One Year Post Op- Severed EHL Tendon

One year post op.  I've measured all my milestones and always had a sense that the future is far enough away and that all would be well. I’m still waiting for it to be -- as it was. Pipe dream of course.
 It’s November 2012, I’ve whittled down my Physiotherapy to once a month; barely. I’ve been running for about 6 months now. I’m doing 5k without a hitch. Well, there is one hitch – pain.

Not sure how or why, but a new slew of problems have crept up because of this whole severed EHL fiasco. The Iliacus muscle in my right hip, most famously known as the hip flexor has been severely aggravated and shortened. It’s an oxymoron, because I require extensive stretching of that whole muscle area, which is still quite challenging. I had discovered a few months ago that I was pronating only on my right foot. As a result, when I run I’m extremely conscious of my step in. I mentally correct it with each stride. It tends to work if I really concentrate. Yesterday I went out for a run. It wasn’t particularly cold, the conditions were not out of the ordinary, I had a stressful day at work and thus mentally let my guard down on my run, put the pedal to the metal (so to speak),  but by the time I was rounding the 3^rd km, I was in severe pain. Every step was gruelling.
I recall early in my physiotherapy, I was told to refrain from limping or favoring the injured side at all costs. It would come back to haunt me. All those months I spent afraid to twitch or stretch the EHL in the wrong way have had a severe downstream impact on the whole right side of my body.
My ankle is another nightmare. There is no such thing as walking softly. As I walk there is a soft and annoying click that comes from my ankle. This is from the 2^nd casting process being off by a few degrees. What a piece of work.
The EHL has stretched out ever so minimally over the past year, it’s nowhere near normal. My toe still dorsiflexes upwards. If I point my toes downwards, the big toe still faces up! I continue to do my stretching exercises. It still burns even after all this time.

I can do pretty much everything that I used to, as long as I modify. For example to do a cat stretch in yoga, I require a soft mini pillow to support the top of my foot as I’m down on all fours. My big toe does not flatten and is not in line with the others. It’s not stretched out yet. If I can cradle it during certain positions it would be fine. I also modify by resting it on the other foot for certain positions.
I tried playing soccer (really just kicking the ball back and forth), the top of my foot swelled and I had to ice it for hours. There are a lot of sensitive nerve endings and tissue that still require healing.
Swimming is hilarious; it’s like having a broken flipper. I had to modify that too. I tend to stay in shallow water just to be safe from cramping.

Occasionally I have the most severe cramps underneath my foot. It’s quite painful, but kind of hilarious. My toes have a life of their own in those moments, involuntarily contorting and twitching until the cramping passes. I basically hit the deck when it happens; I shut the world out and breathe through it. I had the misfortune of having this “attack” on Halloween night at one of my daughter’s friend’s parents’ house. As they graciously invited me in for wine and cheese, I had to hi-jack their living room while I went through the motions and wriggled on the floor going through these ridiculous foot spasms! Nice introduction.

I’ve changed a lot of things in my life and raised the bar on cynicism – too cheeky even for myself sometimes.  I laugh at the fact that my children still consider mom as handicapped. I wonder if I’ve had the worst case of severed EHL Tendon ever!!!

 This has been quite the Shit Show..

Peace.

 JZ

EHL Tendon 2012

I've gotten a bit of hell for not posting lately. Many apologies. I am still deep in Physio and will blog soon on a certain type of foot fetish that has taken presidence in my household...

Movie titles would be:

• Beware the Achilles
• The Ankle Snapper
• Hellux Raiser
• The Stifferson

Working harder than ever...


regards,
Zipperfoot.

Severed EHL Tendon- Goodbye 2011!

On the road to recovery?

It's almost the end of the Year 2011. What have I done?

I'd say as an adult this has been; bar none one of the most challenging years in my life. From the get go on January 1st, 2011 it's been challenge after challenge. Each day, week and month had a new set of horrors present itself over and over to me, testing my abilities emotionally, mentally and physically. Yes severing my EHL Tendon was a big slap in the face. It shook me into a different dimension. It pinned me down and held me there until just the right time, and then it released me. I am different now. Everything tastes, smells and looks different. I want to say I have served my time. I want to say that one person can only take so much. Really though in the grand scheme of things I continue to give thanks that I am surrounded by beautiful and loving friends and family. That no matter how the going gets tough, the tough will still get going.

I've rekindled an all but dead relationship with my parents, I have accepted that although we won't always see eye to eye, they are good people with good intentions. Age doesn't always bring wisdom, experience does. Family and firm true friendships are the keys to happiness. It always was and always will be. No one is perfect, we all have to work at our relationships, and we are all dynamic and different. We’re not meant to be the same. Our injuries may be similar, but how we deal with the experiences can be worlds apart.

As I reflect on my ever present gregarious nature, I'm stricken silly that my injuries have brought out some of the best attributes in my friendships and relationships with people. I definitely know who will be in my corner for the long haul. I have connected on a different level with certain people; my eyes are wide open now more than ever before.

So all I’m asking for in the Year 2012 is to keep on this new journey--the one that opens the doors to all the magnificent new friendships and that still has a stronghold on the old ones. Oh yeah and that Zipperfoot has inadvertently set a new cornerstone in my life.

Happy Holidays to all. May you find love and joy in even the smallest things.

EHL Severed Tendon and Acupuncture.

Acupuncture was the next venture into my rehabilitation campaign. I didn't have a shred of knowledge on the subject of acupuncture. No one in my inner circle had ever required that type of alternative medicine.  I knew it had something to do with really fine needles being inserted into specific pressure points of the body. The thought gave me anxiety.. I mean all those needles pushed into my body. Unthinkable.

I wanted to go in blind; I didn't want to know about side effects or risks. I was going to take a chance, go out on a limb, and go all the way with no reservations. I was introduced to the Acupuncturist, Keith who has a gentle nature and is well educated as a Physiotherapist. He prefers the holistic alternative like acupuncture as a means to rehabilitate. A belief that the points of energy reached during the process acts both as a pain reliever and stimulator of joint and tissue.

The way Acupuncture works: It’s an understanding that the neurophysiologic pain relief mechanisms (eg. Endorphins) are stimulated and will assist the body in strengthening the immune system; it decreases muscle and tissue tightness and can increase joint flexibility. Originating in the Orient (however there is a dispute that it actually originated in Central Europe) the traditional understanding is that the body is divided into 12 energy channels (or meridians) that run vertically within the body. If any of these channels are affected by illness or injury the energy flow is interrupted, the belief that acupuncture (shallow needling or deep needling) into the specific channel will stimulate energy flow and healing back into the body.

As the small hair like needles pierced my skin (they are in a fine sterile tube which is slightly shorter than the needles themselves- they are positioned over the desired area and tapped into place- shallow needling in my case), there was a slight prickly sensation. He put them in various points of my foot and calf. We started with about 6 needles in our first session. I tried shifting my leg while the needles were inserted. Those little suckers were wielding quite a power beneath the surface and were almost paralyzing upon any movement. I felt an awkward pain in each of the points where the needles lay. Keith advised that being still would enhance their healing effects. Best not to move around or it will hurt!  I was left to relax on my own (more like a Zen type of relaxation) for about 15 mins.

Removing them was effortless (a few spots of blood from the top of my foot area). There was some slight bruising the next day, and a bit of soreness in the areas punctured, which I’m told is normal.

I’ve done quite a few sessions now, tackling different areas of my foot to stimulate the tissue around the scar. I have to say that I am a believer. The numbness at the top of my foot has subsided and I am actually feeling a bit of sensation now.

By no means is my Zipperfoot fully mobile at this point, but we’re still working on it one day at a time.

 

Acu: Week 1


Acu: Week 2





Acupuncture

The tendon is still tight along the Hallux to the ankle.

EHL Tendon Rehab

Trying to always be optimistic.

The Orthopaedic Specialist said I still have a good 3 months until I can consider calling my Zipperfoot normal.  I've made tremendous progress, however as I sit here 2 months into my physiotherapy (which I'm still scheduled for at least 3 times a week), I suddenly have a terrible sinking feeling that my tendon is not stretching out as originally intended. I see it on Jake’s (Physio guy)face. He pleasantly consoles me and reminds me that this will be a bit of a long haul. It’s such a rare injury---to compare it to any other rehab is just not feasible. I understand there is much more progress to be made; I just can't help but feel a small sense of loss every time I look down at my foot.
It has been almost 4 months since my surgery.

A quick pep talk from my physiotherapist and we’re planning to change direction. Acupuncture is next on the list. We’re hoping this will help stretch out and stimulate the EHL Tendon a little more.

It’s so overwhelming to come this far, just to find out that the journey is far from over.
I want to wake up in the morning and walk to the throne effortlessly without having to massage my leg awake, do a warm up or use the walls to guide me upright.

I'm tired of being at physio working on the same gruesome and painful stretches that leave me slightly debilitated every time.

I'm tired of having to explain over and over why I'm still slightly limping and how it happened.

I'm tired of refusing party invites; for fear of some drunken jackass stepping onto my Zipperfoot.

I'm tired of trying to explain to my employer that trekking out to work into the downtown core in prime Christmas shopping season is not at the top of my list to do.

My drama queen is definitely coming out in full force.

I went shoe shopping last week. I wanted to purchase a pair of shoes that I can wear in a versatile manner, more than my Nike’s or Converse sneakers. I purchased a buttery leather pair of (cow hide) loafers that are soft, yet supportive. It’s like they came down from cow heaven just for me.  I’m grateful that I can wear these with just about any attire. They are by no means the saucy tall heels I would be accustomed to, but definitely a sweet alternative.

I also toyed with a few pair of winter boots from my collection. The snow will be here shortly, I want to be prepared. Canadian Winters can be mean spirited (no offense to Mother Nature). Wearing my running shoes to traipse around in the snow and ice for my glamo trips to physio or the occasional family outing is not going to cut it.

I’ll just grin and bear it. Movin’ on…

Severed EHL Tendon-3 months Post-Op

I put a shoe on my right foot for the first time yesterday. It was painful and extremely uncomfortable; however I wanted to advance into the next stage- wearing a left and a right shoe. I will still wear my Aircast when necessary. It’s my go to accessory now, my comfort, my protector; I don’t feel right without it.

As I venture out a bit more these days into the big wild world, I fear that someone will inadvertently step onto my foot. It’s blind now you see; it will be forever infracted and offended no matter where it goes or what it is doing. For example, I’m already experiencing the delights of household folly-- dropping things like lotion bottles, spoons, books, cellphones, remotes etc. pretty close to Zipperfoot. It’s bound to make contact; I have to be ready for it. Fate, just please- give me a bit more time. I shudder to think what the impact would be; nothing life threatening (what a drama queen!) I suppose.  I’m sure as long as there is no blade at the end of the handle; I’ll be fine…ahem.

As far as physiotherapy goes, still neck deep in it. It’s been 7 weeks , 3 times a week. We have been faithfully working on stretching out that stubborn tendon. I had asked the Specialist last week if he had tightened it a bit too much. I noticed today that the top of my foot is quite bruised, mostly likely the combination of wearing a shoe and the aggressive work on the tendon yesterday.

I can press my toe into the floor with a bit more strength now; it still won’t voluntarily wiggle unless I give it a bit of a boost.  My gait has improved and I’m really working on trying to reduce the limp, which subsequently is more evident because of the fear of bending my toe.

My Nike running shoe seems to keep my foot snuggly in place. It’s very tight to get on and off, but it’s nice to finally wear a matching set of shoes.  My physiotherapist asked me how I felt about wearing Orthopaedic shoes, I found this truly funny… really.

Remembrance

If you have the opportunity, thank a veteran for his courage. Not just today but every day.

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." -G.K. Chesterton

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." -Jose Narosky

There is but one veteran left alive in my family at home in the Mediterranean, thanks Uncle Manuel for holding the fort.

Peace

2 pics from Malta's history. The Mosta Church's undetonated bomb that pierced the roof while 300+ worshippers were inside.



Mosta Church's Dome Ceiling



The Bomb Squad

Occupy

 

I rarely watch the news, it's repetitive and boring. I have seen the same news update about some vandals defacing a statue at a school for the past 4 days.

 

One story that continues to attract attention is the Occupy Movement. It's directed at the social and economic inequality that is evident on our planet through widespread corporate greed and monopolization of business and technology.

 

It has been going on for weeks now in Toronto (and globally). There are legitimate protesters that truly want to make a difference to streamline more social consciousness and incur more fiscal responsibility of the Democratic nations. A tent city is set up in Toronto's down town core. They have kept it fairly clean and neat, but now the city feels it's time for these people to march on and out.

 

 In my youth I was always in it for the underdog, I spent some time unemployed because I did not want to conform to society's social and political standards. I quickly realized that strutting around in Doc Martens, jobless and angry was not going to help anyone least of all myself. The best way to have your voice heard is from within the environment. I gained employment at a Financial Firm, where I learned that although it is always about the bottom line, I can invest my time into the global machine and have my voice heard in a proper forum. I have a more ample opportunity to make that change for equality starting within the hub.

 

Watching some of the interviews the media has conducted with some of the protesters, I'm quickly inclined to believe that they do not really know why they are protesting or what they are actually talking about. Protest for the sake of protesting. I can't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment for them as they mumble and fumble their way through their explanations and beliefs staring out into space trying to deduce something tangible. My questions to them: Do they have a passport? Have they ever actually visited, lets say the Middle East or a Communist country? No matter where you go, people want to work, to provide for their families. They will work for an offshore oil refining company or a mining company that is stripping their resources if that's where the works at. They are bringing bread home. Do they want these big fat corporations to pull out of their backyard and cut the life line. Hell No!

 

Is the visual of seeing corporate people who are doing their jobs and contributing to society that much of a disturbance?  I believe in human rights. People have the right to work and provide for their families. People also have the right to protest for what they believe in, if they really believe in it and understand it.

 

I would be more convinced of their cause if it were hoards of ex-Bay St analysts dishing on the goings on of the secret behind closed door handshakes. The world is going through a financial meltdown. These kids are preaching to the choir.

 

Yet...

 

Food for thought: Kim Kardashian spent $20mm on a wedding that lasted 72 days- someone worked that out to $277,777 dollars a day. Rapper 50 Cent made $10mm dollars on a penny stock that he had dibs on through a tweet to his fans.

 

How much equality could that have bought?                                             It's all about perspective.

 

Back to the Grind

Returning to work this week.

I will be working from home for the time being until I can make the commute into the downtown core via “my own car”. I made a call to one of my colleagues at the office, we quickly played catch up on the in’s and out’s of office life.

Ms. C, Bunny, Allpan, Buck and the New Guy are members of my team; I’m known as Cozie. Of course we reside under these aliases in order to make our sometimes very technical, analytical environment more bearable. We also have special names for the other powers that be, but we keep those on the down low.

Our first order of business was to discuss the team luncheon in December. My presence is definitely required for some schmoozing and an official catch up.  I have hundreds and hundreds of e-mails to plow through over the next few days -and most likely have to deal with in some way.  I’m sure my assignments/projects will start pouring in shortly, so I will contain my excitement until the end of the week.

 It’s good to be back! Sort of..

Severed EHL Tendon- 11 Week Post Op

I've had a lot going on in the last little while with some intensive Physiotherapy.

I haven't been blogging as often as I should, however I have received many requests to continue blogging my occasional rants or perspectives.

I will do my best to represent all and thank you for reading...

Today is 11 Weeks Post Op.  I can't believe it has been almost 3 months...it's mind numbing!

I ran into a neighbour yesterday who was concerned that he hadn't seen me for months and that my car hasn't moved an inch in my parking spot. I gave him the scoop; many squeamish facial expressions were the response to my story thus far... funny how people react when you tell them you dropped a knife on your foot and severed the tendons that connect your toes and ankle...

Halloween has left the building. Santa is coming to town.

 Another Halloween has gone by, as usual much too quickly. I've watched my usual fair share of all the baddest B and C Horror movies ever made in the last month. Definitely some repeat offenders from my youth.

 Every year the Duke and Duchess of Halloween (my sister and her hubby) host a Halloween bash at their haunted mansion.  This year they took a different approach and tried to replicate the ghoulish ambience in a different venue.  As usual all must come in costume (homemade last minute costumes are frowned upon), thought and effort must be obvious.  I chose Medusa even though everyone had me pegged as doing Frankenstein himself due to my special style of walking. My date was the Joker’s-Psychotic Nurse.

Amid the crowd Little Red Riding Hood kept her Wolf on a leash- or maybe it was the other way around! Ballerinas, Boxers, Trainers, She Devils, Geisha’s, Sailors, Psychopaths, Jack Skellington and Sally etc. made their way through the crowd conversing and admiring the decor. My brother who had dressed in a full baseball player uniform had a huge set of balls tucked in the front of his pants –I say he should have worn them in the back ;)!

There were some comfy couches I could rest myself on, and I would do a walk about once in a while to stretch my rusting calves. I would recant the story of how I severed my EHL Tendon throughout the whole evening as I was a permanent fixture on the couch. Drunken followers would take their seat beside me and cuddle up to hear my preaching and I in turn would hear their confessions. I realized I was wearing the wrong costume. I should’ve come as a priest.

You learn a lot about people when they are drunk. Some things cannot be unseen or unheard.

As the night surely turned into the dawn I departed the party and realized that next year I will wear a mask to hide my identity…and have a few tricks up my sleeve as well.

Boo!

Zipperfoot in costume.

October twenty something…Post EHL Surgery

I’d just like to end the month with a few of the obvious things that I miss since I’ve had my EHL Tendon Surgery..

I’m missing:

v  Being able to go down on my hands and knees….to retrieve things that roll under the bed.

v  Downward facing dog

v  Bull-riding

v  Doing Grande-Jete’s

v  Scrubbing the bathtub

v  Running and Walking

v  High heels (getting tired of my left Converse sneaker)

v  A good morning stretch, it’s tough to stretch out your whole body and have to avoid your right leg and all associated with it.

v  Sleeping all over the bed, not just in the same 2 positions night after night..Rotisserie chicken is what my hubby is calling it.

v  Good posture

v  Driving

v  Eating anything I want and then working it off.

Happy Hallowe’en..

Regards,

Zipperfoot.

Severed EHL Tendon- 10 Week Post Op

The Zipperfoot Gimp Limp. This is how I would describe my style of walk. 10 long weeks, leaps and bounds in terms of physical transition.  I’m hoping that within the next 10 weeks I will be much closer to my goal of walking without the Gimp Limp.

Weeks 1&2: Post surgery cast and immobilization. Pain, pain killers, lethargy and sleepless nights are what make up the first 2 weeks after my surgery.  I have one appointment with the Orthopaedic Specialist post-surgery to change my cast in week 3.

Weeks 3-6:  I’ve transitioned into a full hard cast. I get a brief visual of my foot before the second cast is applied.  I hobbled around a little more during these weeks; however I was still totally dependent on my crutches. I was doing what I call the 5-10 meter marathons. I start twitching my toe slightly, giving me hope that the tendon was reconnected. I start to notice that my toe is starting to droop back down slightly which again is hopeful that I am on the right track. I have my second appointment with my Orthopaedic Specialist since the surgery. He gives the go ahead to transition to cast number 3 (The stabilizer boot) and requests that I proceed with Physiotherapy. The stabilizer boot will most likely be with me for an indefinite amount of time; it’s removable and makes life a bit easier. I start using a cane, which gives me a little more freedom than the crutches.

Weeks 7-10: Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. It is the main focus all day, every day. I visit the Clinic at least 3 times a week. I’ve made huge amounts of progress. I dropped the crutches and the cane.  We work constantly (and painfully) stretching out the EHL Tendon.  I take a one day break once a week to heal the muscle pain in my legs and foot. Inclusive in all this is the electrode, heat and ice therapy.

I plan to return to work partially in the coming weeks, albeit I will be working from home, it will be a gentle integration back into mainstream civilization. Physically I don’t think it will be happening for a long time. I’ve had some candid and “real” conversations with my physiotherapist, I’m still going to be on a heavy physio schedule for November and December. Although we have made progress, the road is still long and winding ahead.

On a side note, a yearly work tradition that I will be missing this December due to my injury, is a Slap Shot competition at the Hockey Hall of Fame that I usually participate in (and win!).  Ron Ellis gave me some sage advice about giving up my title last year.

Those who know me will understand.  ;)

Severed EHL Tendon- 9 Weeks Post Op: Healing the Hallux

Nothing to do with Harry Potter, I assure you.

Now that we have been working the ankle and the calf muscle (by know means being anywhere close to normal flexibility) it’s time to move onto the Toe. Partly psychological, partly physical, the movement of the big toe is a scary thought. I’ve managed to twitch it from time to time but to try and bend it forward- not likely.

As I mentioned previously, Jake (Physiotherapist) will bend my toe gently behind a towel. At first I was unable to stomach the visual. As my toe is being bent forward and backward (gently), I can see the EHL Tendon at the top of my foot stretching to the limits. Let me say that I do have a hard time trying to keep my lunch down. To me it is the creepiest visual. Like some horror movie special effect. I’m waiting for something to pop out. Maybe it’s because I have boney feet- not sure. It’s not pleasurable to look at or feel.

Of course, part of my home routine on a daily basis is to mimic the same toe stretches. I have to flex that toe whether I like it or not! So for the past few days amidst all the other physio chaos at home with calfs, ankles and quads; I have to bend my big toe as often as possible.

My legs feel like they’ve been hit by a truck!

If you’re a runner you may understand. Running until the muscles in your legs are screaming, now run further and further until they are rubbery and your feet begin to clumsily lose grip to the ground below. Muscle fatigue. Now get up and do it again a couple more times today.

  On the up side, it’s a sign that the muscles are working hard to gain control, even for what we take for granted as the simple act of taking a step forward.

Severed EHL Tendon- 8 Weeks Post Op

Here I am 8 weeks later. I thought I would be up and running. Well not really.

I’m in some intensive physiotherapy, really trying to work Zipperfoot and get it moving. The excitement and anticipation of the physiotherapy has worn off, it is now pure gruelling work.

My tri-daily workout consists of Ankle Isometric Exercises and this week’s new edition Knee and Hamstring strengthening. Realistically we are starting from scratch, basically in both legs.

My right leg was totally inactive, while my left leg took the brunt of all the exertion over the last 8 weeks. Unfortunately it still did not receive enough strengthening activities over the last while, so it too has fallen victim to muscle and strength loss.

The Routine:  Range of Motion for Ankle

Dorsiflexion Exercises: this consists of having a pillow rolled between both feet, one foot on top of the other to create some resistance (Injured foot on top position) and squeeze together.  Hold in this position for 10 seconds, and then relax. 10 Repeats. (3 times a day).

This should mimic some downward pressure on the bottom of the injured foot; yes it’s on a comfy pillow- Thank God!

Plantarflexion Exercises: with a rolled pillow against a wall, press ball of foot into pillow. Hold in this position for 10 seconds, and then relax. 10 Repeats. (3 times a day).

Eversion Exercises: with a rolled pillow against a wall, press outer part of foot gently into pillow and hold for 10 seconds, and then relax. 10 Repeats. (3 times a day).

Inversion Exercises: with rolled pillow between feet press inner borders of feet into pillow. Hold in this position for 10 seconds, and then relax.  10 Repeats. (3 times a day).

I also do a hamstring stretch for both legs, with a hold of 10 seconds, for 10 times on each leg. I do this as often as I can during the day.

I’ve been doing this routine for a full week with icing in between the sessions. The foot tends to swell quite a bit if I’ve worked it a bit hard. I’ve got a few degrees of voluntary motion in my right ankle now. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel; I just wish I could speed up the train a little….

The top of my foot where the scar resides is still extremely sensitive and tingly to the touch. We do heat and electro therapy prior to Jake (the physiotherapist) doing a very aggressive massage on Zipperfoot to get the tissue stimulated. Usually I have purple spots in certain areas of my foot afterwards, likely bruising of the tissue from exertion. He works my dorsiflexed big toe behind a little towel. I can’t look at him bending my toe back and forth (even ever so gently). The sweat that pours out of me is indicative of the “mental” workout I’m getting. He knows how far he can push me, and then pushes a bit farther than that just for good measure.

The good part is that I have transitioned clumsily to a cane, so I have less dependency on my crutches. I still wear the Aircast everywhere. I don’t think that is going anywhere anytime soon!

Coming soon…Vastus Medialis Oblique therapy and the dreaded Wall Squats. Time to rehab those Quads !

Physiotherapy: It's all in The Clinic

I began my first physiotherapy sessions this week. I was really nervous, as I didn’t really know what to expect. Well-- no secrets here; its pain!

I wanted to stay closer to my neighbourhood, so the first clinic I originally booked was a high profile athletic facility with private physio rooms and apparently staff that was extremely educated in their perspective field of Athletic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Yet when I inquired about how much experience in rehabilitation they had on Severed EHL Tendons, they were not that familiar with it. It is not considered a “sports injury”.  To add insult to injury they had a monstrous flight of stairs to reach their posh star studded facility on the second floor. (Can’t imagine [for example] someone with a torn ACL, navigating that staircase??!!)  I inquired with the cutesy sounding receptionist where the elevator was for us people who were unable to take the flight of stairs. Sorry no elevator. Suggestion: scooch up the stairs on my behind. Everyone else does it.

[Insert expletive!] at this suggestion and I laughed maniacally. She got the drift, and at my request suggested another homelier clinic down the street by the library.

I placed the call with my armour on. Physiotherapy is expensive, so I don’t care what the clinic looks like. The cost will be the same. I need them to work on my foot not their décor. First question I asked; do you have an elevator? Response: who wouldn’t? Pearse you are a star.

What a terrific bunch of guys and gals, and what a great job they do. They are committed to the cause; to get everyone back on track and on with their lives. Professional and motivating.

My consult: we do a quick assessment; and yes (in case anyone is wondering) Severing the EHL Tendon is extremely rare and every Physiotherapist  would love a crack at this type of rehab on a patient. It’s a physiotherapist’s dream child.  They call each other and taunt fellow clinics; guess what we’ve got?! The jewel of physiotherapy cases; a dormant but potentially fully functional foot and a tendon that has been craftily and tightly braided back together and then wrapped with special dissolving sutures all within  the complex nerve and tendon maze of the amazing extremity called the foot.  It’s all memory recall for the nerves, tissues and muscles.

I’ve been assigned a vigorous schedule of physiotherapy 3-4 times a week in the afternoons for about a month, and then we will decrease by 1 session a week and so forth. The short term objective at this time is to at least attain a short range of motion for the ankle through massage with some possible movement in the toes.  We’re simultaneously trying to rebuild the calf muscle with electrotherapy, thus contributing to muscle stimulation. It’s like putting your finger in an electrical socket, but having the shock only affect your leg.  There is a level of intensity the therapist can control based on my tolerance.  As a concentration tool, I have my stress ball in my hand, so I don’t grind down my back molars when pain points are hit. No one said it was going to be easy.

Let the games begin!

Severed EHL Tendon: 6 Week Post-Op



6 weeks have gone by. I’m on my third cast. 3 casts thus far have assisted in inching my way to recovery, with a few small casualties along the way. I will begin my physiotherapy/rehabilitation next week. An aggressive schedule of 3-4 times a week for a full month and then tapering off to once or twice a week for the months that follow. My foot has zero functionality, just painful dead weight. My calf muscle is shrunken and grotesque. My right leg is half the size of my left leg. A visual that my family refuses to register.

My baby toe on my right foot (although fully functional prior) was squished rather forcefully in an awkward position for the 6 weeks that my was foot casted. In most of the photos it may be glimpsed as piggybacked with toe number 4. It will join in the rehabilitation process.

The skin on my foot and surrounding area is so sensitive and delicate. I have some numbness at the top of my foot. My ankle does not rotate yet, (this will come with therapy). The tendon is very taught and now, more than ever I must be vigilant not to exert or damage it.  I feel squeamish every time I look at it.

I’ve put together a 6 week collage of Zipperfoot thus far.

Some may be graphic.

Droopy Toe: Pre Surgery

 

Post Surgery Cast: 2 weeks





  

Dressed for the occasion



 

Quick breather before 2nd cast is put on.



Week 4 (Swollen and squishy toes)



  





Week 5 (swollen toes)



2nd Cast Removal (Week 6)





Zipperfoot




Muscle Density Loss on Right Leg.



Zipperfoot's New Home

Good Intentions

What I have recently discovered during my very short excursions outside my house is that there are people who are always willing to help out in any way they can.

 Earlier this week as I made my way to the main lobby of our condo, I was confronted with a situation; the double door exit.  I have to push open one heavy glass door, which brings me to a small vestibule, only to have to repeat the process with another glass door to actually exit the foyer. I struggled and giggled and sweat my way through the first door, dropping a crutch, then recovering from a cartoonish arm waving loss of balance. I approach the second door and notice someone is approaching from the other side; I was already in the midst of attempting to open the second door. A young lady took it upon herself to offer me assistance by opening the door herself, however she really didn’t think it through. (I already had my hand strategically wrapped on the door handle while delicately balancing crutches and Zipperfoot to avoid mishap.) She quickly pulled open the door from her end, causing me to lose balance and careen into her; generously infringing on the personal space of a perfect stranger. My first reaction was to give her a piece of my mind at her obvious lack of foresight. However I refrained, how was she to know what the outcome would be?  She had good intentions.

On one of my Las Vegas trips a few years back I was caught in a similar situation. I was floating upwards on a mammoth 2 story escalator at one of the hotels on the Strip. Behind me was a cute elderly couple pleasantly chatting. We were literally steps from the top, when the gentleman lost his balance and began to tumble down the escalator. I quickly (taking the remaining steps 2 at a time) jetted to the top and slammed on the emergency stop.  I hurried down; by this point he had tumbled excruciatingly half way down the escalator. It was awful. His arms were skinned and he was moaning with pain. As I proceeded to assist him (with the aid of his wife), he became irate with me. He was verbally attacking me because he was halfway down a stopped escalator with no way to walk up. I was dumbfounded; I thought I was helping him by stopping the escalator; potentially saving him from a more severe injury. He viewed it as a terrible journey he was going to have to make up hill on his own without the mechanical aid of the escalator.  I actually sheepishly climbed the remainder of the escalator upwards away from him and his irate state, and did what I could only do at this point- call security. 

Any lesson I’ve learned from being on both sides of the equation; ask before you offer assistance.  If the person refuses- walk away and don’t feel any type of penitence. Sometimes pride and conscience from either side can get in the way of better judgement.

 Accepting or giving assistance graciously can sometimes be harder than anyone would like to admit.

Hanging Out

I have mentioned before what a wonderful circle of friends I have; and I’ll say it again. I have a wonderful circle of friends.

Last night I was privy to being shuttled to a dear friend’s house for a convergence of the neighbourhood mama’s.  The five of us were comforted by our gracious hostess with wine and a small banquet of delicacies.  Of course I was nervous at being seen so broken and weak, but that quickly wore off as soon as we settled. It was a “put your big girl panties on, and get over it” ambience. I loved it. What’s done is done, learn and move forward.

We conversed and light heartily debated about Vespas, the coastline of France, our responsibility as parents to our children, Ducati motorcycles, the Montessori education system and on and on..

There is nothing more beguiling than taking a page out of real life and dissecting it amongst five vast and educated opinions, throw in some shit talk and it was perfection! As I looked around the room I saw such an array of diversity and accomplishment. Each of these women is confidently grounded and intimately powerful in her own way. A no nonsense crew who is willing to step up to the plate and grasp the task at hand.

Any one of the women can command a battalion at a moment’s notice with hair and wardrobe intact.

Un toast de célébration aux femmes qui peuvent faire une différence.

Bons Amis, bonne vie!

Severed EHL Tendon- 5 Week Post-Op

I have an appointment with my Orthopaedic Specialist next week. I have placed a couple of inquiring calls over the last few days, desperate for information on what is coming up in the next few weeks.

 I am going to transition to another type of cast in the next week or so.  I’m hoping that the Aircast is the next step for Zipperfoot. The last week has been a mixture of small victories and setbacks once again. As part of the process I was attempting small steps with full pressure on my right (casted) foot.  I realize at this time that the setting of the cast may be slightly off by a few degrees; as suspected by the Orthopaedic Technician weeks ago, thus causing the weird clicking and pain in my ankle. Needless to say my foot continuously swells at any and all attempts of downward pressure.

I notice that my big toe has dropped slightly from its original upward dorsiflexed position, which is excellent progress. It means that the EHL Tendon is gently and naturally stretching out as it should. I have to be ever so cautious not to knick it and continue to keep it protected as much as possible.

Now I have an acute understanding why the original recuperation prognosis was to be immobile for 6-8 weeks. The inability for it to heal properly is much greater as pressure on the foot is applied. A good amount of healing time is required post surgery in the surrounding area of the damaged tissue and tendon.  The probability of re-injury would substantially increase with any type of walking motion, since the toes are primarily used to push off when taking a step.

My original sutures are still in and they should have fully dissolved at this point, with possibly just the ends being plucked out upon the removal of the cast. I can feel them tingling once in a while like there are pins and needles in the cast.