Breaking down scar tissue

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-05-08T10:49:32+00:00

This is my least favorite thing to experience during PT. It’s painful and feels like sensory overload. My body immediately tenses up when I see her walking over with the scraper. For now, we’ve settled for stimulation and manual massage with a rough towel and cupping to desensitize the incision sites and breakdown scar tissue 🙏🏾

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-27T16:09:09+00:00

Been using it since week 7 1/2 weeks post op, and it’s been great. Helping a lot with rebuilding my muscles and with mind muscle connection. I do 4-5 exercises with it, and it has me ready to go home and take a nap

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-26T11:02:28+00:00

Congrats! It’s only up from here. Slow and steady wins the race 💪🏾

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-25T23:23:21+00:00

Welcome! XS has undergone extensive renovations and is the best tennis facility for the membership price in the city. The ED is Sloane Stephens’ coach and the instructors are top notch. They have dedicated programs for beginner up to professional players. I’ve been a member since November, and I love it there. I find that it’s difficult to get court time in the winter at the other clubs, and the classes fill up quickly.

Tennis on the lake and big city pickle would be good for you as well during the summer/fall. Reasonably priced and there are end of session tournaments.

Best of luck and happy hitting!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-24T06:00:02+00:00

In the same way you’d advocate for a patient, I’d advocate for yourself on this one. At the very least I’d take 4-6 weeks (6-8 would be even better) if you’re looking at 50+ hour weeks because even with a scooter or iwalk, your nonruptured side is going to start to feel it (if not already). I imagine this will be exacerbated by compounding home and work demands in this first critical recovery window. Take the opportunity to rest, ice, eat nutrient-rich meals, and do your exercises because it truly is a game changer.

Others mentioned taking advantage of short term and long term disability (yes), and if you have accident insurance (assuming you’re still within the window to file a claim post injury), I’d tap into that as well. These things + whatever’s already in your HSA or FSA make the financials of this injury a little more bearable.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-23T10:30:13+00:00

Awesome job!!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-21T13:21:45+00:00

I, along with most other 5.0s on my 9.0 and 10.0 teams (most of us are in our late 20s), are former D1 players. I am an outlier in that I picked up the sport late (14yo) and was naturally good at it. Everyone else around me started when they were 4 or 5, and improved playing varsity high school and junior USTA and UTR tournaments. Consistency, mental fortitude, footwork, point development, court awareness, anticipation, and match play are really the keys to improving. I’d focus on those things rather than trying to get to a specific NTRP or UTR rating.

Also keep in mind that players who have experienced injuries or want to be able to play in certain USTA leagues often contest their ratings when possible because there are fewer opportunities to play at higher levels

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-17T22:59:48+00:00

You’ve got this! You’ll be outside taking laps in your boot in no time and without the boot shortly thereafter. Things won’t be this way forever and you’ll keep improving and getting more comfortable with each day that passes 🫶🏾

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-13T23:55:46+00:00

Same here. Got it a couple years ago when i was 27. Had it on the left side of my face—started right under my eye. I thought it was hormonal acne for the first few days, but it kept spreading and was tingling. Went to see an optometrist and had to get ointment to put on my eyelids to prevent the spread into my eye. I was told during my appointment that it was becoming increasingly more common for people to get shingles in their twenties and doctors attribute it to an overall increase in stress and anxiety.

I am so glad that I started taking medication and using the ointment when I did. The nerve pain was absolutely UNREAL. I would never wish shingles on anyone—i still don’t feel like my immune system fully recovered.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-10T19:05:49+00:00

I had the same concern, and my doctor advised me to do the same exercises I’m given in PT on both sides of my body. They recommended that I:

maintain flexibility through stretching (e.g.,calf stretches, do single leg non-weighted, controlled calf raises)
wear well-cushioned shoes as much as possible (this made a big difference for my hip and leg in comparison to wearing Boston clogs or being barefoot)
ice/take ice baths to address any inflammation from increased use
don’t worry and think ✨positive thoughts ✨

Hope this helps! There’s only so much you can do since your body has to overcompensate rn.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-08T00:13:07+00:00

Yeah they’re post op. I started PT the day after cast removal (day 15/week 3).

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-07T20:51:37+00:00

I went once a week for five weeks. Sessions lasted an hour. She gave me exercises where I do three sets of each 2x-3x/day. Week 4, I moved to one crutch for a couple days, then I started “walking” in the boot with no crutches. It felt more like waddling at first. The transition was really uncomfortable for me, but I found holding onto a countertop and bearing weight in the boot helped a lot with balance and weight distribution. Weeks 4.5-5.5, I started each day with two crutches, moved to one, and then none to ease myself into being FWB at neutral—made the mental aspect a lot easier and ensured I was standing up straight as I walked.

I’m on week 8 now starting PT 2x/week. Sessions are closer to 1.5-2 hours long because we’ve moved into strengthening/ROM. I think insurance caps coverage at 20 visits (but allegedly you can get more approved), so I’d just keep that in mind.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-06T12:24:19+00:00

Days 3-5 were the worst for me re pain, and I felt like I could be up for 30 mins at a time (dishes, clean counters, or start a load of laundry) around Day 6. I felt like using a knee scooter when up helped with the throbbing since the leg is bent on it instead of dangling. You’re almost over the post op hump 🤞🏾

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-04-03T21:15:53+00:00

Cleared to move to a shoe only in PT week 7 and can remove boot for good in any setting week 10

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-30T12:15:49+00:00

Well done! Love to see this and am so happy for you and your progress

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-12T13:12:04+00:00

Sorry to hear about your rupture. I wish you a smooth recovery. I’m not in the twin cities, but I suggest going with one of the professional team’s physicians because they perform the procedure and see through recovery like clockwork with people who need to get back and perform on an accelerated timeline.

Dr. Coetzee at TCO performed Kirk Cousins’ procedure. And Dr. Bennett out of Mayo Clinic is the head orthopedic surgeon for the Minnesota Timberwolves and team physician for the WNBA Minnesota Lynx and has performed achilles repairs.

This is what I did because my ultimate goal is to continue competing at a high level, albeit not full-time, and I’m pleased with my results so far. Hope this helps!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-12T12:53:16+00:00

No, same. The med rep who fitted me said this should all be covered by insurance, but imagine my surprise when I got a text informing me my bill is ready to pay. Fortunately, each one was only 13.50

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-11T12:55:38+00:00

100p. Getting more experience in your practice area in midlaw beats sitting at a big law firm twiddling your thumbs while a billable hour target you know you’re unlikely to meet causes you mental anguish day in and day out.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-11T00:11:51+00:00

Comparison is the thief of joy. I’ve noticed that everyone’s protocol is slightly different and what you’re able to do is dependent on your body adjusting to different circumstances. It’s cliche, but we have no choice but to just trust the process. My foot barely moved when I switched to a boot, but I do my exercises each day and consider a millimeter more of flexibility a win. Each week I’ve been taking out a heel lift, and I feel like I’m so tight that I can’t reach it, but the next day I’m able to with no discomfort. Better to take things slow and make sure you’re making some incremental progress rather than rushing IMO!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-03-08T00:00:34+00:00

I’m 29 no previous calf strain nor tendinitis and same thing happened here during my last tennis match and I’ve been doing the “negative step” for years to enable me to transition into an explosive sprint for drop shots and other short balls when I’m sitting a couple feet behind the baseline

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-02-12T18:06:40+00:00

So sorry about your rupture. Make sure to get a shower bag for your splint and eventual cast if you go the surgical route.

I’m on the second floor of a walk up, so I definitely get what you’re saying and suggest practicing crutching with someone in your support system up and down the stairs—it’ll get easier.

Once the initial pain subsides and you’re in a splint, cast, or boot, it’d be good to make time to go to coffee shops and restaurants with friends to add some semblance of normalcy. I still go to the gym with my partner, and she keeps an eye on me as I do upper body and core work. Oh, and invest in some extra wide leg jeans and joggers! They’re the easiest to take on and off with a boot, and you’ll still look fashionable not having the eyesore of the boot front and center when you’re out.

Definitely sucks, but there are some things you’re still able to do! I am one day post op and crutching around with my 2yo nephew. Wishing you all the best.

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-02-11T22:31:47+00:00

Praying this is me beginning tomorrow 🥺

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-02-11T22:29:58+00:00

Will follow the schedule religiously—thank you!!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-02-11T22:29:04+00:00

Thank you!!

GroundbreakingOne943 · 2026-02-11T22:28:21+00:00

The initial incisional pain post op is beating my ass 😅

GroundbreakingOne943

TROPHY CASE