MY (RUPTURED) ACHILEES & ME

From not walking at all, to walking like RoboCop, to walking, running & tripping merrily through the fields like me again!

Contact me if you like HERE

(The last post after the last post)

I do get the odd email and comment so a few people must end up on here,  so just a little update. It’s getting on for two years (amazing!) and no problems at all. it all feels 100%. My leg is still a bit skinny, but that’s because I didn’t really try to even them up. I haven’t been back playing Basketball, more because the opportunity hasn’t come up. I’ve gone for the odd run when the notion takes me (I hate running, what can I say) so while I haven’t pushed it to the extremes, all is good.

If you’ve torn your Achilles, good luck with your healing up, and as my Mrs says ‘This too shall pass’

Take care and good luck with your healing up – and any questions just shout.

M

 

The Last Post

I have no idea if anyone ever reads this anymore, but if anyone stumbles by. You missed it, it’s over.

On April 11th 2011 I torn my Achilles tendon in half and today is one year on.

I’ve done countless trips to the hospital and had some highs and lows but all feels pretty good, it’s still not 100% perfect, but if I’m honest I’ve slacked a little on my physio, but it will get there. The tendon feels 100%, it just that after 7 months in a cast my ankel is still a little stiff.

So if you do stumble on this looking for advice on what to do with an ATR then hang in there, you’ll get there.

All the best.

Mark

I’ll leave you with Elvis – because this tune rocks.

quite a week.

So after nearly a year (well not quite I did my ATR on April 11th 2011)I was discharged from Hospital on Wednesday. It’s funny it’s been such a BIG part of my life for the last lot of months it felt strange not having to go back again. Then today I went to the physio and she told me it’s al good, finish up my hospital gym session, maybe another four weeks, see her once more and then I’m done.

O and I got a new job today.

It’s funny things do come in threes.

The leg feels 100 times better after a few trips to the gym, I bought my self a wobble board to top up my work out at home (I’ve been slacking a bit on that front, need to get my arse in gear!)

It really does feel like it’s getting back to normal, as I said just finish up the gym bit, get off the blocks in my shoes over the next couple of weeks and that should be it. I know it will take another six months to fully forget about it, but that will fly by I’m sure.

As always if you’re reading this and you’ve had an ATR, hang in there, it will pass! Good luck with the healing up!

gym bunny

Today I hit the gym, well slightly tweaked it. Off for my first secession at the Hospital gym, twice a week for the next 6 to 8 weeks. A bit of out of breath static bike, followed by some out of breath trampet, followed by some out of breath cross trainer, out of breath weights and some off balance out of breath wobble board.

I have to say in the year (ish) since I was last in a gym my dislike has not vanished. But what can I do.

Even after one sesson I notice a bit of difference, and I know I have to do this last bit of physio properly, no point slacking now. O but how I want to.

By the way the gym I was in thankfully was the exact opposite of the pic.

100% looser.

That’s how my ankel joint feels after a good week of walking on it. My leg feels so much better and it’s getting stronger everyday, in fact the only real complaint I have it the blocks in my shoes make both heels burn a bit when I walk for a whole day… but that’s little to complain about really isin’t it.

For the first time in a very long time I feel normal, I’m off work at the moment so I’m making the most of getting out and looking round London again, it’s funny the seven months I spent on crutches seems like a long time ago, it’s amazing how quickly you forget just what a pain in the a**s it was at the time.

Hang in there if you’re reading this, it will pass and you will forget about it!

Hello (again) London !

So this week I went back to the physio on Friday (my last vist with her which is a shame, she was a lot of help, but she’s moving back to Dublin so it will be all change) I am now booked into vist the gym in the hospital three time a week (I have to attend at least two a week). I will be working on my balance on a balance board, using the trampet, stationary bike and cross trainer. I still can’t get these damn blocks out of my shoes until I see the doc on February 8th though!

I’ve started back into pyhsio as of today and the last couple of days have been spent walking round London, something that I haven’t done in a loooong time! It was tough going, sore legs, sore feet and in the end, a sore hip from limping a little, but it was nice to get out and about.

where have a I been?

Well… I’ve been slacking not only on updates here, but a bit on my physio as well… but wait! I have a good excuse, I got married to my long suffering better half and went to Vietnam for my honeymoon. My leg is good, the limp is still there when I’m tired, but the progress is great. I still have two block in my shoes and I have to go back to physio on the 6th of January but everyday it seems a bit more normal, and I’m getting more and more confident. But still can’t run for a bus.

If anyone is still stopping by here, I hope your ATR’s are going well, look after yourself and a happy new year!

My big day – made if off crutches… JUST!

look Mum no crutch(s)

After my physio visit yesterday I was told that I could loose the crutches… so after nearly 8 months I walked about with both hands free. It wasn’t as odd as I thought it would be, but it was ‘handy’ see what I did there. I’ll get my coat.

I did walk out today and grab some lunch and eat it walking back, just because I could. Yea so my foot is still stiff and walking up hill is slow going, but it’s amazing how quickly things start coming back.

Progress it would seem has arrived. I’ve still got a bit to do I know, and with a check up with the Doc and two physio appointments next week it will be busy. Then I’m away to get married for a month and when I get back it will be back to physio.

one crutch… that’s how a roll.

Today was a physio day… not only did my physio do some tissue massage where I think she was trying to kill me, she put me on one crutch! It’s been a long time coming, and it’s slow going now it’s here, but it’s great to have a free hand. I’ve been walking round work and in the flat with out crutches, but I’m a good boy and they’ve been ever present outdoors. It’s only took me 7 months and 1 day to get ride of one of them.

It would seem now that I won’t get hydro therapy as there is a big back log, and I’m walking well without it, so I don’t need it. I’m now back for three more physio secessions in the next two weeks before I go off to get married for a month. Then when I get back to it. I’m sure in the ideal world I won’t have a month off, but apart from stretching my leg and tendon, using it seems to get the most done.

In the week since my last physio secession it’s amazing how far I’ve come, things are getting looser and at times I can walk with only a very small limp. There’s still loads to do… but I might just be getting somewhere… on one crutch.

Once again Kat at the Royal Free in Hampstead is top notch, great physio who fills you with confidence.

In other news I also drove my car for the first time in about 8 months. Nothing went snap. Bonus.

the lack of updates is telling.

It’s funny how quickly you get back to ‘normal’ OK I’m still on crutches going around, (and I look like something from the ministry of silly walks at times) but at work or in the flat they are hardly ever used, and it’s amazing me how much progress I can make between each vist to the physio.

I was in seeing the physio on Thursday, and she seemed very happy, still another 3 or so weeks on crutches but everything is improving and although my walking is far from perfect it’s getting so much better every day. Today was the first time I walked without thinking about walking, can’t remember what I was doing, but I made it from one end of the hall to the other before I knew it.

I’m booking into do some physio therapy in the pool in the next few weeks, and after that it will be 6 weeks of rehab 3 times a week. Of course I have a wedding and a honeymoon in December so full rehab will have to wait… but I feel good and I’m 5 weeks away from my wedding so that’s a lot of time to get more mobile.

I’m loosing the ‘fear’ that it’s going to snap again, of course it still could, but as long as my physio tells me what to do then I find no problem doing it. For me that really helped giving myself that rule.

So for now it’s carry on walking, conventrating on walking, stretching and getting it all moving again. There was a few days when it seemed like nothing much was happening, but now everyday feels better and better.

If you find this blog and you’re on the road to recovery I hope it’s all going well and look for the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s there somewhere!