tornado4delta’s AchillesBlog

Today is my second day of physical therapy and though the hour seemed to fly by, I feel like I’ve trained for game day!  I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long while.  I researched therapists in our area and though they all have positive outcomes, the one I chose I believe will have the tools to get me back to my active lifestyle.  I long to run again!  Today I got a taste of it….he ha he AlterG antigravity treadmill and I WALKED.  Those few minutes made me feel strong again as I envisioned training for my next half or full marathon.

Since my last post I’ve ha the benefit of taking many of the advice given here on the blog.  I love my VACOCAST.  I did get an EVENUP to help with my gait as my hips were beginning to hurt with the height discrepancy.  I also did proceed with the BOTOX injections into my two calf muscles.  The result is increased flexibility, less spasm and hopefully more successful recovery and rehab.  I am thankful to not have had much swelling or pain.  I never thought I would get to this point.  Thanks to my family, friends, surgery and rehab team —and of corse the Achilles Blog network today is brighter than June 1st!

Yesterday was my 4 week post op follow up.  I had little expectations about my next phase of treatment, but I was pleasantly surprised.  My ortho informed me that I could leave in boot and partially weight bearing.  I elected to recast at neutral and ordered the Vacocast shown on this site.  We also have a pain management doc who offered to administer BOTOX injections into plantaris muscle to help with my only real pain issue, muscle cramps.  It is said to also help flexibility which will help with rehab. I am still weighing my options.  It was great to see that I could flex and extend and more importantly I’m making process!  If anyone has had experience with Vacocast or BOTOX please weigh in.   Meanwhile my status is upgraded to PWB baby!!!!

Today marks the third week after my ATR repair.  The road has been rocky, but I am thankful that I am regaining ground.  My initial post op cast was too tight and caused severe swelling, redness, and pain in my toes.  One my wonderful husband took household tools to adjust it, life was much better(it was the weekend and offices were closed).  Pain control has posed another challenge.  I have had difficulty with spasms in calf region and we haven’t found a med that will help that doesn’t leave me incoherent for the entire day.  All in all, I am thankful that my ortho team, my friends and my family are all pitching in to help me weather through this enormous challenge.

I have found reading the many stories and advice given on this site very helpful.  I am a health care provider and I must say nothing beats practical information from folks who are working through the challenges.  That being said I read one of the blogs that mentioned using a bean bag to elevate the leg.  I just mentioned it and other things I’ve learned to my husband— and being the great husband he is, I soon had my very own bean bag.  I not only use it to elevate my leg, but it serves as a buffer for me to get from bed to the floor to do basic stretching and strengthening exercises.  I also use it to rest my casted leg on it while doing leg lifts!  It’s great.  Not to mention its blue camouflage makes my boys want to tackle it!  I thank God, three weeks are behind me….with many more ahead! Continue Reading »

This is my first post although I’ve been reading and learning from so many of you describing your various stages of recovery.