Rebekah’s Achilles Lengthening (ATL) Story…

So, I went to the doctor Monday of this week and the toe (and the swelling that was with it) looks a lot better and is now healing very well. I have been able to be in shoes now…though I do need to get a new pair because one is so wore out so I hope to get a pair this weekend. The L-rd has been so good and has given me the strength to be able to work through the slow process of recovery.

I am now out of the boot completely, and just in time for the hot weather so I am grateful that I don’t have to wear it. My leg muscle has grown more and more each week, though because it is slow…it is hard to notice sometimes. For the next three weeks I will be working on the bike, doing my own physical therapy you could. I have do it now for two days and I think in the long run it will help rebuild that muscle. So, I am biking (at the gym) and walking "full-time" now without the boot. I am not sure how long it will be before I really can use that leg as I used to.

My goal right now, over these next three weeks is to rebuild so my leg is strong enough to handle the strain of a horseback ride, which is a workout in itself. So, I hope at the end of these three weeks…I will be able to get "back up" on the horse. I have a friend of mine who will be letting use hers. I can’t wait to feel how the leg will respond and having a new balance that I have not had before.

I go back to see the doctor on May 16th, that morning. I am still wearing the night split because I am waiting for the leg and all to show signs of healing completely before I risk a night without it. I don’t want it to go back to the way it was…I don’t think it would but why risk it. I am also treating the leg (the scar area) with vitamin E Oil so to help the scar fade and heal up quicker. I think it is helping because my leg does feel less tight in that area. I treat it twice a day, once in the morning and then at night before I go to bed, sometimes putting something over it so the oil will soak in during the night.

Let me know if you all have other "treatment" ideas for my leg, or what you have done.

Thanks

G-d Bless

Hello all,

So…I told you that I had that surgery on my big toe for the ingrown toenail. Well, the front of my foot, along with all the toes, are swollen. I guess its not not bad and its not the ankle which is a good thing so nothing there is going wrong. However, because of this toe issue…I have still yet to spend any time in the shoe. I did try the shoe, but only could try it for about 15mins before it got too much for my toe. Good thing is…its not as bad as it was yesterday night. Please pray that this swelling would go down so I can start working on the shoes and all…which I really want to start doing. I am just praying that this toe and its healing doesn’t keep me "a step back" for too long.

The surprising thing is, is that the toe doesn’t really hurt. Yet from how it looks…I should be. Its not infected…and I am soaking the foot in salts twice a day. Yet…I can see a lot of raw flesh where the bad nail was growing (only on right side of the big nail on the big toe)…so I can see why it was bothering me because it was digging into that raw flesh. I would think though that it would still hurt because the flesh is exposed. Anyway, so this is a little set back….but its better than having that nail back

Anyone else have this "anomaly", that is, not having pain after a removal of an ingrown toenail?

Thank you all and for your prayers…

G-d Bless

Hello all,

I know that it has been awhile since I have written here. Anyway went to the doctor this morning (I had been wearing the boot the last three weeks…again.) So, I went in today to see what he said. Turns out that my big toe had an ingrown toenail so I had that removed -  but he said it shouldn’t return and cause any issues with my recovery in terms of my "large" surgery. He was very happy with my leg. He told me I can SLOWLY start using my shoes again. The firs three days I can only wear them for an hour and then the next three days for two hours a day, and go up an hour every three days. I still have to sleep with the splint at night so the leg with completely heal in the way he wants (and how I want too).

I would have started today in the shoe, however because of the toe thing and how he wrapped it…I didn’t want to mess with it til tonight when I soak the foot (which I have to do for two weeks until I see him again). I go back in two weeks, like I said, and he will look at the toe and leg. I should be walking in shoes completely by the end of this month I hope. The L-rd is teaching me a great deal  on how to wait.

I hope to get on a horse at the beginning of next month and ride and jump, and see how all this makes in easier to do so. Once I do that…it will be worth it. No…its worth it now to walk around (in my dorm and at home) like normal. My leg has some muscle to work up….but everything is going well.

G-d Bless!