Time to put my foot down and ....

get back to work.

Everything is good with the ankle. I'm playing ball again and my ankle is holding up better than the rest of me; but that's another story.

But if you have any questions about dealing with an achilles tendon rupture or the equipment I mentioned in this blog, feel free to contact me.

For more information about the iWalkFree hands-free crutch, visit the manufacturer at www.iwalk-free.com or their distributor www.goodbyecrutches.com.

BTW, I am not affilliated with either company or the distributor.

Out of sight out of site

Woah! It's been almost 6 months since my last post to this blog. I guess once I got full use of my right ankle, complete with the attached foot, I got off my butt and out doing stuff.

Well, since my last post I have been doing great! The Achilles is completely healed, although it is twice the width of my left Achilles.

I found it very strange running with it and I'm much slower than I was pre-rupture.

That's it for now.

If you don't want to get hit, stay off the sidewalk!

Note: The past month has been fairly uneventful. I didn't want to bore you with how I'm taking a shower, caring for the stitches (now gone), etc. I guess if I was still using the regular crutches, I would have more to share (accidents, lounging around, getting served, etc.) but since I can contribute to my own care and feeding, there isn't much to say. And I'm happy with that.

I started a new job on Monday, and was concerned that I couldn't drive for a few more weeks. A cab ride is $80 each way (flat rate)! The company has been gracious enough to let me work from home the first week until I find out what the deal is with the injury.

I went to my 8-week update with the Orthopedic surgeon yesterday, and it's all good news! My surgery is healing perfectly. In fact, it's a little ahead of schedule (if there is actually a schedule to keep).

He mentioned that some surgeons allow their patients to walk after 4 weeks, but he's found that that the Achilles would stretch too much and therefore weaken the step later on. He knew that I'm not the sedentary type so he's kept me off it longer than most to keep the tendon a little tighter.

He's glad that I have kept off the foot as much as I can and now that my ankle can bend beyond 90 degrees, I will be able to officially walk on it. He also said I could drive (woot!) although I would have to wear a regular shoe since I really can't feel the gas pedal. No argument from me. Freedom!

But I won't be able to walk on it for two more weeks. Although I am grateful about the iWalkFree device, I think it's time to start walking on my own. It snowed a few days ago (in October!) and I had to take it off and hobble on the walking boot for a bit since I was afraid of slipping on it and tearing my groin muscle.

It's all uphill from here, and now that I can drive, I can do it faster!

It's a nice red

The temporary plaster half-cast that I've been wearing for the past week was removed this afternoon (no saw, just shears), and I got a chance to look at the doctors handiwork. I'm impressed.

Speaking of saws, I'm still a little paranoid of that little blade taking a half inch from the surface of my shin bone! It almost looks like the one they use on CSI to cut open the top of a dead guys head! And no matter how many nice colors you have on the saw, a 6 year old kid still knows it's a saw and will scream bloody murder when you try to remove that stinky cast she's been wearing for the past month.

Anyway, the cut is about 4" long and is held by dissolving stitches, not staples. I'm glad for that since I've seen some nasty scars from staple use. The stitches are covered by tape and the whole thing doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Great job doc.

The tech reset my foot in a more forward-facing position (not turned-in as they did in surgery) and at a slight down angle. In the coming weeks they will be taking off the cast(s), checking out the wound and resetting it at a slightly flatter orientation to fully flat. These changes will allow the Achilles tendon to stretch and be ready for the walking boot (even thought I'm not to walk on it at that time), then to fully walk after that.

The cast is a nice red color. I was going to get a black one but my wife and kids selected a red one for me so that I can cheer on my Red Sox baseball team as we try to take first place in our league. This is the second time I have missed the finals! While pitching last year I took a softball to the face that knocked me out and had to miss the second of a double header.

This new cast is much lighter than the plaster one but also much tighter. I was informed that as my ankle and foot swells and contracts, the cast won't budge so I will feel it much more and must keep it elevated more often.

Hey, who am I to argue with a professional who says I have to sit on my butt more often?

Bone saw! Isn't that the name of a thrash metal band?

I'm scheduled for an appointment at the fracture clinic this afternoon. They're supposed to be removing the plaster cast, examining their handiwork, and replacing the cast with my first of many fiberglass casts. I'm interested in seeing how the doctor closed the cut since I was told by the wonderful nurses that some doctors use stitches, some use staples.

When I started this blog, I decided I wouldn't post pics of other Achilles injuries I found on the web. I planned on posting a picture of my own for your gross-out pleasure.

iWALKFree? You bet your ankle!

Since I have never missed my kids first day of school, I wasn't going to start today. I was able to get out of the car with my wife and kids, walk to the back of the school where all the parents were waiting with their kids, and not feel crippled as I would with crutches.

I was able to get my own coffee, cook my own lunch and carry it all to the chair where I'm writing this blog. Thank you joely1957 for letting me try it out before I bought it.

Although I stayed inside most of today (it was almost 30C/86F), I took a little walk in the neighborhood after I dropped off the kids at school and then again to pick them up at the end of the day. Not very far mind you. I'm still getting used to walking with this wonderful device.

I got many interesting glances from passers-by and engaged in a few conversations about it, and my ruptured Achilles.

Later, I even made some meat sauce (see pic at left) and got water ready for tortellini when my love came home. I actually carried a large pot of hot water from the sink to the stove without spilling a drop! There was no way I could do that with crutches!

After dinner with the family, we did some groceries. I insisted that I walk behind a shopping cart instead of using their lovely motorized scooter thing. You know, the one with the little basket in the front. Although my kids and wife wanted me to use it, there was no way I was going to jam myself into that wide-load vinyl seat, grab those tiny handlebars and honk that anemic horn as I put-put through the isles. I'm sure the kids wanted me to use it so they could take a ride too.

Instead, I confidently WALKED through the isles and shopped like everyone else.

One funny side-effect of wearing it is that if I'm walking toward someone, it must seem to them that I don't have a leg below my knee and that I'm wearing some weird pirate leg!

Their facial expression and eye movement is very interesting; first they look at me, then they look at my 'missing' leg, their faces drop, then try to avoid me at all costs. I'm sure this is the sort of reaction that some of us have with real amputees.

Once they pass me and realize that my lower leg is still there, it's almost as if they breath a sigh of relief. Very strange.

Anyway, for those of you that are debating whether to get one vs. torture devices aka crutches, there are a few tips and testimonials from the iWALKFree website.

Note: I don't make any money from or have any affiliation with this company other than owning one of their great products.

Here is a sample of the instructions:
Wearing iWALKFree:
1. place knee of affected leg on tray; fasten tray strap to a snug, comfortable fit
2. fasten lower strap to a snug, comfortable fit around leg just above knee
3. fasten upper strap to a snug, comfortable fit around leg just below groin

Walking with iWALKFree:
1. use either a handrail or parallel bars while becoming accustomed to the device
2. maintain a wide stance with legs apart while walking
3. maintain an erect posture and watch where you are going

It's funny that they have to remind the wearer to "place knee of affected leg on tray". One wonders if users have called them and complained that the thing doesn't work, only to find out that they have the wrong leg strapped in!