You will be in an altered state for many moons...

If your Achilles tendon is ruptured, torn, or even simply inflamed with tendonitis, your life is about to change. Mine sure has - so I decided to chronicle these events, and create a place for others to share their experiences, advice, resources and emotions during our journey toward recovery.

Nothing in this blog is meant to take the place of the medical advice of your physician. Follow the instructions of your medical professionals, not me.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

OK this sort of sucks

Let's see - a year ago I was rejoicing because my doctor said I could get out of that damn boot for Christmas!  Well, yes, I am a year out of the boot but  - silly me - I expected my life and leg to be back to normal by now.

I am beginning to slowly realize, and accept, that my ankle and leg may never be the same again.  I mean, my doctor basically told me that, but I think I blocked that part out of my psyche.

Good news - I can walk without a limp.  Bad news - I still limp anytime I have been sitting for awhile, or when I get up in the morning.  I limp because - IT HURTS.  However, after 8 or 10 steps, the tendon loosens up and I can walk with little or no pain.

Even better news - long, arduous walks and even hikes don't make my leg hurt any worse.  In fact, walking makes my leg feel BETTER.  So...I guess that's good, right?

Fifteen months after surgery, my calf is still a little smaller than the other one, but honestly, no one could tell unless they are scrutinizing my leg.  And if that's the case, well look all you want - I'm not ashamed of my gams!

The scar is definitely there - but it lends an aura of adventure.  It's not an eyesore.  It's just an anklesore.  OK, bad joke, but I'm serious about the pain.  Locally, right around the scar, and all up and down the tendon, it really is very sore even now.  One of my biggest paranoias is that someone will run into my ankles from behind with a shopping cart!  That, my friends, would take me to my knees, howling all the way to the floor.

http://skygellatly.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/lichtenstein-crying-girl-jpg.jpeg?w=500&h=420

I'm glad I had the surgery - I'm still much better off than without it.  But, I guess it's just difficult to get my head around the idea of a permanent adaptation, and not a positive one, to the only body that I have.

Ah well - life goes on!  And a fine life it is.  At least I HAVE achilles tendons, right?  ; )

1 comment:

  1. Thank u for posting this. It gives me some hope that someday I might get to do everything the same again. I'm only 14 and ive had Achilles teninitis for over two months from horseback riding and it's just gotten worse. I was training to start competing for the first time and I'm just about to start pysical therapy. Thank u for postin this! It gave me the ope I needed

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