July 31 (6weeks 3days)

puffy ankle

removed 3rd layer

Today I concentrated  ankle exercise to reduce puffiness.

July 31 evening  no more puffiness

July 30 (6weeks 2days)

I can put feet down effortless.  No Stiffness.  (6weeks and 2days)

bottom layer removed

 3 layers

July 27 - Stitch (5weeks 6days)

 I felt a little discomfort...

You might  see a stitch in the middle.  It was under the thin skin, so I scratched until I could pinch the stitch.
Then it came out easy.

July 29 - (6weeks 1day)

July 29

July 29 - (6weeks and 1day)
Still can't touch the step stool.
Feel stiffness and pain around ankle all day.

July 26 - Phsical Therapy for post cast removal

July 26  (5weeks and 5days)
Start Physical Therapy.  My doctor did not order PT at this moment, so I searched internet for PT  post Achilles tendon surgery.  These are some of the PT.

Physical Therapy for post cast removal.

 

 

Stretch  

July 25 (5weeks and 4days)

 July 25 (5weeks and 4days)
Today my cast was removed!  Yeah!!  I am wearing a walking boot with removal soles.  Each week I will remove one layer of sole. Dr. asked me to flex my ankle, but it was stiff as a stick. I was so scared to move my ankle... Dr. told me with confidence that " It healed. Move it. But not with your weight yet.  See you in 3 weeks."
I am very happy that I can wash my right leg and take a bath, and I don't have to use crutches anymore.

new walking boot

4 layers

No crutches June 27 - July24

 June 27 - July 24

I was in shoulder pain from using crutches, so I came up with an idea not to use crutches to walk.

This is how:

Insert towel into a walking boot to make a heel

Insert towel 

Just put your leg in

...and walk

Just do not tell my doctor....

June 11 Achilles Tendon Ruptured!

It was June 11th, Saturday morning.  I was playing tennis with my teammate and her friends.  We just started the 4th game and  my right foot slipped and my racket hit my right calf muscle.  I heard a dull sound "BUN".  Next moment I could not stand or walk.  I did not realize what happened but I had a lot of pain.  I could not put weight on my right leg at all... Oho o...

The walk-in clinic doctor diagnosed an "Achilles Tendon Rupture".  It was a nightmare.  I always warm up before tennis and after.  How could this horrible thing happened me!  There is no orthopedic doctor open on  the weekend, so I had to wait until Monday.    I was just starting to improve my tennis to fit my ladies team level and the mixed doubles team (second place last spring season).  I had so much fun last season but...

The next two days were torture to me.   I searched the internet about ATR surgery and physical training,  so I can prepare myself for what is coming.

Monday morning, I got a referral from the walk-in clinic doctor to go see an orthopedic physician on the same day.  Off course, his diagnose was  "ATR".  He scheduled my surgery for the following Thursday, June 16.

The surgery was about 1 1/2 hours.  I vomited twice right after the surgery and the next morning too.  I did not feel good until the next afternoon.  Then I had a pounding pain for the next three days, especially when my right leg was down.  But I did not have to take any pain medication from the fourth day after surgery. 

Dr. (actually nurse)  removed the skin stitches 2 weeks later.  And they put a cast back on my leg.  I had to wear this cast for next 4 weeks.

stitches removed

New cast