and saw some pretty horrific things. I came back home for a couple weeks to my wife and kids only to fly out again for another 15 months of travel without them. Between training, deployments, and exhausting travel, my body and mind had been feeling the strains of all these things compounded with guilt of being away from my family. It’s pretty crazy because i think about my tear and when and how it happened and i think it was god’s way of forcing me to slow my life down and get back to the basics of faith and family. I remember being taken to the ER, I was 1700 miles from home at the time, and all i could think about was at the strong possibility of going home to my family for a good while and how that thought alone brought a smile to my face. So in the grand scheme of things, my ATR was a small and well worth price to pay for the priceless time i am spending with my wife and kids (this is the first birthday in three years i’ve gotten to spend with my 5 year old son, and it was priceless), and for the time i have been given to look back and reflect on many aspects of my life-something i have not been able to do in such a while.
For those who have just began the rehabilitative process, hang in there and keep your spirits high and we are all here to support one another. Good bless.
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Posted on February 17th, 2014 by racquetballjunky33
First, I have to say that this website and the stories of the community members have really helped me find it much easier to deal with my ATR. My rupture occurred during a racquetball tournament in New Mexico; I reacted to the ball coming off the front wall when I heard a distinctive “pop” and what could only be described like my foot went through a hold and something hitting me below my calf. Right alway I knew something was not right so off to the ER i went.
The rupture occurred January 07, but due to my circumstances, I opted to wait to return to South Carolina from New Mexico to get the surgery. So I made the 1700 mile drive home, then got the surgery January 24. I considered myself pretty fortunate to have had no pain, from accident or from post surgery. I was placed in a splint for 2 weeks post surgery, then got a cast and expected to be placed in a boot march 6, at neutral position and PWB for 2 weeks.
Things have not been too bad. As I mentioned, when the accident occurred, I had no pain and I was very relaxed and calm prior to surgery. Not much pain at all post op, and I took pain killers for the first three days after surgery. The only problems I did encounter were abnormal sleep patterns for the first couple weeks, especially during the time I had the splint. I think that a positive outlook and patience goes along ways when dealing with an injury of this sort. Plus, I have plenty of talents to help occupy my time while I remain limited with my mobility.
This is my story for now but I am planning on sharing my insight with this injury.
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