May

20

Last post,peeps

May 20, 2010 | | 2 Comments

Ruptured the achilles playing lacrosse June 11 last year, surgery on July 31 (the ruptures was originally misdiagnosed.  My first game back tonight, felt rusty but good as new.  Not too bad for a 50-year-old midfielder.  Still working on the strenghtening and getting the speed back, but it felt wonderful to be out there again. 

For those of you new to this, hang in there - IMO, its not nearly as bad an injury as I feared.  Work hard in rehab and you’ll be fine.  Re. returning to what you love, I’ll leave you with a Morgan Freeman nugget from Shawshank:  get busy living or get busy dying. 

Good luck all and God bless!

Jan

25

First Trip Back to the Basketball Court

January 25, 2010 | | 9 Comments

Ruptured last June, surgery last July. I played 3 games of pickup basketball today and it felt great. I still have some muscle to rebuild in both legs, but it felt great to be back out there, even @ less than 100%. At almost 50, I have a lot of friends who think I’m nuts to risk injury again, but life is for living.

Hit your rehab hard and you’ll be back doing what you love before you know it. As I look back now on the whole experience, it was not nearly as bad as I feared it would be. I admit though, I was lucky - I know some of you have had to deal with infections, complications, etc.

Regardless, good luck and keep working hard. This too shall pass ~

Jan

1

It’s gonna be a better year, folks!

January 1, 2010 | | 1 Comment

Hi all - haven’t posted in several months. Tore my Achilles in June, surgery 7 weeks later (misdiagnosis!), wrapped up rehab visits in November. Life is pretty much back to normal. I’m able to run 3-4 miles with no problem. Both legs are still noticeably weaker, but that’ll come with time. I was able to ski a couple days over the Christmas break - the lack of leg strength was a problem. Problem #1 right now is the 20 (!!!!) lbs. I gained after the injury.

I have 4 triathlons scheduled for 2010 and plan to return to the lacrosse field and basketball court this spring.

Hang in there all and work hard at your rehab. IMHO, that’s the key - hard work at your rehabbing. Life will soon enough be normal again. You’ll get through this just fine. HNY all!

Oct

21

On the road again …

October 21, 2009 | | 1 Comment

after_12_weeks1

12 weeks post op tomorrow.  Met with my doc today and he green-lighted me, subject to my PT’s approval, to begin very light jogging again.  My PT has had me doing light jogging as a part of my last 2 PT sessions, so I’m guessing he’ll give me the go ahead too. 

To those of you just starting, there is an end to this!  Hang in there and work hard!

Here’s the last leg shot as there seems to be no more updating necessary.  Minimal swelling, but I think it’s always going to be a bit thicker.

Oct

15

Simple Pleasures

October 15, 2009 | | 5 Comments

Took my dog for a 1 mile walk this morning,  just before the sun popped up.  Cool air, it’s getting to be fall here in the south.  What a joy simply walking can be …

Oct

8

How Long PT?

October 8, 2009 | | 6 Comments

10 weeks post-op today. I’m feeling good, walking now with only a very slight limp. The plan is to begin lap swimming again in 2 weeks, jogging in 6 weeks.

Question: how long are you guys working out with a PT? My doctor “prescribed” 4-6 weeks (I am in my 3rd week now). I plan to continue thru the end of October, which would be right over 6 weeks. After that, my insurance runs out.

I’ve seen a few on here who seem to be working out with a PT as long as 6 months. Really? Why?

Sep

12

A beautiful sight …

September 12, 2009 | | 7 Comments

dsc00072_edited

6 weeks post-op.  Forgive the sock selection

Sep

8

PT starts tomorrow - nervous

September 8, 2009 | | 7 Comments

6 weeks post op, FWB walking around in the boot 100% of the time.

I’m a little nervous that the PT will push me too hard and I’ll hear the dreaded POP! I read another post on here where a physician pushed a patient too far. I guess I have to trust that they know what they’re doing.

Sep

2

Crutches, Get Thee Behind Me!

September 2, 2009 | | 2 Comments

5 weeks post-op tomorrow.  This morning, my doc greenlighted me to:

a.  Transition to no-crutch mode.  I’m putting 2 wedges back in the boot and I’m free to hobble guilt-free (I’ve be cheating on this for 2 weeks now)

b.  2 weeks from today, he wants me full-time in 2 shoes.

I plan to take a wedge out in a couple days, then the other a few days after that.  Then, about a week from now, I’m going to SLOWLY begin re-introducing my left foot to a shoe.

I am scheduled to begin PT in earnest next week.  Can’t wait to get on with the work of rehab.  These past 5 weeks have been a real lesson in patience.  I’ve learned a lot, not the least of which is what an awesome wife I have (although I already knew this!).  She could not have been more kind to me through all this.

Aug

31

Props to my surgeon

August 31, 2009 | | Leave a Comment

Here’s my leg at 4.5 weeks post-op.   I don’t know if his “inside” work is great or not yet, but the dude can sew.  Looooong … but pretty.

after_45_weeks

I have seen some HORRIFIC scars from ATR victims who reach out to me when they see me hobling around in my boot.  Some real Frankenstein stuff, like my 8-year-old daughter would do!