Achilles tendon operation ... crutch

[Minky]

I have been waiting for 2 years for an operation to repair a snapped tendon, and that is via private.   When it happened it was the height of covid and  I  couldn't get into hospital or doctors to get the ball rolling.  I've just put up with it and struggled.  Anyway I've had the job done now and on the road to walking again although it will take some time.  Moving about is a great problem.  I did envisage zooming around with elbow crutches...  non starter.  They gave me a $(××€# zimmer frame. Now for someone who was reasonably fit and active it is a pain in the rear. My person is brilliant and she does everything for me.  I haven't been issued a service bell but it's good. I find it humiliating to have to rely on her. Now I  thought that if I had a knee crutch (long John silver style) that  I'd be away.  I came a ross this ... anyone used one.?  I hope the link works.   https://www.amazon.co.uk/MTYQE-Walking-Mobility-Disability-Fracture/dp/B0979JZDP6/ref=asc_df_B0979JZDP6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=499313703587&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12429427538110309694&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006483&hvtargid=pla-1382453693732&psc=1

[discobob]

Shiver me timbers!!!! You will have to change your name to Captain Pugwash

[Rob85]

Was it a full thickness rupture or was it a partial? I would have thought a full thickness rupture would have been treated surgically ASAP as the longer you wait the worse recovery will be. I had a partial...roughly halfway through rupture of mine playing rugby and it still took the best part of a year before I took to the rugby pitch properly again. 

[Minky]

3 hours ago, Rob85 said:

Was it a full thickness rupture or was it a partial? I would have thought a full thickness rupture would have been treated surgically ASAP as the longer you wait the worse recovery will be. I had a partial...roughly halfway through rupture of mine playing rugby and it still took the best part of a year before I took to the rugby pitch properly again. 

It was snapped right through.   The surgeon has stated a 2..3 cm gap.  Normally the injury would have been attended to straight away but when it happened it was the height of the pandemic and the only way into hospital was a heart attack òr a major stroke or near death job.   even cancer cases weren't being seen.  And as for the local GPS they just shut up shop totally.   They didn't a answer the phone or anything.  I just haf 4o dig in and put up with it and plow on.   I suppose that it wasn't until this last summer that I managed to get in to talk to my gp.  Then got referenced to a private consultant.  I had the op 3 weeks ago and I'm on the 2nd cast. The wound has healed up well after a bit of skin blistering.  I'm due back in 2.1/2 weeks to have this cast off and hopefully into a sort of ski boot thingy for a further 4 weeks then onto physio and learning how to walk properly again. The worst thing for me is being so confined by movements.   The Mrs is an angel and waites on my every need  but I personally hate having to put her out.  It's so difficult to  accept that you are fixed and vulnerable.   I'll have to get her to tote the gun and cartridges for me.  I saw that knee crutch and that would do the job but it ain't worth it now for a week and a half.  How was it for you.?

[Rob85]

I would say your next step is going to be the moon boot with your foot held in as much dorsiflexion as possible to start getting that tendon to lengthen again. Its going to take a while but the main thing will be to keep a positive attitude to it and work with the physio.

Also just be aware that as the injury puts your walking gait off kilter during recovery there is a risk of starting to feel pain in the opposite side lower back/hip.... been there and done that! 

[Minky]

9 minutes ago, Rob85 said:

I would say your next step is going to be the moon boot with your foot held in as much dorsiflexion as possible to start getting that tendon to lengthen again. Its going to take a while but the main thing will be to keep a positive attitude to it and work with the physio.

Also just be aware that as the injury puts your walking gait off kilter during recovery there is a risk of starting to feel pain in the opposite side lower back/hip.... been there and done that! 

Her and I love walking and we have got into Geocaching.  Although my heel ... more than the ankle has been the painful bit.  It has felt like the heel bone has been driven straight down onto the hard ground.  I have cut out some thick he foam heel inserts with a hole like a golf ball sized hole uñder the hee to spread the load.  I found that to walk any sense a had to push through on the left leg because it was short stroking causing a limp at the right foot coming down heavy. I have been managing to walk 5...6 miles but I find it physically demanding and I find that hard because I was so active before the incident.  I have a high pain threshold and am determined to dig in and work to get back on track. It might take a year or so but I'll  get there. 

[Aled]

Well i can give you some good news MInky, it does get better! I had the full snap and a repair operation back in 2001. I went on to play 5 more seasons of rugby, and have enjoyed an active life, fishing shooting, walking etc even done a couple of sprint triathlons. The worse bit was re-learning the coordination of walking and running. It will take hard work, and some physio but it will be OK. 

[Minky]

Thanks for all of the replies of encouragement.  There's an old boy 75 who lives near me had the operation before the pandemic.  Although 75 he was a mad keen cyclist and runner. Along with his Mrs. He did a stupid thing.  He was nearly healed and asked if he could do a bit of swimming.   They said ok but not to overdo it.  What he didn't tell them that he was part of a group of free water swimmers.  ( swimming in a local river ).  !!!!!! This river has loads of sewage works discharging into it and quite often a dead sheep or even horses floating in it.!!!  Needless to say the whole lot got infected and he was rushed back into hospital with serious infection.  The surgeons had to open it back up, flush it out and he was issued anti biotics.  He has recovered and back on his bike doing up to 60 miles a day.!!  He is jogging a bit but he can't run very far but he is building it back up.  75 !!  There's hope for all.  I hate being so Immobile and having to put on the wife to do for me. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.   It has made me think about life and how close everyone is to life changing events out of your control.  Every movement from room to room has to be thought through as to the pinch points for the blooming zimmer frame and the strategic points to hold on to etc.  Like going wee.  Never ever thought about it.  Try standing  on one leg and getting your trousers back up when your  standing on the trouser leg.  I now wear shorts and sit down.  Even that is a physical challenge .  good job I have her to help me.  I can imagine that this sort of thing would be an absolute  nightmare for someone who is overweight,  not very agile and fit or the elderly. That's given me something to think about.  Like having a wet room conversation.  The sooner I can get back out in the field the better.  This will make me work harder to walk correctly again.

[Minky]

On 03/08/2022 at 19:53, Rob85 said:

I would say your next step is going to be the moon boot with your foot held in as much dorsiflexion as possible to start getting that tendon to lengthen again. Its going to take a while but the main thing will be to keep a positive attitude to it and work with the physio.

Also just be aware that as the injury puts your walking gait off kilter during recovery there is a risk of starting to feel pain in the opposite side lower back/hip.... been there and done that! 

Question. .......  When I get fitted with the moon/ski boot,  does that stay on me all of the time day and night.?  Do I have to wear the thing in bed or can I take it off , have a good scratch, Have a bath etc.  how frequently did you have to go and visit with the physio.?  daily, weekly or whenever.  How was the treatment finished.?  "We're fed up with seeing you. clear off"  or "well you can walk without falling over .... Go practise walking".   At the mo I'm 4 weeks into the cast section with 2 more to go.  It's driving me nuts.  The inability to be mobile as I was struggling around on a Blooming (Doris) Zimmer frame, Today I was woken by intense itching up the back of the leg just above where the top of the cut wound is. I know that it is a sign of healing but it is just driving me nuts.  She won't give me a knitting needle to put down there and scratch it even though I have threatened dire consequences for her when I get moving again. like putting the coffee spoon in her tea,  letting the grand children colour in her puzzle book and stuff like that.

[Minky]

Thanks to those who have replied and pm'd.

[Vince Green]

On 03/08/2022 at 19:53, Rob85 said:

 

Also just be aware that as the injury puts your walking gait off kilter during recovery there is a risk of starting to feel pain in the opposite side lower back/hip.... been there and done that! 

The crutch when I pinged my hamstring really caused long term damage to my shoulder and upper arm muscles. Still not right now 

[Minky]

On 11/08/2022 at 19:23, Vince Green said:

The crutch when I pinged my hamstring really caused long term damage to my shoulder and upper arm muscles. Still not right now 

The crutch.?   Were you given the long under armpit crutches.?

[Vince Green]

5 hours ago, Minky said:

The crutch.?   Were you given the long under armpit crutches.?

They don't give you any these days. They just give you a piece of paper with details of where you can phone up and order one with your card.

No I had the ones that you slip your wrists through.

when you walk keeping your weight off one leg all your weight goes on your shoulder. Your muscles aren't used to the extra load

[Minky]

11 hours ago, Vince Green said:

They don't give you any these days. They just give you a piece of paper with details of where you can phone up and order one with your card.

No I had the ones that you slip your wrists through.

when you walk keeping your weight off one leg all your weight goes on your shoulder. Your muscles aren't used to the extra load

When I was in hospital they tried me out on a pair of elbow crutches. I envisioned me cruising around the neighbourhood with these.  .... NAHH.  I was all over the place on them BUT I was still as high as a kite with the anasthetic,  SO I was issued 2 Zimmer frames. 1 for downstairs and the other for upstairs.  I've not used the one for upstairs as it's easier to go round on all fours. Downstairs I used the Zimmer frame , hop along on one leg.  After a while my left hip started to ache with the hopping along.  Son in law came up trumps with a pair of aluminium waking sticks and a pair of elbow crutches. I've got a lot of upper body and arm strength and I took to using the elbow crutches and I'm a lot more mobile a lot quicker. Anyway I've only got a week and hopefully this blooming cast will be history.  I've never ever wished days away.

[Minky]

Well. I went through 3 casts and now I'm in the boot.  the movement is improving every day.  For someone that was pretty agile and active it is difficult.  the whole of my life is very different having to rely on others and having to think about 4 moves ahead to avoid problems.  She.. My person has been an angel and just wants me better so that we can go and do things as we did before.  I feel very tired and physically drained a lot of the time.  This little escapade has really made me think about how we will cope as we get older and what modifications to the house may be necessary. such as a walk in shower room instead of a bath etc.  This has really been an eye opener.