A year ago, I decided to be brave and hike Mount Katahdin (see above). It is a huge mountain in northern Maine in Baxter State Park. I didn't think I would be able to do it and multiple times wanted to turn around. Right when I was almost to the top of that hellish mountain, above tree-line with the summit in view, I was pulling myself up over a rock and heard and felt a memorable pop in my ankle. I immediately sat down and started yelling for my husband. I took off my boot to make sure no bones were popping out, wrapped my ankle in my bandana, and put my boot back on and tied it as tight as it would go. When I got up and tried to walk on it it kept popping. So I had to slide down the entire mountain on my rear. After crying and cursing my way down the mountain, with my husband having to catch me in the steeper areas, I made it down. I had a giant hole in the butt of my pants (of course I chose pink underwear that day) and my hands were bruised and scuffed up, but I made it down.
I swore I would never hiked that mountain again. This weekend, a year after the initial injury, we drove up to Baxter and my husband hiked up Katahdin, but I chose to take a more leisurely hike. But still I was able to hike! There were hills and uneven surfaces and even exposed roots I had to navigate around, but I did fine. It was a great feeling! Being able to be outdoors again and go places you can only get to by hiking in is a wonderful experience. I am grateful for that and happy to be doing so well. Maybe in a year or two when I have a little more confidence in my ankle, I will hike to the top of Katahdin! Never say never right?
That has to be a good feeling to go back and conquer what caused the injury. I know for me, I can't wait to have my surgery and make it back to the basketball court.
ReplyDeleteAny feed back on your return?
DeleteGlad to hear that things are going well. I am curious why you waited from Oct 2009 until June 2010 to have surgery. Probably conservative treatment hoping for healing. I am in a cast now hoping to heal without surgery and was wondering how long to wait. Congratulations...Charlie
ReplyDeleteThats a good question. Basically, I wasn't diagnosed with subluxing peroneal tendons until March 2010. From October until March I was in denial and hoping that it was just a bad sprain. Then I realized something was definitely wrong and knew surgery was probably going to be the only thing, so that kept me from the doctors for awhile. Crutches in the winter here in Maine didn't sound too appealing. Then by the time I went to a doctor in March, had to wait two weeks to be referred to a podiatrist, then had to wait until May to see the specialist. My sister got married in early June, so I wanted to wait for that to be over with. Good luck with the healing!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your inspiring blog. I just had the surgery 3 days ago.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you ever check this blog anymore, but I found it very helpful. I also just started a blog to sort of deal with the everything I am going through with this injury. Its so hard to find information about it, but once you start digging, you find so many people in the same boat. So, I want others to benefit from my experience as well. I will be posting on my blog as I go through the process of finding a surgeon. I would like to create a forum for people to post their experiences. I find the threads to be helpful, but they get confusing as more and more people contribute and share their experiences and respond back and forth- its easy to lose a thread and know the outcomes of the surgery. That is my biggest interest. How successful is the surgery for very active people who want to get back to running, hiking, playing tennis and skiing. Is this a pipe dream?
ReplyDeleteHolly I have found that surgery has been very successful for myself. I have been able to do just about everything. I have been xc skiing a lot this winter and have had no issues with my ankle. My biggest suggestion is to find a surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle surgeries, it will make a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteHi erin,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for responding to my post. I don't know if you will check this again, but I am now wondering if it is better to go to an orthopedic surgeon or a podiatrist- if anyone else reads this I would be interested to know people's experiences.
Thanks,
Holly
Hi Holly,
ReplyDeleteMy podiatrist referred me to an orthopedic surgeon who specialized in foot and ankle surgeries.
Thank you Thank you for this blog. I hope you still read your comments. I am going to have this surgery done early April 2013...I am NOT in the mood for it, but was spirited by reading your blog. I blogged about my fusion back surgery a couple of years ago and it was a stress relief for me. I am so glad to read your blog and hope my surgery turns out as well as yours. I, too, understand about the lack of independence following this type of injury/surgery and take relief in knowing there are others out there like me. I hope you are doing well and I thank you for this oasis amongst all the clinical sites that don't give the REAL experience.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog, hun. I just had surgery May 16, 2013, nine days ago. The re-swelling scared me today. I accidentally put my "bad" ankle down. Whoops. Won't do that again. I need to be much more careful when getting around. I searched for info on the internet and found your blog. Thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts out for others to read. It is much appreciated. signed, Art in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your blogging about your peroneal tendon surgery. I found it extremely helpful! After 7 years of being misdiagnosed with terrible foot/ankle pain and swelling, I finally went to get a second opinion @ Mayo Clinic. An MRI revealed that both of my tendons were torn. I had reconstruction surgery on July 9th. I had a nonweight bearing cast for 3 weeks and last week got a walking cast. I don't have any pain when bearing weight on my foot at this point. I will be in this cast for another 3 weeks. I am so hopeful that I will be able to walk as well as you did after your recovery! Thanks again for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteAfter seven months of non-healing, my doctor has recommended surgery to repair a torn parental tendon. The thought of months of recovery is mind-boggling and I have desperately been seeking someone to shed some light on the subject.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is insightful and truthful and just what I needed. There are quite a few things I hadn't thought of (a backpack for around the house...brilliant!) and you've got some great sanity-saving tips, too. Like you, I'm an avid hiker and I've wondered if my feet will ever see the insides of a pair of hiking boots ever again. Now I know there is hope!
It won't be easy, and it certainly won't be pretty, but it IS possible to fully recover. Thank you for the insight!
Erin (no joke...that's my name)
San Antonio, TX
Erin,
ReplyDeleteAre you still on this blog to respond if I have any questions. I'm having surgery September.
Thanks
Yes 62comet! Feel free to ask any questions!
DeleteI really like your post so much.. Thank you for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteFailed Back Surgery
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