Achilles rupture surgery - support group

[SalW]

Franky and Mark - I solved the problem of getting coffee, photocopying etc back to my desk at work by wearing a bag with one strap over my shoulder and around my torso - kind of like a pouch. I would put my coffee in a thermos with a lid too.

Wow! Makes me feel better that Achilles injuries are also for elite athletes like Dan Carter and Matt Dunning (from Wallabies) too.

[atrken]

Franky 34: yeah first night was horrific. I just took one pain killer last night before going to bed and I feel fine today; I don't feel much pain anymore except sometimes when I bring the leg down from an elevated position (blood rushes downward), btw, I hear eating cherries help reduce inflammation. Sorry to hear about your situation after post op, I had complete feeling a few hours after surgery so I had no trouble going pee pee, lol. I don't know if you or anyone else has done this before, sometimes my foot would jerk a little bit during sleep and I was afraid that I might pull on the tendon. Same goes to you with a smooth recovery. How are you doing now, you are 5th week post op, correct?

BTW, what happened to all our lady friends? Haven't heard from them lately, hope they are all doing well.

[Franky 34]

artken - I have a a check up this friday at the fracture clinic which will be 6 weeks & 5days post op (not counting or anything) and I am hoping to be gone with this full cast and put into a Boot. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the scar is going as it's been 4 weeks this friday since my last viewing and also I am starting to get the weird smell from the cast and one of the girls just brought down sum air freshner so maybe there trying to tell me something lol.
In reagrds to the foot jerking I must have tryed to stretch the other leg whilst asleep a few times and not realising I was in fact stecthing the injured one and it would give a little jerk from time to time but has'nt really effected me or the tendon Weird feeling though.

Lastly with the blood rushing to the foot in the mornings what I did was sit up for a couple of minutes with the foot down then lie back in bed until the throbbing stopped normally about 5 minutes, then useally I found the throbbing would go away. I also took a couple of pain killers as soon as i got up if the trobbing was still there just to help a little. This only lasted a couple of weeks and now I can get up in the mornings with no problems. Hope this helps. Cheers

[Franky 34]

Hi SalW - Thanks for the ideas I will defiantly be giving these a crack. Anything that makes it easier must be worth trying.

[atrken]

Franky 34: Thanks for tip. I so wish to be where you're at now, lol. Sounds like you're progressing well, keep up the good work.

SalW: I like your idea bringing back coffee. I don't drink coffee anymore but I actually carry a backpack while I crutch myself to the kitchen to load up on water, snacks, etc and bring them back to the desk. It looks silly but quite effective, especially not having to trouble the wife and/or kids.

[Smitty]

Hey Guys: Sounds like the healing is moving right along. I have been away from my computer because my sweet hubby bought us a tandem bicycle a few days ago and we have been riding our legs off. It is such a blast. We may look like dorks but we are having a great time on that thing. What a kick! It is really easy on my lower legs and it is really great to blow out the pipes (lungs) and fall over from physical fatigue. Good times. It's hard to believe that just one year ago I was laying on my couch in complete agony...... well......actually..not it's not. That memory is still pretty much seared into my brain.

Happy healing guys!

-Smitty

[Miker]

hi all,

ken, i was told that yeah its more risky with anaesthetic cause you are face down. i think i had a pipe wedged down my throat to keep me under, as when i got up i could feel where they had taped it too my face and mouth... good to hear your now progressing back towards good health.

smitty, i dont think ill forget this experience either.....not after a year, not ever...lol

[atrken]

Smitty: Glad to hear you're having fun, I ought to give the tandem bike a try at some point. Like Mark and everyone else, I don't think anyone will forget this experience; I actually started a blog about this which I am going to keep updating on a weekly basis.

Mark: It's kinda scary isn't it when you're all ready for the surgery and they come over to confuse you with more options, lol. But I am glad everything went well.

Everything seems to be going fine except one thing I have asked before.- I just started having sudden foot jerk motion during sleep (once or twice a night). My foot is currently in a pointing position held with a splint and wrapped with heavy ace bandage, so there is room for movement. I think the jerk motion would make the foot go into the neutral position abruptly and there would be a quick 15 second pain. Has anyone else had this experience. I am just concerned it's pulling on the tendon that is trying to heal.

[Miker]

ken, i remember the second and third nights after i came home from hospital my calf was having these sensations and it felt as though any minute i would get a cramp in my calf and hence would have to pull my ankle back. the cramps never eventuated luckily. my foot wasnt jerking back though. sounds like the muscles in maybe the calf are reacting in some way?? i would definately call up the doc and see what he says. as you say, u dont want it jerking back and putting tension on the tendon. and you get the pain sensation too...???

personally, just got back from my 4 week boot adjustment (5 weeks aftr op total) . was initially told after 6 weeks in the boot that it would come off and then go into heal raises in the shoe. wrong. now after the 6 weeks i can start walking in the boot for another 2-4 weeks then the boot comes off, and i move into heal raises in my shoe. got depressed for a while there but i suppose its for the best. i thought 6 weeks in the boot not weight bearing, then straight into heal raises in a shoe was too good to be true???.... out of curiosity, what were your rehabilitation programs like guys and girls??

[Fiona-Sussex uk]

Hi all.....hope yr all ok....

Ken.....i had the jerking too....it goes on for quite a while on and off....i was told it's just electrical impulses in the nerves and all part of the healing process.....as long as yr foot is in a cast/boot whatever it'll be ok, just scary 'cos you think of whats gone on in there....lol....also i had the foot on fire feeling.....nerves again.....!!!! It's clever stuff going on in there xxx

been having my deep tissue stuff, which is SOOOO painful, but is working.....i am back at salon, and doing my private work too, summer hols with kids at mo too, so never have time to get on here. Glad Smitty is out there cycling away like a mad woman....tandem-i'd just pretend to peddle whilst smoking a cigarette, and slurping vodka red bull from my cycling bottle....hahahahahaha....only joking...!!! Ahhh, i'm so fit and healthy....!!!!!!!

Spk soon, my fellow sufferers.....!!!!
Fee xxxxx