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.

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!

And Now the Wonderful News!

I was told by the emergency room doctor that I have ruptured my Achilles tendon. For those of you that don't know what the Achilles tendon is, here is a good picture of one. It's basically the elastic thing that attaches your calf muscle to your foot and allows you to point your foot down.

A rupture is a complete breaking away of the tendon from the heel of your foot. I know that because during my consult on Friday morning, the doctor performed what is called the Thompson's Test. He squeezed my calf muscles to confirm that there was no movement in the injured foot. You want to fail the test. I passed.

Hey, if you're going to do some damage to yourself, 'rupture' is the way to go.

I am told that there are two options to getting this fixed;

1. Non-surgical. Get a cast and wait until it heals on it's own. Then physio to learn how to walk again. At least 6 months of that. 11% chance of breaking again.

2. Surgical. They go in and reattach the tendon. Hard casts for two months, then walking boot for one, then physio after that. 3% chance of breaking it again. Same chances as a healthy Achilles.

Either way I can look forward to realign my foot every few weeks by removing the cast, resetting the angle, then casting again.

I don't enjoy going/staying at/or visiting hospitals, but why on earth would someone go the non-surgical route? I guess for Americans without enough insurance this could cost a pretty penny, but here in Canada our tax dollars cover almost everything.

After discussing it with my wife for about 10 seconds, I opt for the surgery. The doctor quickly confirms a spot in surgery, and we're off to the races.

I won't go into the weird wait in line to get into the OR (hey lady, if you didn't want the nosejob, why did you come back TWICE?). Anyway, once it's my turn, they knock me out, flip me on my stomach and do their magic with the scalpel, needle and thread. About an hour later I'm in the recovery room and waking up.

One thing I forgot to mention; at every point in my journey, and with every NEW hospital staff that my wife and I met, they all asked me to confirm what foot it was and what was wrong with it. Did they not have it written down somewhere? Have they made a mistake and worked on the wrong body part in the past? Kind of scary but I guess necessary.

My love takes me home to start my recovery on Friday afternoon. Not even 24 hours after the injury.