So I saw surgeon Feb 25, was diagnosed with a achilles tear and it was confirmed by MRI. The surgery was then scheduled for the following Thursday March 6th, nine days later.
I spent those days with crutches and the walking boot. Also during those days I spent talking to my car insurance to let them know of what happened and I communicated with my employer specifically their business office to make sure of what disability papers needed to be completed. I do have insurance thru my work, its not the best but I do have it and short and long term disability.
***I’ve learned thru mistakes of co-workers in years past that in these situations YOU must be the driving force in initiating communication between work, doctor and insurance companies. Specifically once you get info, YOU need to call, mail, or visit those groups to get the right info to the right people. When I found out my diagnosis I called work that day. When I got disability papers from work I made an appt with the buisness office at my work so they could help me fill out the paper work the right way and to let me know what steps I needed to do. Forget any macho nonsense of thinking “I don’t need help, I can do it” Paperwork is critical ASK FOR HELP!!
My car insurance got my statement over the phone and then the Monday before my surgery sent a local rep to my apartment to get a verbal statement. I consistently told the truth and let God take care of the rest.
I was fortunate that the car insurance took my claim, I qualified for FMLA and I’m getting pay checks. Not nearly as much. No overtime or shift differential of course which is normal in my paychecks but I kept everyone in the loop instead of assuming “they” had to do the work and call me.
As far as pain the worst was the ‘charlie horse’ feeling and the boot really helped.

I tore my achilles late Saturday nite Feb 22. At the time I knew I hurt my leg but didn’t know the extent of my injury. To me it felt like the worlds worst charlie horse. I didn’t want to call an ambulance and get a huge bill from that and my stalled car (which led to my injury) of course wasn’t working so that Sat was a long stressed out nite.
Sunday the next comes, my family doctor office is closed so can’t go to doctor on Sunday. I called my workplace, I’m a nurses aide at a nursing home, and called off work for Monday. First time in 3 years I’ve called off work.
My step dad came over Sunday afternoon and got the car running to get it out from the street and into a parking spot. So wait till Monday for dr.
Mind you I’m still walking around, no boot or crutches, just a ’sore leg’, I even did some loads of laundry.
Monday comes and while pulling out of parking spot to go to dr, the car stalls AGAIN. I live alone, no ride. Have to make another appt for next day Tuesday. Call off work for Tuesday.
Tuesday, day 3 after tearing achilles, I finally see family doctor at 10 am. My step dad is me chauffeur.
I see my family dr and he believes its an achillies injury either a strain or tear and I should see an orthopedic surgeon. One of the tests he did on me was have me lay on my stomach and put me calves and feet in the air. He presses on left calf and tendon-l foot moves. He presses on right calf-r foot doesn’t move. Uh-oh.
His office calls orthopedic group to make appt and they have a appt for me for the next morning but they willl call me later to confirm. Family dr says “Use crutches and don’t walk on your leg”. Gotcha.
Back home w step dad trying to work on stupid car. Its not working. Fuel pump sensor stuff. Get a call from orthopedic office and they say they can see me at 1pm…that day. Also I’m told since this injury involved a car, even though I wasn’t driving, that my car insurance will be involved. Huh? That never dawned on me.
So 1pm Tuesday see surgeon. She checks legs. Yep She is 99% sure its a tear. She also did the same ck family dr did with squeezing legs. Before I left the office paperwork was done for schedule surgery on March 6. She said we would have a MRI done to rule out the 1% chance its just a strain. Before I leave the MRI is scheduled for…that same day at 3. In the same center my family doctor is at.
Family dr, surgeon, and MRI all done in same day 10am and I was done by 5 pm. God was working that all out, I’ve heard others who had injuries and had to wait days and even weeks to get anyone to look at them.

Ok how did I tear my r achilles  tendon?  Haha…ugh.  Is this a first? ***

On Saturday Feb 22,  a day I will never now forget, I had gone to a friends house for a game nite.  (Yeah game nite as in board games,  hey I not a drinker or drug guy, board games, friends and junk food is my nite out lol)  I was driving home and right before making a right turn onto my side street my car stalled.  I made the right turn coasting and trying not to hit any other cars.  I live in a town in PA and across a laundromat so parking on side streets can be crowded.

****I steered the car towards the right side of the street diagonally right before the snow bank. (its feb we’ve had a lot of snow but side streets don’t get plowed as well, curbs are now snow walls.  I tried to start car…nothing.  Tried again a few time…nothing.  The car is a 93 Buick park ave and I’ve had it since 08 and lately it has been giving problems.  The car is parked diagonal with the back end in the middle of the  street and the front at the snow bank. I cant leave it that way because another car might hit it. It is around 11 pm so in the moment I try to push the car just enough to get it closer to the side and out of the middle of the street.  Its different if someone else is with you and they are in the drivers seat and you are behind using two hands BUT I’m by myself w noone else to help. I open the drivers side door and put car in neutral and get out and stand next to car between door and car. YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING DON’T YOU lol. Of course I discover the st is on a slight incline so car is rolling back just a tad towards another parked car. I start to push the car forward and steer it to park straight. THen I  felt it. I didn’t hear anything but the feeling was like a guitar string being plucked. I wasn’t sure what happened but I knew something bad happened. I was able to push the car enough to get closer to the side but I wasn’t able to steer it so it stayed diagonal. I  got back in the car, put it back in park and in shock hobbled up to my apartment. 20 steps. I was in shock, my leg felt sore but I didn’t know how bad.  It was after 11, I didn’t want to call an ambulance and a $10000 bill for and ambulance and I couldn’t get a hold of my step dad by phone. He lives 3 miles away and I’d see him next day for church. So there I was scared w sore leg and dead car….what now God?  Entry 3.  :)

Hi My name is Tom. I’m currently a month from my injury but I didn’t know about this blog until now. I’ve never done a blog so I’m making this up as I go.
This entry will just be about who I am and then each blog with have a specific topic hopefully to help others now or in the future.
At the time of my injury Feb 22, I am 41, single, and live alone. I am a nurses aide at a local nursing home. A nurses aide doesn’t handle meds but does the feeding, dressing, washing, lifting etc for the residents depending on what they need. NOT a desk job. While I’m not athletic or muscle ripped I’m a stocky guy with pretty good upper body strength.
I am a christian and have good friends in my church and family nearby that have all pitched in. Part of my story is that currently my car is not working but since its my r Achilles that is hurt, I couldn’t drive anyway. Ok enough background blog #2 will be “The injury” sounds like a murder novel title. haha