Almost Back to Normal

Well, it has been just about five months and my Achilles feels like it is just about back to full strength.  My stride is almost completely normal again and I can easily carry things and walk up and down stairs.  I did a lot of yoga over the last month, which was REALLY helpful.  I could tell that, towards the end of the month, I was able to do MUCH more than I could at the beginning.  For example, I can easily balance on just my left leg now, whereas a month ago I could barely take my right leg off the ground.  Also, I attended a wedding last weekend and was a full go on the dance floor.  And earlier this week, I even got in a few games of beach volleyball.  Of course, I'm not jumping or running yet, but I'm getting close to that point.  Even when I'm able, I'll try to take it easy for a while because there is a greater risk of re-rupture within the first year.  Honestly, though, my tendon feels VERY strong right now and I don't think that's a serious risk (neither does the doctor).  But, in this case, I'd rather be safe than sorry...

Four Month Follow Up

It's been just over a month since my last post and things have gotten MUCH better.  About 3 months in, I was able to ditch the boot permanently.  Shortly thereafter, I stopped using the crutches and switched over to a cane because I was walking with a bit of a limp.  Another week or so later, I barely even needed the cane- I just used it to walk long distances faster.  As of yesterday, I ditched the cane for good and am almost walking normally.  Now, I'm even starting to do some guided two-leg calf raises.

Last weekend, I worked a 9-hour catering shift, mostly washing dishes in the kitchen.  This was the most standing and walking I've done in a LONG time and, after the shift, my ankle swelled up big time.  However, it felt just fine in the morning and it seemed to help with the recovery process (physically & mentally).  As for rehab, I've been massaging & stretching the ankle everyday on my own and swimming as much as possible.

A few days ago, I started taking yoga classes again, which has been a HUGE help.  I could really see a difference after just 3 classes and I can now comfortably stand on just my left foot.  I can also tell that my left leg is REALLY weak and needs some strength training.

Yesterday, I had another check up with the doctor and the prognosis was excellent.  I am well ahead of schedule and should be capable of running in about a month (less than 6 months since the injury).  And I should be ready to start strength training very soon.  Needless to say, the tendon (and life is general) is getting better and better each day.

Back on Two Feet

Last week, I made quite a few new discoveries:  First, being sick while recovering from an Achilles injury is really miserable, so try to avoid it.  Second, I'm now able walk barefoot on soft surfaces (ie- carpet) without any support.  Third, getting sunburn on an injured ankle is also very miserable, so try to avoid that too.  And fourth, swimming in the ocean on a hot, hot summer day is priceless!

Wow! what a check up...

Today I removed the final heel pad from the boot and went to the doctor for a check up.  As soon as he saw my ankle, his first response was "Wow! That is bulking up quickly."  And he was right, my tendon is really starting to take shape and the swelling has mostly subsided.  There is still a tiny portion near the top of the tendon that needs to fill in, but it feels GREAT for the most part.  Prognosis- one more check up in a month and I should be fully recovered in less than 6 months total, ahead of schedule.  Now, I can start doing some strength training at home and even at the gym, as well as some stationary bike and elliptical cardio exercises.  Yesterday, I swam some laps at a nearby pool and got some great exercise.  It really felt good to get the adrenaline pumping.  I intend to do alot of swimming over the next month, and of course, some hot tub therapy immediately after.

The Healing Touch

This week, I had my second visit from the Physical Therapist and it was REALLY helpful.  She had me lay on my stomach and gave me a "sports massage" on my calf and around the tendon.  It was slightly uncomfortable and definitely a bit scary b/c she was actually rubbing on the tendon.  But after the "massage" I felt GREAT and was even able to stand on my own two feet with no crutches.  I guess it helped to break down some scar tissue and improved my range of mobility.  If nothing else, it definitely gave me confidence to be more aggressive with my rehab exercises (but not too aggressive of course).

I've found that massaging around the tendon after a warm bath or dip in the hot tub is really effective.  Then I do some light (non-weight-bearing) exercises with my ankle and my range of motion gets better by the day.  In fact, I'm not even wearing the boot around the house very much (when I'm not walking) and I don't wear it to bed anymore.  I actually had a dream last night about getting up quickly and retrieving a volleyball on my own two feet without hesitating.  I think that day will be coming soon, but probably not for a couple more months.  We're going to a friend's wedding tomorrow just a couple miles from here.  I'm hoping I can still dance a little with the boot on...

One step at a time

Yesterday, I removed the second heel pad from the boot, leaving only 1 more to go.  My heel is now only inclined 1/3 as much as it was just 4 weeks ago.  It is a little unnerving to take each pad out, but after the first couple days I completely forget about it.  I've also been able to use just one crutch or even no crutches at times, but I'm trying not to rush it.  Luckily, I don't need to walk much at work.  And I can see the actual tendon growing thicker and stronger, but there's still a small "gap" in it about 2 inches up from the ground.  The "gap" seems to be shrinking away though and hopefully it will completely disappear soon.

I've been making the most of the beautiful summer weather.  I went straight to the pool after work almost every day last week.  I did some rehab exercises in the pool and swam a couple laps of light breaststroke.  Being in the water is really great because it counteracts gravity and reduces the impact on all my joints, including the ankle & achilles tendon.  After the pool, we hit the hot tub for a while, which is also really helpful because the hot water makes the tendon very relaxed and easier to stretch.  Plus the heat helps me sweat and shed some skin, which is hard to do without being able to run.

I must have walked/hopped over a mile yesterday on the crutches.  It can be really good exercise.  I feel my arms and upper body getting stronger.  My right leg is also getting stronger, while my left leg is shrinking.  However, I've been doing some light exercises on the left leg (except for the calf of course) and some yoga stretching without standing.  It is helping me keep in shape, but I still miss running.

Moral Victory

On Tuesday, we went down to the Bay to relax and enjoy some sunshine.  I made Reena bring the basketball so I could hop out on the Court and shoot some hoops.  Obviously, I was stationary, but sure enough- I made my first shot (a free throw) since my injury more than a month ago.

Today (Friday) is the 2 week mark since my last doctor's visit, which means it's time to take out one of the "heel pads."  The downward angle is my "boot" is now reduced by 1/3.  So far so good....

Urban Hiking

I made it out to the Padres game on Friday, as well as the pre-game festivities at a local pub downtown.  I must have "hiked" more than a mile, only putting 50% weight on my injured ankle and relying heavily on the crutches.  All in all, I must have traveled over a mile "on foot."  It was a great workout and I definitely felt it the next morning.

Back to the Beach

I actually made it out to the beach this week to watch (not play) some volleyball, and even took the boot off for a while.  I've been rehabbing twice everyday and the mobility in my ankle gets better and better each time.  My calf muscle is starting to tighten up again, so it's not just hanging like a ball of jelly anymore.  Little by little, it's  back to normal.  I feel like I could take out the heel pads early and start walking sooner, but no need to rush it.

Great News!

July 8, 2011

I was a bit nervous about going to see the doctor today, but also anxious to get a check up on my progress.  My ankle has been feeling much better over the last couple days so I haven't been inflating the AirCast anymore.  Yesterday, I kinda lost my balance and shifted some weight onto the ankle and only felt a little tingle.  This was a good sign.  I also noticed while bathing that my calf muscle was no longer complete "jelly"- it seemed to be a bit more taught.

Anyway, at the doctor's office, he had me remove my boot and he began to lightly squeeze the back of my leg from my calf down to my heel, asking if I was feeling any pain.  Surprisingly, I felt NOTHING!!!  It was a very happy moment for me and Reena, who has been taking GREAT care of me all this time.  The doctor also pointed out that my foot was now responsive after squeezing my calf muscle.  At my first visit, my foot did not respond AT ALL when he squeezed my calf.  More great news!

The doctor gave me instructions to: a) gently stretch out my ankle twice a day, b) put about 50% weight on it when walking (with crutches), and c) remove one of the heal pads every two weeks.  We scheduled a follow up visit 6 weeks later, at which time I should be ready to ditch the boot.  He also said I should be walking by then, but not back to running for about another 4 months.  At this rate, I think I'll recover quicker than expected, but I'm definitely not going to rush it.

After that, Reena & I celebrated with some gelato in La Jolla...

Holiday Weekend

July 3rd

I made it out to the Grand Opening of our friends' new restaurant, The Local Habbit, located in the Hillcrest area of San Diego.  http://www.mylocalhabit.com/  And it was a HUGE success.  The place was packed the whole time I was there.  We sampled some of the best local beers, and even met the owner of one local brewery.  The food was amazing too.  Hard to believe, but the bar menu includes cabbage, brussels sprouts, and sauteed greens, which were all delicious!  Then I went to a BBQ with some friends.  All in all, a great day!

Finding Inspiration

July 2nd

Determined not to spoil the entire holiday weekend without getting some sun, I found a seat in the sun on the porch and removed the boot. I put in an hour of reading and actually broke a sweat just soaking up some rays. Later, I received a really nice "Get Well Soon" card from my co-workers at the Law Library, which cheered me up.  In the afternoon, I spent a couple hours researching my injury online. After reading several conflicting reports, I found the general consensus to be that a full recovery was highly likely, with or without surgery, but I would need to have great patience and dedication. I also came across a blog by a similar ill-fated soul, who quickly recovered without surgery.  (http://achillestendonruptureconservative.blogspot.com/)   Feeling inspired, I began working on my own blog...

Up and At 'em

July 1st

For obvious reasons, I decided it was finally time to wash my (injured) foot and lower leg, and the t-shirt I had wrapped around it (for comfort). With great care, I removed the Air Cast and lathered up the leg in the bathtub, again without incident. Later, we ventured out for a happy hour with a few friends, but didn’t stay too late because of the crowd. Before bed, I was feeling really confident and carefully did some push-ups, sit-ups, and stretches, without impacting the ankle.

Venturing Out... Again

June 28th

After SEVERAL days of sitting on the couch, I was finally ready to venture out into the world again. At this point, I felt I was almost ready to try standing without crutches, but was in no hurry to try. We went out for burgers and beers without incident.

Road to Recovery

June 19th

I woke up feeling sore and still disappointed by the diagnosis. So I made a decision to sit my butt on the couch and not move for as long as possible to help speed along the recovery. Luckily, I have some GREAT friends who spent their Saturday night at my place feeding me beers and keeping me in good spirits.

Venturing Out

June 18th


Feeling confident in my new cast, I decided to attend a flag football game not far from home. Armed with crutches and a lawn chair, I parked myself field side for the game. Since this was the playoffs, the one-hour game, turned into two games, and a post-final celebration. Several hours later, I made it back to the couch at home.  Probably shouldn't have tested my ankle so soon...

Bad Idea & Worse News

Friday, June 17

One week in, I was actually feeling MUCH better, so much that I thought I could even stand up first thing in the morning. BAD idea! I immediately fell back on the bed in pain and needed two more painkillers to get back to sleep.

In the afternoon, I went to my first doctor’s visit at an office near the hospital. Once I was in the visitation room, they removed my splint and, for the first time in a week, I could see the damage. I had bruising (purple, blue, & yellow) all around my heel and lower ankle. The doctor had me lay on my stomach and squeezed my left calf. NOTHING happened. Immediately, he gave me his diagnosis- a rupture of the Achilles tendon. Honestly, I will never forget that moment. As a relatively young (29 years old), healthy, active individual, the news was absolutely devastating. After discussing the situation with my doctor, we opted for the non-surgical treatment because it was (a) cheaper, and (b) reportedly just as effective. I was fitted for an Air Cast and scheduled for a follow up visit 3 weeks later.

The First Few Days

June 14, 2011

Over the next several days, I did nothing but sit on the couch and sleep. It was miserable! But eventually, the pain went away and I was able to put a bit of pressure on it while sitting. So, I hopped downstairs to the office and got some work done.

Worst Day Ever...

Friday, June 10, 2011

I had just finished drafting some important time-sensitive legal documents for a senior attorney. I decided it was time for some 5:00 pm pick-up basketball at the local rec center with some friends. Fresh off an impressive performance just one day earlier, I was excited to get back out there. I got to the Court and jumped right in without stretching (so dumb!). About half way through the first game, I was standing just past mid-court with the ball on offense. Everyone else on the court was in front of me.

After making a simple move to my right, my ankle suddenly gave way. It honestly felt as if someone had kicked (or even shot) me in the back of my ankle. Now that I think about it, I believe I heard a noise (like a “pop”), but I was too disoriented at the time to really take notice. While hopping off the Court, another player suggests that I “walk it off.” I knew immediately that was not an option. I looked around to try to figure out what just happened. I didn’t step on anything and I didn’t land awkwardly. After taking my shoe off, I saw my foot just hanging there, twitching a bit. Not a pretty site!

Luckily, I had some bystanders help me off the Court. I got halfway to my car before they laid me on the ground and called for help. Luckily, a couple doctors were nearby and they recommended a trip to the ER. So, I called my girlfriend (Reena) and off we went. Meanwhile, the pain became almost unbearable. Once we arrived, I hopped almost all the way inside until an EMT alertly brought me a wheelchair and escorted me to Registration. Eventually, I buried my face in Reena’s side and let the tears flow. Eventually, the ER fixed me up with painkillers, crutches, and a splint and sent me on my way, diagnosing me with a “probable Plantaris rupture.” I was relieved only to hear that it was the Plantaris tendon and not the Achilles.