Posterior Tibial Tendon Tear - Foot Problems Message Board

njvj · 01-04-2008, 10:07 AM

I apologize if this duplicates other questions but I am clueless.I hurt my foot in September and basically ignorned it because it wasn't too bad. It just bothered me to exercise and I have a little limp. My dad noticed over Christmas ( he's a doctor) and he thought it was a torn tendon. So, I went to the doc and the MRI says a complex partial tear of the posterial tibial tendon with some ancillary problems.The orthopod has set an appointment for me with a surgeon in two weeks.
I am freaking out for a multitude of reasons. My BF dumped me 6 weeks ago the day before my 40th bday and I have been seriously depressed since then so I don't look forward to being trapped at home and totally dependent upon my friends. So, if you will indulge me, I have a few questions
1. I work a lot and I travel a lot- how will this affect it?Most of my travel is air and some is international. How much time will I actually be totally out of commission? How long before I can fly?
2. What level of handicap adjustment will I need to make to my house? It is one story but I have step in tubs and a few stairs to get in and out of the house.
3. How long will I need crutches? I am notoriously uncoordinated- my nickname at work is stumbelina. Are any crutches better than others?
4. Are there any exercises that I can do to help get stronger for crutches?
5. Can I do any cardio exercises? I have already gained 20 pounds since this happened and as you can imagine, it's not helping the depression. I really don't want to gain any more weight.
All of this may be a little hysteria. I haven't even seen the surgeon but the orthopod said that he saw no resolution that wasn't surgical ( I am wearing the boot now).

Thanks in advance. I am really type A and as you can tell, I don't deal too well with the unknown.

Thank you

)

cece22 · 01-04-2008, 12:13 PM

njvj,
Another "sufferer" and I are sharing some info about this on another thread.
There are some other threads that provide extensive personal experiences about this disorder and the surgery. I went to the church medical equipment rental place today and got several pieces of equipment. The essential one would seem to be the walker with a knee platform attached. I have practiced and this seems workable, but I don't have the pain factor to add just yet. It may not be so easy with a cast. My surgery will be near the end of January. I have crutches and a wheelchair as well. A potty chair by the bed may be essential for a day or two unless someone is going to be there on a regular basis.
I am so sorry about your physical loss and about your B/F as well. (Mine will be effectually absent during my surgery since it will not be "about him," but I am used to that.) I have put aside a lot of things to do while "down." I have a tendency to see the glass "half-empty," but per an article that I read recently, I have been trying to find at least one exquisite moment in each day. There are usually several, I'm glad to say. Sometimes it has been in a piece of cake (not the best place to find it!),and yours today can be in the fact that you have youth and "miles to go before you sleep." Some of us are on down the road. The best to you. CeCe

mazzie46 · 01-04-2008, 02:07 PM

Hi Njvj

Sorry to hear about your bad time at the mo. I had the whole flat foot surgery in June last year which meant tendon repair and heel shift ( where they cut part of your heel off ad re-align it, yuk) Plus i had lost a lot of cartilage from my ankle bone...just to top it off.

As Cece said, there are loads of great threads on here about pttd etc. Please try and find the old ones as they have all the info you need...pages and pages of it!! All the questions you have asked will be answered on these threads and by lots of different people, so you get a broader view of all experiences, so no point me just rattling on.

Try not to stress too much about your possible surgery, easier said than done i know, but you will cope, b/f or not. Have a good read up on the other threads, ad if anything was left unsaid, please ask.

Good luck

Mazzie

janewhite1 · 01-04-2008, 05:35 PM

I'm sorry you're dealing with all this.

I just want to reply to your question about bad foot/crutches training exercises. I've been going to a gym for the past couple of months, ever since I accepted that my ankle wasn't getting better any time soon.

Sometimes I swim laps, although my ankle pain limits even that. More often, I just lift weights. Bicep and tricep curls, chest press, crunches of all types, different back exercises, and (key to using crutches) lots of shoulder exercises. I've had a trainer show me how to do it right, so I don't get any more injuries

There are even a few thigh exercises I can do, so I don't lose too much muscle there.

I really like my results so far. I haven't gotten noticeably bigger, but my upper arms have no more sag in them, and I'm definitely stronger.

I even work up a sweat doing all of it. And, dear lord, but it makes me feel better about myself and my less than perfect physical state.

Sabrina67 · 01-06-2008, 07:49 PM

I had the surgery on 11/02/2007 The people here have been great ! There is a thread oh here that has more great stuff. I posted a list today that helped me prepare . Good luck and keep us posted.
If you cant find the other thread you can click on my name and go to the posts I have replied to and it will be there. God Bless,
Sabrina