Monday, January 7, 2008

An Incident!

This is how I ruptured my Achilles tendon. Feel free to share your stories. I was playing a pickup game of basketball at my local Lifetime Fitness. I had already played one game earlier and was starting my second game. I was on the left baseline of the court when my teammate gave me a give and go pass. Only when started to go it felt like Bruce Lee gave me a kick to the back of my left heel. I knew right away something was right. I have sprained my ankles plenty of times. This was not an ankle sprain. It was a bizarre feeling at first. My foot literally did not work. I would try to walk and my foot would not respond. Everyone told me there heard a loud pop, but I didn’t hear anything. After icing for about ten minutes I grabbed my stuff and limped home. It really did not hurt that much, and I can see why some people do not see their doctor as soon as possible. The next day I saw my primary physician, and he recommended me to an orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon game me the Thompson Test and stated I have ruptured my left Achilles tendon. I thought I would be given an MRI or something. Nope. Just a date for the surgery I was having next week.

I am 27 years old. I have been playing basketball for at least twice a week since high school. Thinking back upon it, I had a pain in my left calf in the earlier game. I have always had aches and pains playing basketball, but I should have stopped right then and there. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda. At least it was not my right Achilles tendon. I feel sorry for the person that can’t drive around.

Another surgery. I recently had an emergency appendectomy earlier this year. Acute appendicitis is no fun. The difference with the Achilles tendon surgery is you have time to think about all the horrible things that can go wrong. The appendicitis happened so fast and I was in so much pain I wanted that bugger outta there.

I can into the out-patient surgery wing of the hospital at 7:15 A.M. My Surgery was schedule for 8:45 A.M. I was checked into a small room and changed into the gown they gave me. The nurse put in an I.V. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me about the procedure. He asked a couple of questions about my prior surgery and how I did with the general anesthesia. I was asking him I bunch of questions but I could not understand him, I believe he was from Croatia. His accent was heavy. I told him I felt no ill effects before. He asked me if I wanted general anesthesia or a spinal shot. I elected to have general anesthesia. I didn’t have to wear a catheter. Hurray, No Catheter!

They rolled me into the pre-op room where I met with another nurse the Croatian anesthesiologist and another anesthesiologist and the surgeon. They told me they made a last minute decision to give me a nerve block. They inject a numbing agent into the nerve of my leg. It is done to help the patient with post op. pain. I rolled onto my stomach and could hear the Croatian explaining to the other anesthesiologist where to inject the needle into my nerve. And then…..Darkness.

Awake…I was in the post op. room on my back with a cast on my leg and a bag of ice underneath. The nurse said the operation only lasted 45 minutes. If this is going to your first time going under it is a trip. I couldn’t feel a thing in my left leg. I went to the bathroom, put on my clothes and went home.

Fast forward roughly 24 hours later when the nerve block wore off. Holy Christ was I in Pain. The pain hit in a matter of minutes. It was painful. It eventually wore off, and I was only on painkillers for a couple of days.

Just a side note they give you a lot of antibiotics to take after the surgery. The biggest problem post operation is an infection of the wound. At the time of writing this I am four weeks post op. and have had not problems.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thought someone should leave a comment or feedback. Seems like a lot of different ways lead to the injury and many ways to rehab. Your situation is very simalar. Left foot, playing basketball (I too have played for years 2-3/ week), little pain at 1st but I pretty much knew it was my achilles. Only diiference is I am 41 years old and certainly glad I wasn't younger. I still believe that the person by me kick my leg as my achilles was streched, but the doctor insist it is just that feeling? It happened Dec 26th at a local YMCA, and I am 2 weeks from getting my cast off and want to start rehab soon. The big question I have is how soon will I be able to get back in shape and play again, if ever.

Dr_moffett said...

Keep me updated of you progress. I am interested to see the differences are.

Anonymous said...

Well it has been about 4 months now and I too can walk normal. I began shooting around at the gym a few times, just can't go all the way on to my toes yet. My doctor says I don't need to rehab, I went to one session and got some exercizes to do. Do them each day at home mostly streching but some stengthing. Ride the bike alot and lift weights. I feel 6 months is the acurate time frame before I begin playing again, just taking it slow.

Dr_moffett said...

No rehab?! wow. I am shocked. Do you still have a lot of swelling when working out? After a good work out my tendon is stiff and sore the next day.

Anonymous said...

67 days post-op (I ruptured my AT playing basketball) and I was just cleared to walk without the boot. It feels very wierd. I am really slow and the tendon feels very tight. Also, I experience some swelling when walking (both in and out of the boot). Did you have a similar experience? Glad to hear that you have recovered so nicely.

Anonymous said...

It has been 6 months since my surgery. I have been back playing basketball once a week. I am only 80 % but it's fun to run up and down. I think I have about 5 weeks in already and it gets a little better each time. I certainly can't jump off the left foot with much power but getting better. I feel stiffness in the morning after but not a bunch of swelling. Still strechting everyday and lifting 3 time a week. I did go and see my chrioprator and he worked on me for about 4 weeks, that seemed to help.
The one year time frame is probably correct for getting back to close to 100%. Good luck!

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