I had a dream last night that I was running/jogging. During the dream I remembered that I had the injury, stopped running, looked at my achilles and then started back again. It felt great! Can’t wait to actually run again. I’m taking it as a positive omen.
I had a little drama with the Doctors office over starting rehab but I persevered with a compromise solution that had me starting last week (more of an intro) then the real deal this week. I’ve been almost fully 2 shoes for the past 2 weeks with boot usage as needed. While I have progressed significantly from my first jaunt with both shoes, it feels so good to be free of the boot. The boot and i have a love/hate relationship - the boot loves me and I hate it. Well it may not be that harsh of a relationship because as much as I hate to admit it, the boot can feel good.
As an interesting side note, I went to 40th birthday party this weekend and somewhere along the way between my 6th and 8th vodka drink, I was able to walk for a few moments like a normal person. While I enjoyed my new found celebrity and performed a couple maneuvers for the crowd, I strode back into the pit and had the crew strap on the boot before exiting back on the track for for a few more laps.
No offense to my cross dressing ruptured achilles friends, but my wife and I, and 2 other couples hit a gay nightclub friday night and saw a drag queen contest! What a hoot. Talk about taking your mind off the injury. All I’m going to say is that’s some funny funny stuff.
Hitting week 7 post surgery tomorrow and all still seems to be progressing well. I have a pending update appointment with my surgeon to discuss some timeline issues, but I got a green light from another surgeon to increase some activities in general. For me that means more bike riding, some time in the gym and a real effort to watch the food/beer intake while trying to work some more situps. I’m a naturally thin guy, but i’m at least 7-10lbs over my norm with the belly starting to overhang the belt and a real fear of early onset of man boobs. The boobs might come in handy if I pursue a drag queen career, but I really dont see that happening……..
Oh yeah, I did my first stint in two shoes this past Sunday. Felt very good. Even though I have not been green lighted by the doc, I had been at the beach and had to use the boot in the sand and water. My boot was a soggy sandy mess so I decided to move on. No problems, but I’m back in the boot for life outside the house or for other activities requiring any effort other than standard walking around in the house. For those wondering what an Aircast will do in the water, it floats like a cork and then drys out pretty quickly after that (once removed). A little time underwater is probably good for odor mitigation…..
Tomorrow marks my 6 week calendar anniversary of my surgery date (7/22/09) and I think I’m doing well all things considered. I started a recovery tracking blog on a different site but I found this community and figured I’d switch over. Long story short I’m FWB and have been for 3 weeks with no pain whatsoever. Its been interesting reading all the other stories, particularly as it pertains to coming out of the boot. My doctor said at my appointment last week that I’m 6 weeks more in the boot (10/6/09) - that’s right at 3 months in the boot before starting physical therapy! That seems too long based on some blogs but I clearly don’t want to risk a re-rupture. I’m walking a lot at home without the boot and have been for 2 weeks, but i have been very careful not to flex my foot (walking peg leg style). I do minor stretching plus I’m very active in general and have started back at the gym last week plus light bike riding.
Anybody have any thoughts on waiting 3 months to start PT? I feel great and I’m ready to get started!
