Well actually 210 +days (How time flies?)
First duty was to do the sensor tests again. Put in my shoes. Walk 20 m up and back five times. Results- my readings from my right foot are the same as my left foot. Yippee! I can walk normally again(no limp) and i transfer the weight from my heel to the sole ( as left foot). I have no stiffness or soreness in my ankle/tendon or calf.However I am aware when walking that I don’t have the same bounce or power as my left leg. Its imperceptible sometimes. However the strength in my right leg has increased almost at tiny increments. Its much different to January.
Since January I have attended the’Foot and ankle class’ every tuesday (never miss). We are a merry bunch. A third ATR’S and the rest include fell of a pool table, motor bike accidents, jumping a gate, falling in holes. We have a laugh when new people attend. Bolts, screws and plates are a many. We often do circuit courses. For instance, trampets, wobble boards, walking with eyes closed over an uneven surface and squatting against a 45 degree board + others. A good one for the calves is to sit on a chair and put your bare feet on two bits of carpet. Then go slide forwards and backwards. Even sitting down its hard to do it for more than a minute. Gets the quads, knees and calves.
Massaging your leg (lying down) with leg in air is great for the blood supply. I have learnt a lot down there. I always had a dodgy ankle which meant my foot use to stick out a bit(lazy). Now I walk straighter. I can feel my inner ligaments adjusting.
I asked the Doctor about my progress. She said, “If you keep on track , you will be discharged in 3 months”. I still have to do the follow up questionaires at 12 and 18 months(fine).
Regarding my calf size and power. She said, “As you realise its a slow progress but you will be stronger in 9 and again in 12″. I can wait as I can do most things now. Go to the gym regular again. I can single calf raise my whole 13 stones to 2 or 3 inches and hold it there. I also can repeat the exercise many times ( no hands). My good leg is much more bouncier and stronger but why state the obvious! This game is about the ‘hard inches’ and not the ‘hard yards’. Results come slowly but every result is nearer to the 100% or previous levels, pre injury.
I’m 50% there times wise and feel over 60% power wise(hard to tell really). I wish everybody in the club perserverance, do what your body thinks it can do and most of all….patience. The repaired achilles was not built in a few months!
I have now been discharged from the Foot and Ankle class.
