6 months later

So it was 6 months ago yesterday that I ruptured my achilles playing soccer.  I had my 15th physical therapy appointment today and I was as light on my feet as I've been so far.  My PT had me doing some step in and out of a rope ladder exercise that may sound complicated but was a success.  I have watched others speed through this exercise and wonder if and when I would be able to speed through it.  While I was not speedy I was quite impressed with my mobility.  At this time the most discomfort I feel is stiffness with flexibility in taking steps and some days its worse than others.  The good thing is my daughter said to me earlier this week, "daddy, your not limping".  It made my day because I know my limp is still a bit subtle and I tend to stride through the minor discomfort.  I set a goal a few months back to go on a hike in August around 6 months after my rupture.  So tomorrow my daughter and I will be going for a hike around Reflection Lakes near Mt Rainier.  It should be a great day as our warm and sunny days come to an end for the summer.  It's amazing how much we learn about the body when things like this happen.  I am finding that I am learning how to walk all over again and it takes a lot more concentration than I ever imagined. 

He who limps is still walking.  ~Stanislaw J. Lec

Physical Therapy Begins

and it was rough.....parts of it totally rocked my world.  When it comes to the pain of the nerve I feel I home I thought I had experienced level 10 take your breath away type stuff.  Well today in going to the PT for the first time he found like a level 20 out 10.  I think the old ladies in the room rehabing shoulders started crying just looking at me.  They hope by loosening up the scar tissue and get all the tendons, nerves and ligaments going in the right direction it will improve the nerve pain over the next few weeks.  There were times today I felt the pain was a good and bad kind of thing, you know, it hurts so good.  The foot needs to be stretched and forced to move more so than I had done yet.  So while I felt it was a great day for the actual achilles and foot for mobility and flexibility it was another jaw clincher for the nerve. 

One PT visit down and until I am jogging comfortably again.  Keep Smilin, I got this!!!

Barefoot and walking

Well.....looks more like limping than walking but I am walking shoe free now.  I went to my DR on Wed and had a great visit.  Tendon is good for the next step which in this case is walking barefoot and starting Physical Therapy.  I am also able to move into my normal shoes now as well so this is a good sign.  I am still experiencing some minor and sometimes excruciating nerve pain but it is no longer preventing me from my rehab activities.  I just sort of suck it up and move on after it takes my breath away as the pain seems to go away pretty quickly.  I am able to walk for longer periods of time now and stand for a good amount.  I volunteered for my daughter's field day on Tue and was on my feet for over 4 hours that day while coaching the capture the flag game.  There is also a great PT group here where I live who the PT group for the US Olympic soccer team and others so I should be in good hands and will begin the PT next week.  So good things to come and working on getting my stride back sooner than later. 

 "The pain you're feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming."  Anonymous

Limp-a-long

Limp-a-long

So it is now 12 weeks from my achilles surgery and I have been in my 2 inch heeled shoes for a month.  I got the go ahead from my doctor to move into my next pair of shoes that give me an inch lift.  I have been experiencing some random pain on the out ankle bone of my foot and today the Dr really pissed it off in such a way it took my breath away.  Come to find out I have some Sural Nerve damage from the surgery that hopefully will heal an inch per month.  Not really sure how long that is but it's not fun when it happens.  I get the pain randomly when I walk and hopefully it improves before my next visit and not get any worse.  Usually damage to this nerve causes numbness in the lower foot and toes but I don't have that problem just the sharp pain.  So the dr thinks it is healing and will only continue to improve, yeah as long as he doesnt make it angry anymore.  Anyways, on to my next stage which also means more walking and stationary bike work.  Luckily my new kicks are a Nike casual shoe with a heel lift and I can do away with the Grandpa shoes I've been sporting. 

I have included a picture below of where the nerve is that is now trying to slow my healing, this is not my foot.  As well as a picture of my new shoes. 

Limp-A-Long.....one step at a time

I made it home

So tonight I will be sleeping in my own bed for the first time in 66 days.  I went for a test drive yesterday with my dad and he cleared me for driving.  I have come to find that at the present time it is easier to drive than it is to walk.  Just means I need to keep going for walks, the issue with that is there are nothing but hills where I live.  So walking along a flat road may take me driving to the Harbor near me or something.  Then again when I went for a walk yesterday I was lucky to walk for a 1/4 mile before I was tired and needing to rest.  Needless to say my leg and foot need some time to get back up to normal walking activities.  I just spent about 30 minutes in the grocery store and now I need a nap.  Anyways, it's great to be home and working on my foots movement and stamina one day at a time. 

Cheers

and we're walkin

So I may be slow and my walk looks funny but I managed to get my foot into my new shoes and go for a walk today.  I have no pain while walking the only discomfort I really have is from my foot still being a little swollen and the skin pressing into the shoe.  Let's just say I will be doing a lot more walking this weekend and maybe go for a test drive sometime to see if I can drive myself home.  My skin on my foot is definitely still healing as you can see the scabbing has improved but the dryness is pretty wild, liking my Eucerin.  I have come to realize the hard part is in front of me and the cast was the easy part.  One day at a time. 

Happy Friday!!!

Cast-A-Way

So it's been 8 weeks since my surgery and 2 casts and tonight I am cast free.  Not that I am feeling all that good about it at the moment but I am sure I will get there.  I mean did I truly expect to have a cast removed from my ankle and be able to move right my into a shoe and start walking.......I like to think I'm good, but not superhuman.  So if you took a moment to see the pics you saw that due to the blistering and rash combination my ankle has some lovely scabbing going on.  I soaked it for a good 20 minutes tonight and it already looks and feels better.  Needless to say I am back to being on crutches until I build up enough strength and mobility to walk, I'm pushing for the weekend, hopefully sooner than later.  There is still some swelling and obviously a lot of stiffness.  So trying on my high heeled shoes will wait until tomorrow, the foot needs some air time.  It's funny, after the nurse removed the cast she asked numerous times if I was in pain or had been in pain due to how it looked and I kept saying no.  I've been walking on this cast my foot feels much better than it looks.  I have since had some minor discomfort really due to it being free to move for the first time in 61 days.  Tomorrow is a new day and may the healing continue. 

Castaway