Day 365: status

So it's been a full year. What a year! Here's where I am with my Achilles rupture....

In some ways I'm better than before. Because my rupture was preceded by almost three decades of tendonitis, this Achilles repair has left me with a REMARKABLE improvement to my pain level. I can do A LOT more than I formerly could before the pain and ache sets in.

However, it ain't pretty. Most of the time (especially at night) my foot looks deformed with a large lump on the back of my ankle and still there is a decent amount of localized swelling.

But since my dreams of being a Rockette died a long time ago, appearance isn't important. Appearance is GREATLY trumped by the improved functionality.

Day 219: Healed

I had my checkup with Dr. Fischer today.  We discussed the fact that I'm really feeling pretty much healed.  I can do calf raises now... I have EXCELLENT flexibility in that foot.... I've given up the knee scooter (again!) The only evidence of my injury (well besides the scar) is the need for moderation (I can walk through all of Wal-Mart,  but then I need to rest a bit) and end-of-the-day swelling (which the doctor says could take a year to go away).

It's been 7 months 4 days since I ruptured my Achilles.  So just like he told me in the beginning, it takes 6 months to a year to fully heal this type of injury.

One lil wrinkle, my big toe had really been bothering me for several months.  Apparently I developed a pretty badly ingrown toenail through this saga. So he removed most of my toenail to help that situation heal.

I'm pretty much through my journey now.  But I'll still try to post a few more blogs until I get to the one-year mark. My doctor said he actually read my blog AND shared it with a patient.... so I figure I better finish what I started cuz at least two people are using this info.

Day 197: Discharged!

Today was a BIG day for me! I got discharged from PT... did my final session today! And I graduated out of using a shower seat!

At PT we discussed the fact that I'm pretty much as far as therapy is going to take me. The next step is just me... increasing my daily activity in real life.  Since I don't need a physical therapist for that part,  I was discharged!

I have also made it to the point where I can stand for an entire shower. So BYE BYE shower seat... can't say I'll miss ya.

Day 159: We actually are getting back together

Back in August I breezed into Knueppel Medical Supply with Taylor Swift lyrics screaming in my head,  "We are NEVER EVER EVER getting back together!" Dropped off my knee scooter with the foolish assurance that a chapter had closed... Um... guess not. Turns out we actually ARE getting back together. This knee scooter and I are apparently going to be on again off again.... and for now we are on again. 

Picked up another knee scooter today.  I'm tired of saying "no" to stuff I really want to do (like going to Sabryna's football game) so I asked the doctor for a new scrip so I can navigate those events.  He wrote a prescription for TWELVE months.  Dear Lord! Please say it isn't so! Please say I will be able to get around sooner than that!!!

For now I'm just glad I have it. Although Football is pretty much over now.... but I'm ready to say "yes" to the next (too much walking) event.

Day 156: Confirmation

Today I mentioned the snap, crackle, pop thing at PT,  and sure enough she confirmed it. I broke up scar tissue and took another "step" forward in my healing process... with those pops! Yeah me!

Also had to do the evil BOSU again... that thing is the devil! 

Day 154: A weird pop!

So this morning I was flexing and pointing my foot.  (I do this all the time to keep it from getting too stiff.) And my Achilles started to snap, crackle,  pop... you know that sound your joints make now that you're old.... (honestly my joints have been making that sound all my life thanks to cheerleading and gymnastics). 

After about 4 or 5 pops, it stopped and I realized,  "I have better range of motion in this tendon now!" I could flex my foot back farther,  rotate my ankle more freely... this snap, crackle, pop deal brought progress!

I wondered if I had broken up some scar tissue in there or something.... Regardless it didn't hurt. It actually made things feel better so I didn't worry too much about it.

(For anyone keeping track... today is exactly five months since I ruptured my Achilles tendon.)

Day 146: Three parties

Well.... we had THREE parties to attend. I promise you we are NOT that popular. It just so happened that it was a popular party day.

I had been nervous about this day ever since we received our third party invitation.  How would I manage to NOT overdo with that much partying? Would I be able to elevate? Would I set myself back again? Mostly, how would I live 8 entire hours without my beloved packages of frozen vegetables... (it's what the cool kids use for ice packs... actually maybe it's what the cheapskates use... either way.)

Well I'm happy to report I made it through all three parties (and an unplanned trip to Wal-Mart to replace the flowers I bought too early.... yes Cori, you were right) and am not even that worse for the wear.

My swelling is a little worse than it normally is in the a.m.,  and my foot is aching a little. I'm also pretty stiff when I walk, BUT I'm very hopeful that a day of taking it easy will get me right back on track.

You may be asking yourself... "Well how did she do all that partying without totally overdoing?" It's a four part answer:

1. Humility... Most importantly I slayed my pride. I let John drop me off... I used the electric scooter cart at Walmart... I accepted an arm to help me hobble.

2. Elevation.... I put my foot up whenever I could. When my foot gave me the throbbing "you're going to be sorry" signal,  up it went!

3. Ice... The very SECOND I got home I was on ice. In fact we stopped home before our final party of the day, and I iced then too.

4. Rest... I'm taking it EASY today.  Hannah woke up sick (prolly just too much party food) so we're staying home from church too which will give me even more time to recover.

Baby steps... I'm getting better (and wiser) every day.