15 Weeks

Not much of a change. I do feel more comfortable in the morning with the first few steps, but I'm having difficulty standing on the toes of my right foot. I only have a couple more weeks until I see the doctor, so I need to show him that I strong enough to do that. Otherwise....2 to 4 more weeks of light duty hell!

I was able to jog...and I mean a slow jog...for 1 mile. I was only able to get to the 1/4 mile or the 1/2 mile mark before I had to stop due to my fitness level and weakness in the right let. But 1-mile! Yeah! It's weird...I was running a marathon just 6-months ago. That same marathon is coming up...but I might have to wait until next year. I just hope I get that endurance and spring in my step back at some point in my life.

So...not much progress on the PT. I am stronger when I walk, but still need to get at least 10 to 20 one legged toe stands in the next 2 weeks.

See you at week 16

14 weeks

I went to the chiropractor today to get adjusted. I feel much better after that appointment! After all that limping and walking in a boot, my lower back was completely out of alignment. It took the doctor a couple of good tries to get it to "pop" back into place. I slept for 2-hours after the appointment....I was that messed up!

The foot and lower leg are getting stronger. There was a bit of a plateau over the past couple of weeks, but this morning I was able to walk with a comfortable gait when I woke up. Before, it would take me a bit to get going because of the pain during the first initial steps. I've noticed I'm able to push off with my toes much easier during the last several days. My leg still gets tired at the end of the day, and I have to concentrate on pushing off with the toes, but seeing progress is helping mentally.

I tried to run this morning, but the lower leg is just too weak to push it right now. So, I walk quick mile every day strengthening it. I can run in short but slow bursts and then walk. The calf muscles and the front of my leg feel the brunt of running. I work on a lot of stretching exercises and calf raises from two feet. I can do a one legged raise with a bit of support, and the foot muscles are getting stronger with that exercise as well. Everyday I try to balance on one leg with my eyes open and with them closed. It really works out the foot when my eyes are closed.

Work is quite dull working on computers and filing papers. For those of you that do that 8 to 10 hours a day....I have no idea how you keep from being bored to tears during that time. I just hope the doctor releases me for full duty on the 16th of December.

See you at Week 15!

95 days, saw the doc today...

It's been awhile since I've seen my doctor, but today was the day. I was hoping to get released, but after testing my weak foot, he said, "another 4-weeks." Yikes!...light duty...filing papers and answering the phone at work for another 4-weeks! I need a beer...and I need it fast!

My range of motion is excellent, but the strength in my calf and foot are still very weak. I'm ahead of schedule, but still need some more work to get back to 100%. My doc told me I need to be 100% to do the job that I do...and I have to agree. I have some pain first thing in the morning when I step on the foot, and my foot gets tired around 4 in the afternoon. It's still the pad under my big toe that hurts the most. I tend to roll my foot to the outside to keep off the big toe. My doc said to concentrate on keeping equal pressure and make sure I'm pushing off with my toes to get stronger. Also, the scar tissue is massively thick. I no longer have an ankle, and probably never will again. The scar tends to get annoying near the end of the day as well, or from rubbing in my work boots.

I ask the doctor, "So...this injury pretty much takes 16 to 18-weeks to heal?" He said, "Yes." "That's the typical time frame." I knew that going into the appointment, I just thought maybe....just maybe...I'd be released. But...that's why he's a doctor and I'm a fireman. He knows best.

So now I work on strengthening the foot and lower leg over the next 4-weeks. He told me to be prepared to be released for full duty at that time. That's the 16th of December. Hopefully I'm back on the job for my first 48-hour shift on the 19th. Just a week before Christmas. Wow!

One cool thing....he prescribed Chiropractic care because of the limping and wearing the boot caused my back to get out of alignment. That will be a nice change because the Chiropractor that I use does massage as well. Yep...massage! That's a nice break from the reality of an Achilles tendon injury! Something to think about for those of you going through this injury...getting a good Chiropractor to keep you adjusted and happy!

See you at Week 14.

13 Weeks

So...I've had a small setback with running. Because my calf muscle atrophied, I've developed a small shin splint in my right lower leg. I've decreased the running and have started walking instead to keep my cardio going and lose the injury pounds. The shin splints have settled down, but I miss running. I find it difficult not to run and push myself, but I'm injuring other parts of myself trying to get over my Achilles injury.

Overall, I feel better. My walk is normal now, but I will begin to limp slightly in the evening. The evening hours and the first steps in the morning are still painfully annoying in the Achilles and the foot. This recovery is going to take a long time.

At work, I'm still on light duty. There's no way, physically, I can perform the rigors of firefighting with the weakness in my leg and foot. So, I deal with the boredom of filing papers and maintaining the computer systems while I wait for the strength to come back. I'm not going to any physical therapy program, and I'm trying to get it done on my own with some of the techniques I learned from my former PT program.

I see my Doctor on Tuesday the 18th. I'll know much more about my future after that appointment. I've heard there going to run me through a battery of tests to see when I can return to full duty.

Hopefully....it all goes well.

12 Weeks

I'm running! Slow and steady, but my cardio is returning and so is the strength in my lower leg. My scar tissue and achilles are very tight at first, but after warming up, I feel nothing except the lack of muscle in my foot and calf. Today I ran 4 X 400 meters with 25 squats in between sets. I've been working on upper body and abs to get my strength back for firefighting.

I'm back to work in a light duty role. I answer phones, file papers, and general clerical office type work. Boring, but a nice change to the recovery routine. It's very difficult to see the fire engine leaving the station on a call, but I know my turn is coming soon.

My foot and ankle still swell at night. The scar tissue becomes sensitive near the end of the day as well, so it's nice to get my shoes off and foot up. I get frustrated with the discomfort and swelling, but I'm only at week 12 of a long recovery process. The mental game of non-weight bearing was the toughest, but now the mental game of healing begins to meddle with my thoughts.

I just wish I had a good foot to start training for a marathon!

One day at a time.....one day at a time.

I see my Doctor on the 18th. They're going to run me through a battery of tests to see where I'm at in my recovery process. A battery of tests?...I have no idea what that means, but I'll find out in a week. I will have a better time table for my return to full active duty as a firefighter as well.

As paul r says: Happy Healing to all of you!

11 Weeks

I started my 11th week. There's a sense of joy and a bit of sadness. I'm elated to enter week 11 as my progress continues to get better. I'm a bit sad as my PT comes to an end. No more three days a week, because I start light duty at work on the 4th. I do have access to a good workout area at work, and I plan to utilize that 4-days a week; I'm just on my own for the exercises. I have a pretty good idea on what do to, but there's no therapist there to direct my movements.

Week 10 showed a bit of a plateau, but that's to be expected with the enormous gains coming off of non-weight bearing several weeks ago. My limp is beginning to disappear, and my normal gait is returning. I ran a mile, and only walked twice. My run is still a bit strange as the muscles of my foot and calf return. I can push up on my toes with both feet, just my left foot, but nothing yet on just my right foot. Again, my brain fires the signal at the foot, but there's nothing; no strength at all.

I talked to my physical therapist about running. He was surprised because the doc said "no pushing off." I told him that was 3-weeks ago, and things are changing rapidly. My conservative therapist decided that it was time to ramp up the exercises by making them a bit more challenging. That's what I wanted from day one! He called my doc who gave the approval to get more aggressive with treatment. But...no more physical therapy. Bummer. I might be able to see him once a week over the next 6-weeks, but that's to be determined with my work schedule. My PT wants me to start on a treadmill wearing my fire helmet and carrying a tool that I use for work. He says I need to start building up the strength in my neck and back as well as my legs to prepare for the return to full duty. Sounds fun!...and I'll start on Tuesday! To return to full duty, I have to go through some fairly major physical testing to get approval from the department's physician. I'll probably work on those specific tasks to get back as soon as possible.

I'm going to start back with a milder version of Crossfit, as this was my workout of choice prior to getting injured. I'll take it slow and steady, and be very cautious about pushing off with power until I can push up on the toes of my right foot.

I see my doc on the 18th, and will have a good understanding upon my return to full active duty.

I miss being a fireman. Although, this small taste of retirement has been nice too!