Sew Happy Together! (Achilles Tendon Rupture – Part 3)

All I can say is: ew.

I am convinced not to hurt myself like that ever.

I ran into a guy at the track on Thursday who blew out both of his, one playing basketball and the other? Softball. Better be careful when sprinting out of the batter's box when you are playing for the GlobalSpec Shockers, there, Jaxy.

Next week will deliver an incision pic!!!

You know this is one of those injuries that gives me that "weird" feeling when thinking about it or imagining it happening to myself. I almost feel nauseous.

This morning, as I do twice a week rather than "normal" cardio I run sprints outdoors. Thankfully your injury never crosses my mind at that time. If it did I think I would stay indoors and opt for the elliptical instead all week.

But I do not have any of the warning signs you mention for a Achilles injury. The worst I have suffered sprinting is a slight hamstring pull, due in part to cold weather and not warming up sufficiently before sprinting.

Just the same I am fortunate not to have gone through what you have and hopefully I will never know the experience. I wish you a healthy and happy recovery.

Not sure if I want to see those pics you mentioned either.......

I think warm-up and hydration is key. I have always had tight calves, and have prone to cramping in them. And while my stretching habits have improved, some days I just want to throw on the cleats and go play.

I will admit that after running and coaching track, the thought of one of them popping was nauseating. The pain hasn't been nearly as bad as advertised. Immobilization was the key. That ended 85% of my pain.

The pic isn't that gruesome. I took it with my cell phone, laying on the doctor's table, so the resolution is fairly poor. Maybe I should give it to Mello to fix up.

I'd be happy to make your injury look more gruesome! ;^D

please don't post the pic! i get nauseous thinking about the incision. i know i will not look when he takes my stitches out.

It really isn't gruesome at all. It is just a dark line. Unless Mello can spice it up, of course.

I was expecting to be totally sickened by it, but it was actually confidence building in that it didn't look like that big of a deal and that I could definitely get through it.

that's good to know! i've seen achilles surgery scars before & they were gross! btw - i asked my doc to prescribe me valium & he did. so, i'm hoping that is helpful.

It did wonders for me. I was on Tordol while I was in the hospital and that was the best. All the pain was from cramping and inflammation.

Scar management is really important when you get your cast off. I also made fists with my toes once I was in my cast and flexed them up and down. Pretty soon I'll post a pic of my scar. It is long, but really thin and it looks better than any other one I have seen pictures of online.

ok, i'll do that. i'm going to do everything i possibly can to recover completely.

i'm hoping the valium helps me sleep. that has been a total nightmare for me! my pain comes mainly when i crutch and when i elevate with my leg straight. i either have to be on my stomach or on when on my back, my leg needs to be turned to it's resting on the ankle bone instead of the incision.

if you say the scar is not bad, i believe you and will look. the scar i have from the ligament surgery sounds like your achilles scar...just a thin line.

I was like that, too, for a while. The nurses commented that it was interesting how I slept on my side but I was just keeping pressure off the incision. Once I was in the cast, it was more protected and more comfortable.

that's good to know. i've been sleeping in the position i was operated on, but with my injured leg bent. not the most comfortable way to sleep, but it's really the only way for me. i've never been able to sleep on my back. i never thought i would say this, but i can't wait to get a cast!

While I was happy to get rid of it when the time came, I was also excited to get the cast because it made my leg more stable and it felt more protected. I was much much more comfortable in the cast as compared to the splint and it allowed me to be able to get better sleep.

that's what i'm hoping for. right now, i'm so afraid i'll bump my leg.

Scar management is really important when you get your cast off.

I have been told that Bio-Oil works really well at reducing even old scars. I think it should be available in the States.

(I can't use it - it actually makes my arthritis worse: no surprise there really - so far the anti-arthritis drugs I've taken make my arthritis worse! Apparently the next step is self-administered sub-cutaneous injections...for life. Oh joy! Still, I keep telling myself that diabetics do it, so I should stop being a wimp.)

Good luck to both of you in your recoveries (a bit late, just found the blog).

I've also heard other people say they've used various anti-aging or facial moisturisers that have helped reduce scar appearance. I've tried looking, but can't remember where and can't find the posts (not on CR4!).

ER,

Thanks for the head's up. I have really creaky joints (particularly my knees) and something that I found that helped lubricate them was a drink called Joint Juice. Its claims have not been verified by the FDA, but since it is not shellfish based and is mainly Glucosamine, Vitamin C and vegetables, I tolerated it pretty well. My only empirical data is that when drank it consistently, my knees hurt less (although I was also working out regularly, too). It might be worth checking out, if you haven't already. It isn't a panacea, but it would sure beat ab injections. I can speak from personal experience on that one!

that's good to know! thanks for the info. good luck with your shots!

shakespeare - all morning, i've been getting this shooting pain in my leg, i think where the incision is. it's like a nerve pain, almost like when you have a root canal. did that ever happen to you?

Just a little at the incision site. Are you tweaking it or twisting at all?

I did have some bad shooting pain, I described them as lightning strikes, but it was mostly on the outside edge of my foot, which is where I also had the majority of numbness. I think it may have been my body dealing with the lack of sensation and the swelling.

They passed with time (and became both less intense and frequent in about 1-2 weeks). How long is it before your follow up?

yes, just at the incision site. i was just laying on the couch, with my 1 year old niece sitting on me. she's tiny. all of a sudden, it felt like lightening strikes (good description, btw) up my leg. since the surgery, that was the first time i felt that sort of pain.

my follow up is on Tuesday, which is when i get the hard cast.

I would assume it is the same phenomenon. Mine came out of nowhere, usually when I was laying down. I am no doctor, but I would assume that unless they get unbearable or come with some other symptoms like expanding numbness, headaches, or fever, you are just going through the same process that I did.

ok, good to know. i was just worried that i popped a stitch. thank you again for all the responses to me. you have no idea how helpful you have been! i really appreciate it. :)

No problem. That is one of the reasons that CR4 and GlobalSpec was interested in my writing this series. This is a common injury and there will be those that come after us that will also be looking for guidance.

Just a warning that I will be on vacation next week, so if I am not answering questions, it doesn't mean that I am ignoring them. I will answer anything that I can once I get back on 8/31.

Hopefully, so other CR4ers will be able to pick up some slack for me as I know I am not the only one who has been through this, here.

thanks for letting me know! i hope you have a great vacation! going anywhere fun?

North Carolina's Outer Banks. It should be interesting. Today is my first day off of crutches.

congrats about crutches! i hear the outer banks is great. i think the waves are pretty good down there this time of year (not that you'll be doing much surfing just yet;)). have fun and be careful walking on the beach. that was always tough on my ankle after the last surgery.

Thanks. I most certainly will. I have ZERO desire to go through this ever again.

tell me about it!