IMHO: Don't Tear Your Achilles Tendon

It isn't worth it.

Really, there's almost no upside that I've been able to see so far.

Day 1: Tues, Sept 25
I tore an Achilles tendon a couple weeks ago on a work trip to the SF Bay area.
As is apparently the norm for these injuries, I was playing basketball when it happened.

Funny thing is, I had a feeling beforehand that I shouldn't play.
Didn't have my basketball shoes or ankle braces that I'd normally wear, and it just didn't feel right.

Well, ten minutes into the game, I was playing well and then, when going after a rebound, I suddenly felt like someone had kicked me in the Achilles as hard as they could. Searing pain and an inability to put any pressure on the ball of my foot were what got me worried immediately about a ruptured Achilles, but I hoped it was just a really bad sprained ankle. I really, really, really hoped.

On the night of the injury;
yes, that's a McDonalds to-go bag filled with ice.

Day 2: Wed, Sept 26
The leg continued to hurt like crazy the next day, and I couldn't walk very well on it. However, since we were on the business trip, we still went to the client site and I just hobbled around.

Hobbling through the airport was not too fun, but I was happy to be getting home where I could rest easier and get it checked by a doctor if it didn't feel better after a few days.

Next evening, back in SLC

Day 3: Thurs, Sept 27
My family had a few Bledsoe boots laying around from high school injuries, so I used one of those to be able to get around and function semi-normally. Driving my car was impossible, since it's a manual transmission, but my dad was kind enough to lend me his auto transmission car for a little while.

Day 7: Mon, Oct 1
Unfortunately, my walking ability hadn't improved after a week of that, so I figured it was time to visit an orthopedic specialist.

The docs at TOSH were booked through November, but they referred me their colleague, Dr Spencer Richards, at Intermountain Healthcare's Sports Medicine Specialists Group up in Bountiful, UT.

Fortunately, he could fit me in for an appointment the next day.

Day 8: Tues, Oct 2
Dr Richards was very friendly and easy to talk with, and he used an ultrasound to see clearly that my Achilles tendon had fully ruptured.

Let's just say the big black gap in the middle is a bad thing

Since Dr Richards doesn't do too many reconstruction operations, he referred me to Dr Troy Gorman at LDS Hospital, who has lots of experience and could probably fit me into the operating schedule soon.

Day 9: Wed, Oct 3
Wearing my Bledsoe boot, I hobbled into Dr Gorman's office, and he was able to quickly agree with Dr Richards' conclusion. Just to be sure no bone fragment had been ripped from my heel when the tendon tore, he took some xrays of my ankle. Thankfully, my heel was perfectly intact.

Things seemed to be moving very quickly at this point, and Dr Gorman said he could fit me in for surgery the next day. Yikes. I was a little nervous, but I knew it needed to be done and that I'd rather do it sooner than later, so he added me to the operating schedule and I spread the word to family, friends, and work.

Day 10: Thurs, Oct 4
My mom gave me a ride to LDS hospital bright and early. I checked in, filled out the necessary paper work, and got into this super awesome patient get-up. One nicety is that they let you wear your own underoos plus those pants, so your derriere isn't open to the world in the back of the smock. It's all about the small victories, right?

I kept the other sock, too, so I'd have a matching pair after.

As for pain management during the operation, they used both a nerve blocker and a general anesthetic, so I didn't feel anything and I couldn't even move my leg to cause any complications. I'm glad they did, because it would have been weird to be awake for the 1-1.5 hr surgery.

I don't like needles, but this one was absolutely necessary.

Afterwards, I was in the post-anesthesia room for a bit, and then my mom and I got to hang out in a private recovery room for maybe 30-45 mins. When I felt ready, they wheeled me down to the front doors, put me in the car, and let my mom take me home.

Yes, I was groggy at this point, but aware enough to ask my mom to take a picture haha

I know I've still got a lot of healing and then rehab ahead, but I'm glad to be on my way to recovery. And I'm grateful to all who have helped so far as well as those who will help in the future.

You can bet there will be updates and further posts in this 4-6 month long road to full health.