Backpacking @ one year
I took a four day trip in the Pecos Wilderness (Santa Fe, NM) this past weekend. This trip I used trekking poles for the first time for added assurance. Everything seemed great; however, I had occasional anxiety that the tendon would pop again. There was no pain or inhibition from the ATR at all–very pleased. I would say the hiking was moderate/difficult even arduous at times while climbing from ~9,000 to ~12,000 ft. I was carrying 25-30 lbs in the pack.
This next week is the one year anniversary of my re-rupture and I went non-surgery protocol. The tendon still has some deformity and the calf is noticeably smaller than on the “good” leg. However, it seems to be healing in line with other folks. I may start jogging a little to work the calf muscles a bit more. Hope everyone is doing well!
on June 28th, 2012 at 1:29 am
Its been a long and difficult road for you and I am glad to see you coming out the other side. Well done.
on June 28th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Agree with Stuart. So good to hear your progress and great to hear getting back to normal at last.
on June 29th, 2012 at 1:28 am
Yes, suthernman, glad you’re finally getting the good luck that eluded you for too long!
on August 29th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Hi Suthrnman
sorry to contact you via an old thread but I thought it was the best way. I hope you don’t mind? I’m in the UK and was 13 weeks non op last Friday when I heard a loud pop and felt a snap. The pain was bad and lasted an hour but no swelling. ER did an ultra sound on a poor machine and said they thought it had gone I also failed the squeeze test. All weekend I have geared myself up for the worst but went to see a new doc yesterday who said he wasn’t convinced it had gone. My foot hung in the correct position but he couldn’t get the squezze test to wrk and he said the tendon felt continuous. He has however arranged for an MRI but that can take up to two weeks. He told me to go home put my trainers on and walk on it. I came home and put on my aircast with two wedges in but have since taken one out. What worries me most is I can feel a palpable gap, a divot like you described in your blog. I know the MRI will give me a definitive answer but I wondered if I could ask you the difference between your POP and your re rupture? What was it that made you so certain when it actually went? If mine hasn’t gone do you think going into the boot and staying in it is the best thing. I am in it at the moment. I am too scared to walk in shoes but FWB in the boot. My husband who is very mechanically minded looked at it very carefully last night and said he felt there was something attached as the calf was contracting slightly but how much we don’t know. I guess what I’m really asking you is what was the difference between your pops and your re rupture? Many thanks in advance.
on August 29th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I am 13 weeks post-op and had a scare a few days ago. While I did not have any pain, I felt a distinct gap in the tendon at the base, near the ankle. Went into my weekly PT apt and he looked very closely at it. We determined that the gap was the space between either pockets of scar tissue or a gap in the swelling. He assured me there was no re-rupture. After a “massage” , wearing compression socks all day, and icing last night the gap is gone. Maybe helpful for you?