July 13, 2009
Hey there Achilles people,
I have officially gone to FWB now, very stoked about that and am thinking about getting myself a trophy.
At physio the guy was doing some very full on stretches on my Achilles in various positions (knee bent, straight leg, foot behind ears - just kidding…) which freaked me out a bit as I don’t imagine I’d put that much strain on the tendon since I did the injury - wild stuff! Fortunately the tendon didn’t snap, meaning I WILL have to pay the physio fees (damn) but that I now have good ROM (sweeeeeet). Apparently I can “dorsiflex” to 20 degrees. Seriously, when, other than after getting an ATR injury, would you ever use the word “dorsiflex” in normal life? It’s like how every 4 years when the Olympics rolls around we start talking about how so-and-so would be thrilled to “podium” this year…
Anyhoo, I took about 3 steps in the physio with no shoes on at all. I was feeling dizzy from the thought of doing this, I actually thought I might just pass out. I took 3 zombie-like steps and then backed off, didn’t want to do anything further. The tendon was ultra-tight despite my enviable “dorsiflex”, but given I have been FWB the past week I am expecting it to feel slightly better/less tight this week.
Any pearls of wisdom from ATR folk out there who have gone past this stage? I am really tentative on the foot and can’t imagine what it would take mentally to just start walking…
On another note, my calf now resembles a toothpick. It’s like a bag of jelly hanging off my shin bone, shorts will be out once the boot’s off! My career as a foot model is over!
July 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Tommo21: It gets easier everyday. Don’t worry about how you have progressed from one day to the next. Think of it in terms of, how have you progressed from one week to the next. You are at the stage now that got mentally really challenging for me. Progress showed itself in slower increments and worry got a little out of control because of it. I had new pain in different areas and I had to learn to distinguish between “rehab muscle” pain and “ooops I pushed it too far today” pain. Don’t forget that you get stronger every day.
I think FWB trophies are a brilliant idea.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Tommo, my friend, you and I are in the same boat! I started walking this past weekend, hence my latest post entitled “Overcoming the Mental Block of Transition”. I’m so in your corner. It feels totally weird, but still totally right. I just kicked myself in the arse (with my bad leg, too: I’m awesome with my own dore-see-fleck-shee-own - ha!) and said “just friggin’ do it, T”. So I did.
It got easier day by day, and it’s only been three days. I started sleeping in my boot to keep my tendon flexed and each morning wake up already stretched. I feel awesome. I’m going to take Smish up the night splint idea to get everything stretched while I sleep, too.
Of course, I’m still walking in my boot. I KNOW I’m not ready mentally for the no shoes thing! But, I bet, when it’s time, I’ll again feel that it’s weird, but right
Keep at it…don’t let the fear overcome your progress.
I’d like my trophy to read the following, by the way:
Champion Against All Odds
Achilles Games 2009
Trisportgirl
T
July 15th, 2009 at 11:01 am
With those feet you were never a foot model. Looking good though and can’t wait to see you bust a few moves.
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
tommo don’t worry mate it’ll hold, 10 weeks is plenty
it may look and feel like frankenstein but just keep walking small distances around your flat. at the beginning you’ll probably put all your weight on the healthy foot and just drag the other along but that’s fine for the start. to give you some perspective, i’m at 3 weeks without the boot now and for about 2 days i’ve been comfortable to actually put equal weight on both feet 
cheers
freddie