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Second time around...

Posted , 4 users are following.

Dez5228
Dez5228

Back in October 2015, I was coming down the stairs with my niece, heading out for a day of shopping.  I was coming down kind of fast and when I got down to the last step I came down HARD on my right foot.  It hurt like hell but I thought that if I soaked it in Epsom Salts the swelling (yes it had begun to swell) would go down and I'd be back to normal.  Boy, was I wrong.  By the time November rolled around I could barely lift my foot up off the ground so I went to see my Podiatrist.  An MRI showed that I had a partial tear in my Achilles heel.  Great!  He said to my relief, that I did not need surgery.  Long story short, I got a cast and boot and came back for weekly ultrasound sessions.  

I initially took off for short term disability at work for 8 weeks and ended up having to extend it for another couple of months.  When I went back to work in April of this year, by the end of my 1st week back I had begun to feel that familiar pain in the back of my heel again.  I was devastated.  No way am I going through this again after staying home for 5 months.  Oh, going back a little, I forgot to mention that my Podiatrist did not want me to have physical therapy.  I was shocked but thought, okay, he's the doctor.  In retrospect I now believe that maybe had I had some P/T, I would have had much better progress.  

My Podiatrist was stumped when I told him that I was in just as much pain as I was when I first saw him.  He advised me to get a second opinion.  So glad he did.  First thing they did was give me prescription for P/T.  The first few weeks it seemed to really work but then, by the end of the 6 weeks I was dragging that foot again so 2nd opinion doc referred me to surgeon.  An MRI showed that yep, my right heel had a tear again and was worst than the original one!

Just had surgery on July 28th and am 6 Days Post Op.  I had no idea how depressing this NWB recovery was going to be.  I'm supposed to do 4 weeks of NWB and 4 weeks in boot.  I cannot tell you how devastated I am to have to depend on my family to help me to b/r, as well as have my mom give me sponge baths.  Has anyone else found it totally impossible to keep the injured foot totally off the floor while using the bathroom?  It's just not possible (not for me anyway)!  I ordered a raised toilet seat and its coming tomorrow.  I have never been so happy about a toilet seat before!  At the hospital they opted for me to leave with either the crutches or the rolled walker.  I took the walker.  With the crutches I almost fell twice in the hospital. I find myself not wanting to drink because I hate hopping to and from the bathroom.  At 200+ lbs I am not what you call dainty.  Sigh.  I am trying to be as positive as humanly positive but some days its just hard.  My next doctor visit is next Friday.  I pray I can get a handle on this. 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Birdykb
    Birdykb Dez5228

    Posted

    Hi , I know what your going through!!! 

    it's been 1 month now now since I ruptured 1/4 of my Achilles' tendon on my vacation in Florida , the sad news is that Florida's ER sent me packing with meds, partial cast, and crutches , then preceded to tell me that it was only a sprain. It was not until 3 weeks in and with the ORA Doctor here in Iowa, that I was told I had ruptured my Achilles... So now I'm in a boot for another 4 weeks, (1 week in). And  I wake up with muscle spasms in my calf.  This started the first week, ended once I started the boot, but now it's back, and this morning the spasm even went down the tendon all the way to the ankle!  I have never had a Charlie Horse lover than the calf before... Just not sure if I should be concerned or not!! Thanks for listening!! And I don't stay off this foot as much as I should!!! It's just impossible!!! 

  • jjktmk14
    jjktmk14 Dez5228

    Posted

    Oh you poor thing, that is devastating for you to have this go on for so long. I am currently in moon boot myself after rupturing my A/T on 19th July. I chose no Surgury again( yes I have done the other A/T 5 years ago) so saying that I'm a pro doesn't make it any easier. I am lucky enough to have my bath tub right beside my shower so I can pop my leg up on it wrapped in a towel for showering, I too hired a shower chair which makes it easier for sure.

    My next ortho app isn't until 17th August (4weeks after injury) hopefully I can start weight bearing then. Good luck on your recovery

  • steph2727
    steph2727 Dez5228

    Posted

    Aw no that's so tough!! I can kinda relate though

    I'm a dancer so I'm using my Achilles frequently and have had tendinitis in both of them for the past 2 years, I've been consistently taping them and having physio therapy on them but nothing seemed to help. On the 9th of May this year I was playing my second football game for the day, had done my usual stretches pre-game. Stepped forward, nothing extreme, to pick the ball up (I'm a goalie) and heard the snap, complete rupture with a 1st gap. When I went to the doctors they said surgery here in New Zealand for an ACR was never really opted for, and I'm only 15 so age was on my side. I was put in a cast for 8 weeks non weight bearing, getting a new cast every 2 weeks, then spent 2 weeks in a moon boot walking, and am now in raised heel shoes for another week before going into flat shoes again. Last week I went snowboarding with my family (against doctors orders) and had no pain or anything. I'm back into kicking a football and skateboarding, as well as some light jogging and it's only been 3 months since my injury.

    So have hope in healing quick! I managed to survive non weight bearing for 8 weeks and I'm a very active person so hey, if I can do it so can you :D

    Good luck

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