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.
Happy Halloween
12 years ago
Posts
2 comments:
Well we are at week 13 and at the half way mark!!!!!
The last week I’ve had some light pain and frustrating days coping with this bloody injury. The pain seems to move around from day to day. One day I have a mild burning sensation around the incision/Achilles area, the next day it subsides and the pain moves into the medial ankle area and after several days it ends up around my heel. It’s only a slight pain but still very annoying.
Wearing shoes and work boots is another problem I’m finding especially around the incision which is still very tender. I have an old pair of Asics running shoes which are soft and well worn at the heel and I tend to wear them on a regular basis but they are starting to get a bit smelly.
I bought a new pair of Asics the other day but I think they need wearing in first and are a little bit too stiff around the heel to wear yet .
I can now do double leg calf raises comfortably with little pain.
I had my 12th week post op today I was in the surgeon’s office for about 3 minutes max, but I wasn't leaving until Id asked my questions.
THIS WAS THE RESULT:
ROM and strength is very good.
Double leg calf raises are good and I should be doing single leg comfortably by the 5 month mark.
Drop the 2 Hydrotherapy classes and swap for 2 extra days at the gym, strength training.
Light jogging, no sprinting or pushing of quickly.
The disappointing news was I can't go back to front line policing until February which was bit of a shock I was hoping to be back by Christmas.
He said because I work for a specialized unit and require full fitness and strength he didn't want to risk sending me back sooner and risk a re-rupture.
So it looks like I will be the office bitch for the next 3 months!!!
Sounds like a bit of frustrating time you’ve been having with your shin splints, I’ve just started jogging this week and I must say it’s a strange feeling.
I’ve decided I’m going to hold back on my cardio and concentrate more on strength training, squats, leg press, leg extensions, lunges, hamstring curls and calf raises. I will then pick up on my cardio after Christmas when leg is a lot stronger.
My calf is no longer looking like a tooth pick and is back to its normal size.
Yep, this is one hell of a long and frustrating recovery.
As the California Governer, alias the Terminator says "I'LL BE BACK" in 3 months
Happy Healing paul r
paul r,
I agree on the pain. It tends to move around. Not terribly painful, but annoying. What's annoying is the fatigue at the end of the day and trying to walk. Drives me nuts! Oh...and the rubbing on the incision area...yipes!
Hang in there office bitch! I'll file a couple of papers tomorrow in your name! : )
Post a Comment