Last Thursday I blew out my achilles tendon (complete rupture) playing racquetball.  Surgery set for Monday, followed by 8 weeks of immobility, then months of PT.  

In the blink of an eye, two canoe trips cancelled.  Just glad I got my "big" trip earlier this month.

Anyone have experience with this injury?  Thoughts, advice, perspective are welcome.  

prouboy

I've never had achilles problems myself (knock on wood) but it's something that plagues a lot of runners (not usually complete rupture though).

Check out running sources for more info. Tim Noakes (MD) "Lore of Running" has 7 pages on the topic, including a discussion of the surgery you're about to undergo. Success rate for the surgery is quite high, but rehab takes a l-o-o-o-o-ng time. You already know that.

Good luck!

My trip partner blew out his Achilles playing flag football. His first surgery was an attempt to repair the Achilles, the surgery did not hold and he re-injured the tendon 3  months later. He then had a second surgery where the removed a tendon from his foot.

That said he was planning on going on a trip 6 months after the 1rst surgery, until he re-injured the tendon. There was nothing to indicate that he was not going to be able to go. With injury he backed out. He had the second surgery in September and he did go on the trip the next year (In late August).

He took it slow and carried a ski pole, but never used it. By the end of the trip he even carried the canoe and a pack on a couple of portages. (We single portage) The only other change he made is switching to a hiking boot, from a wet shoe.

My buddy was 32 at the time of his injury,

Thanks Chicken.  

I'm 58, in good shape, but will still probably heal slower than a 30-something.  But your message is good -- take it slowly.  That'll be tough, but I'll do whatever it takes.  I'm working toward June, '12, and my next QP 12 day trip.

prouboy

Sorry to hear of your injury, Mike.  Prayers as you have surgery and begin PT.

We'll be thinking of you and awaiting an update.

Thanks Lynda.  First surgery for me, ever.  But I'm set on thinking about next paddle season, motivation to do whatever needs doing to get back.  Feel like someone just stole 3 months of my life.  Damn.

prouboy

Sorry to hear about the injury, Mike. One of my tripping partners just had the same injury--playing racquetball--and had to cancel this year.

I have a tendonosis in one of my Achilles, and I have to be constantly aware of what I'm doing to make sure I don't have further injury. It's a pain indeed.

Best  wishes in getting back out there.

Thanks much MuleLars.  

[smiley=thumbdown.gif] [smiley=thumbdown.gif] [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

Sorry to hear the news, Mike.  I know if that ever happened to me I'd be devastated, as I'm sure you are.  I'll pray not only for the docs to fix you up right but also for you to keep a positive spirit throughout the rehab.

Aw that sucks.  Any chance you can do something after the 8 weeks immobile?  Stuff without portages & with a good buddy to do the heavy lifting.

Sorry to hear about your injury.  Here's hoping for successful surgery and easy rehab.  

Hang in there.  My paddling partner had knee replacement surgery this off season.  After hobbling over lots of portages the last couple of seasons, it looks like he is fixed up and ready to go this year!  So, stay with it.  I'm sure you'll be rarin' to go by next season (and it will be all the sweeter after a little layoff).

dd

My buddy tore his achilles 7 months ago while playing in a men's baseball league.  We completed our 8 day trip a week and a half ago.  Care was taken when planning our route to avoid the more strenuous portages.  He was dilligent with the PT and used our recent trip as a motivator through the rehab process.

FWIW, he's 29.

Very sorry about your injury and missed trips.
Having never had surgery of any kind I can understand your apprehension.
Patience, especially in a situation like this, really is a virtue.

I have Achilles Tendinitis in both feet that require constant vigilance to keep from getting worse. My weekend shift job, 3 -12 hour days on concrete floors doesn't help one little bit.

I'm hoping I can avoid a partial/complete tear long enough to have the time to let them heal-up properly.

Here's hoping your back doing what you love, sooner rather than later [smiley=thumbup.gif]

I'm lying on my couch, post-surgery, in drug-induced tranquility.

Mostly I feel a great sense of relief!  The surgery went off as planned: no complications or unpleasant surprises.  Now the healing/PT begins.

Thanks to everyone for your kind well-wishes.  MUCH appreciated.  

I look forward to keeping in touch with this virtual community, and to getting back to god's country next June.

prouboy

Puckster wrote on Jun 28^th, 2011 at 12:02am:

Mostly I feel a great sense of relief!  The surgery went off as planned: no complications or unpleasant surprises.  Now the healing/PT begins.

Great news. Now the fun begins. Keep your focus on the endgame and easy does it. Just consider it a long winter break where reviewing old posts, planning and studying maps gets you through. Here's to a full recovery.

J

I'M BACK and vertical...

... and raring to get in a canoe.  How can a 59 year-old man feel so excited?  Crazy. 

After losing a summer (I actually snapped my achilles tendon two weeks after returning from my only trip last year -- 10-days into the northern QP) I'm planning on multiple trips this spring/summer/fall.  I learned (like I suppose we all do eventually) that life is short and can change in the blink of an eye. 

The surgeon said my recovery from surgery is ahead of schedule.  My achilles tendon still feels a bit stiff and the back of my ankle looks thick.  But I'm practically pain-free and good to go. 

I'm retired from racquetball.  Gave all my gear away. 

prouboy

---

Congrats, slow down and smell the coffee as you are now becoming a "senior".  Better to be in the game and slow, then broken and on the sidelines.  Your fast days were in the past, let 'em go!

Couldn't resist the jab.  Here's to a fantastic upcoming tripping year!

Thanks Wally.  I like your strategy. 

prouboy

Congrats on your fast recovery.
Now that your officially a "senior" tripper, you can really enjoy the ride.
Nothing to prove, just go with the flow and work smarter not harder 8-)

Not sure I like this "senior-tripper" tag, but what the hell, I'll try to live the advice about going slow -- although it's not my nature.  I'll need to be reminded from time to time!

prouboy

Quote:

I'll try to live the advice about going slow -- although it's not my nature.

Don't confuse taking time to smell the coffee with going slow all the time.
You trip smart, you know when to push and when to back off and take that camp day.

I'm guessing your going to probably always have some stiffness in that Achilles tendon.
I know with my tendinitis sitting for a long time in a chair or a canoe seat, tightens it up.

Being smarter now, I stretch it out before jumping out of a chair or before I hoist a pack.
A few minutes of loosening up is far better than tearing off like a kid and re-injuring yourself and ruining your trip and someone else's too.

I see people fighting wind/waves/rain while I'm snug and warm under my tarp with a fire going and a hot coffee in my hand.
They disappear from sight and I wonder how far ahead of me their effort got them?
I'm usually on the water by 7 am travel days and 90% of the time in a couple of hours I'll pass them at their campsite where they're drying out wet gear or so beat up they need a camp day on what should be a beautiful travel day.

That's what I call Senior/Smart tripping. Using your brain and not just your back.

ST -- well stated! 

I look forward to once again, sitting under a tarp, next to a fire, coffee in hand, looking out. 

prouboy

Don't worry too much about acting younger than your body...your body will win, and tell you so when the time is right...like yesterday....

Impressive scar!  I have one like that a little to the side when I tore my peroneal tendon about 30 years ago in college, first trying to mimic an all-pro cornerback and then stupidly trying to impress a cute girl as an all-Amernican point guard....still feels weird to rub the area and feel...well...nothing...

But at least I can still paddle and portage and catch some fish.... :)

Interesting that you lack feeling on part of your ankle.  The top outside portion of my foot is still numb, and the surgeon seemed surprised when I told her.  I think the initial cast was too tight and may have caused some damage, but there might also have been some nerve damage during the surgery.  She said it will take a long time, but the feeling should come back.  Hmm, your surgery was 20+ years ago?  I wasn't thinking THAT long!

prouboy

My scars from my ankle surgery have little to no feeling in the actual scar area.  One was 5 years ago and the other was 2 years ago.

Dang, that is a nasty scar!  I'm glad to hear you're back in the game & planning trips.  I'm very aware of my internal mental use of future trips as motivation to stay in shape...or at least not too out of shape.   ;)

Good luck this year & we'll look forward to trip reports!

-Tom

Mk631 wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2012 at 9:15pm:

I'm very aware of my internal mental use of future trips as motivation

Hey Tom, at risk diverging this thread to another topic, your phrase quoted above makes me think how my internal thoughts about the QP have caused me to be extremely cautious when it comes to alcohol and driving.  It's to the point that I won't drive if I have more than 1 drink.  It's just not worth jeopardizing entry into god's country. 

prouboy

Quote:

It's to the point that I won't drive if I have more than 1 drink.  It's just not worth jeopardizing entry into god's country.

Or maybe expediting it ;)

solotripper wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2012 at 10:57pm:

Quote: It's to the point that I won't drive if I have more than 1 drink.  It's just not worth jeopardizing entry into god's country. Or maybe expediting it ;)

Well put S_T!


prouboy

I'm 71, and after a lot of backpacking had to give it up (weak disk, muscles not as strong, not as much endurance).  But last year my sons took me on a Q trip for a week. And now, inspired by a trip report thread going on at the same time (Thread started by Solus, "October 2010 solo" or something close to that title) I'm thinking of a fall solo this year, if I can hold onto some vacation time from work (paddling some western canyons also beckons).  Anyhow, I can state definitively, you are not yet a senior paddler.  No law against a youngster like you using some wisdom about where you place that foot of yours on a portage and how much you carry.  Congrats on your recovery; you and the others here inspire me.

Hey Mountain_Paddler, the guy who introduced me to the QP is 71 as well.  He and I have been tripping in Canada each year for the last 20 years, and we will be going again this year on a 10 day trip this year, looping through the northern part of the QP.  I hope to be able to be doing this, and still have the "fire in my belly" when I'm your and his age.  YOU two inspire ME!!

prouboy