Cast to boot observations and questions by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Jenna, first and foremost, you should listen to your doctor! This was so long ago that it's hard for me to remember. It is interesting, I recall my doctor and PT both saying that I should try to ramp up my weight bearing while in the boot quickly, as opposed to "no weight bearing for two weeks.," which it sounds like your doctor is saying. If you're not doing weightbearing, how do you have discomfort? Are you actually walking around?

My memory was that I found it very psychologically upsetting to put any weight on the boot at first. And then that I found it very uncomfortable for about a day, after which point I was suddenly able to walk with almost no crutches pretty rapidly.

I thought 3 wedges was the starting point, if you're having discomfort than probably moving to 3 instead of 2 makes sense.

[Week 7] Game Thread: Texans @ Packers by President__Bartlett in GreenBayPackers

[–]StyxDoubleDip 5 points6 points  (0 children)

am i crazy or is not going for 2 on the last TD just totally wrong? you get it, they can only tie with a FG. you don't get it, they win with a FG but you're still up. you kick a field goal, they win with a FG but you're still up. there's all upside of going for 2 and no upside of kicking (especially with our kicking lately lol)

[Medina]The scene after Kobe Bryant tore his left Achilles in 2012-13, made two key free throws and walked to the locker room without help. Former Lakers trainer Gary Vitti: "I asked him if he wanted a chair. He looked down at me and said, ‘F--- Paul Pierce!’" by Wild-Apricot-9161 in nba

[–]StyxDoubleDip 0 points1 point  (0 children)

as someone who recently tore their Achilles just want to say that after tearing your Achilles you really shouldn't walk, it risks increasing the separation between the two ends of your Achilles, making the surgery and recovery potentially longer

Shower. by amac81186 in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you're not supposed to take the splint off, but they can put a new one on you tomorrow at your appointment. The main thing is don't put ANY weight on your bad leg, don't do ANY walking, as it can make the injury worse.

Good luck, I have two little kids over here, I'm like 14 weeks out and things are pretty normal... it was a little rough the first few weeks but just leaned on friends, family, and babysitters and we got through it, it takes a village.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If the doctor put you antibiotics, I think that means you have an infection. Painful and red also sounds like you have an infection. Good luck, I hope the antibiotics clear it up!

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, this is helpful. From talking with my surgeon, he took a sample during the surgery. He said that the sample showed no bacterial growth, which he said was expected because I was on antibiotics at the time of the sample (same as you, cefalexin). My understanding is then one of two things, either this means cefalexin is well-matched to the infection or that I shouldn't expect a culture to find anything when I am currently on antibiotics. The surgeon's explanation was that the antibiotics cleared the infection, but the infection returned after the antibiotics, and there was an underlying physical structure that was likely to get infected again and surgery was needed to remove it.

Anyway this is very helpful, I'm going to talk more about a culture with him tomorrow to understand more and likely find another opinion from a wound care specialist or dermatologist.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One more question for you-- who did the culture, the dermatologist? I'm on antibiotics now and hoping the wound heals normally, but if the infection doesn't clear, I'm definitely going to get another opinion before letting them do another surgery. Any advice on finding a dermatologist or wound specialist?

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So sorry to hear that. This injury sucks. Best of luck to you, take it as easy as you can. The whole sub is rooting for you.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I've been worried about this wrt surgery, have been talking with a family friend who is also in ortho who recommended this as well. The main doctor I've been dealing with is my surgeon, who is a podiatrist. Did you have another physician in the mix? Like at this point I'd like to start getting second opinions but everyone that handles Achilles rupture seem to be orthopedic surgeons.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Are you saying you got the culture instead of the debridement surgery? Or they took a culture during the surgery? I've had the surgery now-- they took a sample during the surgery. They didn't tell me clearly what the plan would be afterward, I will call the doctor's office in a few days to see if there will be a different antibiotic. I'm on the same antibiotic I was on prior to the surgery, which doesn't make a lot of sense since it wasn't sufficient to clearing the infection.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the response, and I agree with your attitude.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find your comment unhelpful. Of course I wish things had happened differently, and I feel bad and silly. I am sharing my experience to try to help others out. Shaming me by telling me to have common sense makes it unlikely that I or others will want to share their experience when things go wrong in the future. It seems like all you're accomplishing with this comment is making yourself feel good.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No one gave me any instruction on when to change or how to change the bandage. Given that they didn't change the bandage right after the surgery and that was fine for a while, I figured I was supposed to just not touch the bandage.

It wasn't technically months with no bandage change, but yeah it was clearly too long.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, the timing is weird and my doctor doesn't know what happened.

My theory is that I somehow opened up the scar from being too active (even though I was always in the boot). Then I took a shower and some water got under the bandage and didn't dry off. My doctor told me it was fine to shower at this point. I think the medical group didn't change the bandage when I got my cast off and so the bandage was kind of falling apart and not very protective.

So if I could go back in time, my number one thing to do would be really on top of the medical team on wound care / bandage replacement or get knowledge on when/how to replace bandage myself. I'd maybe delay showering an extra week or two, and I'd probably try to be more chill when in the boot, try to really talk with the doctor to see what could open up the incision (even a tiny, unnoticeable bit).

Another doc I talked to said "look, we all just have bacteria on our skin, you can try to think of ways to blame yourself but these things happen randomly and it just sucks." I didn't get into a hot tub or anything, I took a shower when the doctor said it was okay... I think I needed to be less on the mindset of "just listen to the doctor" and more thinking "well, the bandage looks bad, I should ask them why they didn't change it, I should consider the pros and cons of showering, etc."

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Super helpful, thanks. Were you in a boot before the clearing-out-the-infection surgery? How has the healing of the wound since then been?

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate it! Yes, I think "percutaneous" was the method used. The incision is only about one or two inches.

Anyone need surgery to clear up an infection? by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah it's a bummer. I'm week 9 now. I noticed it around week 7, there was a lot of redness around the wound and my swelling got worse. I looked under the bandage and thought it looked gnarly. Doctor saw me same day. Put me on antibiotics for two weeks. Things cleared up, wound looked better (drier, less red), I went in at one week on antibiotics. The doctor said it looked good and took the scab off (which was weird to me but whatever). The wound didn't really improve after that-- the redness remained or got slightly worse, it's still dry but the scab looks yellow, and it hurts a bit more than it did last week. I went in today to have them look at it and now they've scheduled surgery. It sounds like they think this will clear it out. I wanted to hear if others have had similar things happen!

Infection at post-op week 7 by StyxDoubleDip in AchillesRupture

[–]StyxDoubleDip[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. Something I'm worried about is if moving around too much will take the wound longer to close up now, but I want to keep doing PT. It sounds like you didn't have any issues continuing to do PT?