Keep On Truckin'

Howdy Friends!!! Good News!!! I went to see Doc Fugle today and he says I am right on track and I should come back to see him in a month...A MONTH!?!?! UGH! How about three days? Maybe a week? TWO WEEKS TOPS!!! Nope, it's a month, but here's the thing, over the next month my orders are to start walking at home without the boot! WITHOUT THE BOOT!!!


(Psst, don't tell, but I started doing that last week...hey, sometimes a girl has to pee and doesn't want to take the time to pull on a compression sock and then lace and velcro a boot...I'm just sayin').


The next step for me is in two weeks when I have the green light to walk OUTSIDE without the boot!!! I am giddy with excitement! Here's the deal, I have permission (nagging monotonous internal voice: two-weeks-from-now-as-long-as-I-practice-at-home-on-flat-even-surfaces) to go OUTSIDE of the home to MORE FLAT and EVEN surfaces and ........

W - A - L - K!!!!

I do realize that I am over using the punctuation that represents excitement, but I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW EXCITED I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and somewhat NERVOUS :-/

At the doc's office I felt like I have been ordered to walk a FINE line. On one hand they keep telling me to "BE CAREFUL! We don't want you to re-rupture" which is quickly followed by "Why are you limping? You need to push through." I am continually looking for the middle ground between being too aggressive and too tentative... So far so good 'cuz every time I go visit Doc seems pleased with my progress.

Since I was such a model patient I decided to push the envelope and ask (O.K., beg) for rehab...Doc Fugle says, "you may not need rehab." The other doctor said, "We'll get you into therapy, don't worry." ;) So, I decide this is a good time to mention my plans to run a 5K on the 6 month anniversary of my ATR (achilles tendon rupture)... and he stops... he looks at the ground, so I repeat my request for permission only louder, thinking he didn't hear me and he says, "GIMME A MINUTE, I'M THINKING!" Ooops, I hope I didn't make him mad... Then he says, "We'll talk about it in a month..." A MONTH! Again with the MONTH?!?! (Maybe I did make him mad)? No talking about Physical Therapy or running for one more month.



In the meantime I will be enjoying a little getaway with the girls. I'll be doing some swimming which I have not only been given permission but have been encouraged to do! I will also be shopping and karaoke-ing which I have been discouraged to do, but eh, it's vacation!!! :)

In case you are following the boot here she was today:The boot at Piano lessons

Thanks for reading...pass it on!

I'm a WEANer!!!

That's right!!! You heard it hear first!!! I am off the crutches :)

Last Wednesday I went to see Dr. Fugle and he and his peeps adjusted the boot to just five degrees short of whatever normal is. AND he said I can start walking without crutches, to which I replied "WHAT? YOU CRAZY" and I gave him three snaps in a Z formation!!! Not really, but when I tried to walk in the office it was a MASSIVE FAIL!!! Oh Lord, it HURT!!! I really did THINK he was crazy and he thought it was funny, but he told me I could wean myself off the crutches over the next week by spending a couple of days on two crutches and then a few days on one crutch and finally none!!! Just the boot!

Day 1 Wednesday (after appointment)-Two Crutches - Add Weight:
YEEOOUCH!!! The new angle SUCKS!!! It hurts like H-E-double hockey sticks, PLUS, the boot MOVES now!!! That's right, instead of just being in the stretched position it flexes and when it reaches it's maximum (new) angle I see stars and I break out in a sweat and sometimes get a little light headed...mother of pearl it hurts!

Day 2 - Two Crutches/Lets Try One? - Oooh I feel so free, well not really, although, now I can carry stuff in one hand! But, I am so SLOW.

Day 3 - One Crutch - Aw Screw It: I started the day with one crutch, but at some point it was just in the way...So, I hobbled around still VERY SLOWLY and not at all smooth, but with both hands free and life was GOOD...UNTIL I sat down and then tried to get back up and then I needed one crutch again, cuz maybe when the Doc said to spend a couple of days on one crutch he knew what he was talking about :-/
This evening I used the crutches at Eddie's high school reunion. It's kinda weird going back to the crutches after knowing I can walk without, I felt a little like a fraud, but mostly I knew that after a loonng first day of walking I could not count on being fully able-bodied...

Days 4,5 and today: There is some soreness in the back of my knee on the ATR (achilles tendon rupture) leg. I know this feeling, it's sort of a feeling of hyper extension mixed with weakness. I tend to baby the tendon by walking somewhat straight legged and due to my bow legs it can result in a minor hyper extension in the knee all to avoid the "full" range of motion that the boot allows (that I should be striving for...please don't tell)! Every first step is filled with pins and needles and after a period of time I begin to feel pain and fatigue. I try to concentrate on keeping my toes forward and walking properly, but I know that I get lazy and do what is less painful on my achilles when I want to keep going and it starts its nagging. The result is... now I need a chiropractor! I can feel soreness in my opposite hip and up and down my back, but all in the name of PROGRESS!!! It's a good theme, I think I'll stick with it :)

My next appointment is next week and we shall see what we shall see!!! I am anxious and nervous to start physical therapy but mostly anxious!!!






The Boot and the Blog and the Dog


The Boot on the way to the Monroe Jefferson Class of 1990 High School Reunion

Click Click Boom...I mean Boot

Seven weeks on crutches is kind of a long time. I still have a ways to go, but today (7/14/10) marks another milestone in the recovery process. I am going in for another turn of the dial, another crank on the wheel, a click click BOOM!

In the past three weeks since my first boot adjustment I have noticed SOME range of motion (ROM) returning.

Immediately after surgery I could wiggle my toes and that was the complete ROM for my foot/ankle/achilles.

One month post op I had the boot adjusted from a very pointed down position (plantarflexion- if I am not mistaken) to a slightly less pointed position, but still not flat enough to walk on. There has been some achy-ness in this process, but nothing requiring pain medicine.

This is what it looks like today while trying to stand with my feet together. When standing completely straight I am not able to get my left heal to the ground... YET.



However, when I do put a little weight on it I only put weight in the heal which means I am standing all cockamamie which in turn makes me wonder how my knees, hips and back will be feeling as the process continues?!?! OH WELL, WHO CARES, because at least THE PROCESS CONTINUES!!!! YAY!

(Yay, for now, I may not be so chipper after the click, click, boot)!

***On a good note, while comparing my incision to others posted on the internet machine, I will say that my surgeons are meticulous with the needle! A great sew job THANKS and THANK GOODNESS!!***

In case you're following the boot...Here it is on the 4th of July with pal Leigh Leigh. We crutched and wheeled to down town Lake Orion and rolled back home for sparklers and and Costco Fireworks in the driveway... :) GO BOOT!

NWB -> PWB -> FWB! It Could be Worse

For those of you out there who have had your fun with foot, ankle, knee or leg injury, these little abbreviations may evoke a strong emotional response. Having graduated from a NWB to a PWB makes me swell with pride and hope for one day being FWB!!!



The boot continues it's travels (my brother informs me that the boot is the new Traveling Gnome) Here it is at Tim Horton's




Late last night I came across a blog called Achilles Tendon Rupture Recovery http://achillesblog.com/dennis/ that I found very inspiring. I was searching for my goal and trying to determine what was realistic. I was originally thinking about and an event in February, something easy like a 5K or a 10K, primarily due to the way my doctors have waggled their fingers in my face and chanted things like, "We know patients like you," and "If you don't listen you will re-rupture," and "you're very bouncy, that could be a problem." At first I was DEFENSIVE... "YOU DON"T KNOW ME!!!" As I reflected (alone in my room playing Ben Folds "You Don't Know Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgQns-TJGM on my Ipod, but ultimately realizing that in fact they DID know me and that I had better be a good girl and follow the rules!

Lemme back up for a minute and reveal the NWB, PWB and FWB... NWB = Non Weight Bearing. I was completely NWB for the first month post op. When I went in for the BOOT CRANK, four weeks post op, I was given permission to be PWB (Partial Weight Bearing). PROGRESS!!! :) I can put weight on my heal, but not so much on my toes. I have been using the scale to see how many pounds of pressure I can tolerate and I started at about 27lbs and over the past two weeks have slowly made it close to 60lbs of pressure!!! If you are one of my mother hens out there DON"T WORRY!!! I only apply pressure until I hear the doctors voices in my head! Sometimes I think I am taking this W-A-Y T-O S-L-O-W, but then I see the pointing, wagging finger in my face and I hear the doctor's words and I feel the intense pain and I remember, this is a ROAD to recovery, a JOURNEY... A marathon and not a sprint, so to speak. I will reach the finish line and be Full Weight Bearing before you or I know it!

So, I found this wonderful little (actually quite large and involved) website and I read about a guy who was jogging by his 6 month ATR (achilles tendon rupture) anniversary!!! I CAN DO THAT!!! (I say that bouncing and clapping, but from a seated position)! I am so inspired and excited and full of good mojo thanks to this post. I can tell I am making some of you uncomfortable. I can hear you thinking, "don't get your hopes up," and "not everyone heals the same," and "be careful." Thank you for your concern, it is duly noted and you and that little doubt voice that lives in my head have some very mature and important points to make, BUT THIS IS MY NEW GOAL!!! Remember Kalin Lucas and his goal to recover and to win an NCAA Championship??? http://julieisaheal.blogspot.com/2010/06/in-good-company-with-david-beckham-and.html

Well, There is a 5K in Lake Orion on the weekend of my 6 month ATR anniversary! It's my NCAA Championships!! Well at least it's my road to the playoffs!!! I may have to walk some hills, I may limp, but I want to do this!!!

It could be worse! I could be here NOT talking about what's next. Not seeing progress. I definitely have moments throughout the day when I am SO FURIOUS AND FRUSTRATED with my limitations, but ultimately I know this is just a hiccup, a sneeze really on the grand spectrum of life's adventures.

The reason this is SOOO exciting is because I had originally had thought that February was going to be my goal and here's why... I am under the impression - because the Doctor said the words - that I should expect to be "normal" by 6 months. In my mind that meant that Thanksgiving would be the START of any kind of training, but in fact once I start therapy, which is more like SEPTEMBER, I will be "training" to put one foot in front of the other!!! Can you feel the excitement?

Here is what I know and that I am choosing to ignore right now: I know that the FWB is going to hurt like a !#%!@#$%^&* (i don't even know what cuss word that is, probably all of them), I know that there are going to be posts here that are NOT as happy and fun as this exciting and hopeful post. I know rehab is going to suck :(
I also know that it's gonna make me better and! And I just can't stop being excited right now!!!

In the meantime, the boot is still gettin around :)




Here we are at the beach...











and airing out poolside at Michigan's Adventure.