Yesterday I had my three week post-op follow up.  Aside from the treacherous drive to and from the VA here in Denver due to a huge storm, the appointment went very well.  They took out my stitches and everyone remarked at how well both the incision and my range of motion was.  The doctor told [...]

Lowlights

Significant calf muscle atrophy at two week follow-up - surprising considering it wasn’t bad at all just a week earlier.
Showering was a major ordeal and genuinely scary, even with a shower stool.
Tough to get comfortable and fall asleep most every night due to general discomfort in leg.
Neck sores from having my head at a weird [...]

Week 2 Follow-up
I just got back from the VA for my week 2 follow-up.  I was armed with a list of questions for the surgeon about recovery protocols and was somehow expecting to encounter a hard-headed fellow who wouldn’t have time to explain why he has a conservative protocol, echoing the responses of the 3rd [...]

Lowlights

Bad swelling the first few days that kept me in bed more or less constantly.
Realizing that the doctors caring for me are somewhat clueless and not on the same page for recovery protocol.
Bed sores.
Not showering for about a week post-op while in a splint.
Horrible hiccups and nausea night of the surgery.
Trouble getting comfortable sleeping many [...]

I had my first post-op doctor visit yesterday, 1 week and a day past surgery.  Overall it was a frustrating experience that has left me feeling powerless.
My brother gave me a ride to the VA hospital and I arrived 15 minutes early only to have to wait about that amount of time for a [...]

Day 6
My first really long day at home by myself.  My wife set me up with all I needed, but wasn’t home until after 8pm, so it made for a long boring day in bed.  Work kept me fairly busy, but not being able to break the day up with so much as a trip [...]

Things are improving slowly, which is all I can really hope for now. I’ve been taking 1 percocet when needed, which is the right dose for me.  It relieves the pain without giving me any noticeable unpleasant side effects.  Hopefully by the end of the week I’ll find I don’t need it at all.
Day 4 [...]

Day 4
I just woke up from my longest and most consistent night of sleep since the surgery.  I was prescribed percoset, and have been taking it fairly consistently and within the prescribed doses.  Last night I took 2 before bed, as I have been the last couple of nights.  I took it with food but [...]

First Trip to the Hospital
On the night of the rupture I did some research (likely including opinions/experiences on this site) and after consulting with family decided that going to the ER that night would be unnecessary.  Luckily, I wasn’t in much pain at all and was 99% sure of what had happened, so I was [...]

It had been nearly four years since I last played basketball with an effort that would even break a sweat.  I may or may not have touched a basketball in the last two years while living up in a small Colorado mountain town.  Though I spent countless hours biking, hiking, running, and skiing on the [...]