myachillesrupture's posterous

The Question I'm Always Asked...

2011_1023_mar_getting_older

 

http://myachillesrupture.com - Almost 2.5 years ago is when my Achilles Tendon Rupture injury occurred. People continue to ask me, "Are you 100% yet?" Well, that is an easy answer to ask, but not so easy to answer. Mentally, I have been in a great place with the injury on a daily basis for a long time and that is a great place to be, but I do admit that if the prospect of doing something pretty extreme physically presents itself to me that I have no choice but to consider my past injury. Obviously the fact that I am not paid to be a pro athlete and having a family that relies on me to be mobile comes in to play as probably the main two motivations for evaluating the risk of things I might do prior to having gone through this injury. I certainly don't think everyone has to approach things the way that I do, but it's just more of a comment on where my head is at.

The one area that I feel is pretty interesting is the slower level of recovery after physically demanding exercises that I continue to face. As you can see from the image I used for this post, the number of different post-workout products I use is indicative of this; I actually have more items than this, but didn't want you to think I was a walking test lab of products. Ha! I struggle to determine if it's the reality of just getting older or if there are lingering effects from this injury. It is kind of odd since I don't feel pain at all, but more of a decreased level of stamina on most sessions of high impact exercise. I've said it before, it is a game of adjustments and I continue to try things out and use myself as the test subject. :p 

Lions RB Mikel LeShoure

http://myachillesrupture.com - I've said it before and I will say it again.... I AM a Detroit Lions fan. Yes, it's true.....it is VERY true. ;) That's my team and I have incredibly high hopes for them in the 2011-2012 NFL season. My cast was even the color of Honolulu Blue. LOL!

We had a setback in training camp today. Our second round draft pick, Mikel LeShoure tore his Achilles Tendon and is out for the rest of the year. I have been watching this guy for the past few weeks and it's a shame that this is how he has to start his promising pro career. Obviously, the position of Running Back is dependent upon foot work, speed, strength and power. The fact that LeShoure is 21 years old is a major advantage in dealing with this injury. Being that the team has a vested interest in his return for next season, I expect he will get incredible care and rehabilitation. I'd love to interview him in a few months. Lions PR, are you listening? :) I'll be watching to see how his explosiveness compares upon his return. It should be interesting.  

Get well Mikel!! We need you, man!!

Let's Talk

 http://myachillesrupture.com - I've been thinking about different ways to build a community around anyone who has suffered an Achilles Tendon Rupture. Support is critical as you go through the healing process of this injury. Many people cannot identify with it and that can be tough for the person living with this change in their life. I thought it could be an interesting idea to call people (in the US) on the phone OR participate in a skype session with anyone international or even in the US if you desire that option. 

Wherever I can help in this process is something I would be glad to do.

Let's talk.

Capoeira!!!

 
http://myachillesrupture.com - Sharing an update on a new endeavor of physical performance that I am participating in. It is known as Capoeira and I'm really excited about it. I'm almost 18mos post op from my Achilles Tendon rupture injury, subsequent surgery and 3.5most of formal physical therapy that I engaged in. I feel really good these days and am hopeful that practicing Capoeira will provide immense benefit in my quest to further increase my strength, stamina and overall flexibility. 


Sole Technology

 - http://myachillesrupture.com I share my thoughts on a recent Newsweek article [http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/14/will-toning-footwear-get-you-in-shape.all.html] and how it can provide benefit(s) to anyone with recovery in mind from an Achilles Tendon Rupture injury and the return to peak physical performance or at least an elevated level of mobility and well-being. :)

New Vibrams!!

 http://myachillesrupture.com - Unboxing/initial impressions of a new Vibram Five Fingers model that I ordered. I'm 17mos post-op from my Achilles Tendon rupture injury and can comfortably say that the VFF has been an excellent product for my continued pursuit of peak physical performance. I hope to incorporate this model into my workouts to gain even more improvement.

Detroit Piston, Jonas Jerebko

Act_jonas_jerebko

http://myachillesrupture.com - It's certainly no secret that I'm a fan of the game of basketball. In fact, my Achilles Tendon rupture injury occurred while playing that great game on May 2nd, 2009. I love the college and pro game and a recent news story about my favorite pro team has recently developed. 

Jonas Jerebko sustained a partially torn Achilles Tendon last night when my Pistons got dismantled by the Miami Heat. My team CANNOT catch a break!! Man! This was going to be Jerebko's 2nd year and I really liked how his game was developing. The kid had ridiculous energy and had a nice rookie season last year. He was also the second Swedish-born player to be drafted in the NBA.

Best wishes to him for surgery that is scheduled for this Friday and the subsequent healing/rehabilitation that will take place for the next few months. 

“Achilles Image of the Day”

Achilles-achilles-heel-demotiv

http://myachillesrupture.com - I'm sure we've all seen those Motivational posters lining the hallways and conference rooms in professional settings. You may even have many of those classics in your own place of employment; let's hope you actually don't have any hanging up in your home. LOL! Today's Achilles Image of the Day is a take (uh....FAKE) on the Motivational poster I found to be pretty interesting. :)

Image sourced from *here*

Ways of seeing the World

Mar_tom_scar

 http://myachillesrupture.com - It can be an odd reality when you sustain an injury that impacts your mobility and literally causes you to sllllloooowwww down. An Achilles Tendon rupture is definitely an injury that is far from "mainstream" and much more common to be seen by an obsessed sports fan than the average citizen. I really wish I had a quarter for every time I had to explain this injury as well as anatomy 101. LOL! I mean, c'mon....Achilles Tendon. Check. Rupture. Check. Put the two together and it should not need any supporting detail, right? Wrong. Oh well, I don't have an issue explaining it to anyone, but it does lend itself to more of the idea of how this particular injury can possess such a mental component in the sense of how isolated one can feel because many people literally do not understand this injury and pass it off as a "hurt ankle" and we know this to definitely *NOT* be true.

There is something that I find myself doing that has somewhat of a mental component to it and the picture used in this post signifies that. It has to do with how I see the world now. I was picking some items from my vegetable garden recently and noticed an interesting patter on this tomato that made it pretty unique. The light bulb went off above my head and I immediately said to myself that the similarity to my Achilles Tendon rupture scar was pretty striking! Maybe I'm odd for thinking this way, but unique tomatoes are not the ONLY trigger for me. Haha! Every sports play I watch causes me to zero in and study the footwork even more now that I have sustained this injury. I watch my kids playing and focus on their heel/lower calf muscle region. Obsess, much? Why, yes. Thanks for noticing. Hahaha.

The main idea I'd like to leave you with is that you WILL see the world differently after sustaining an Achilles Tendon rupture. Is this a bad thing? I don't think so. It opens up the possibilities to many things you may not have considered before. New appreciation for family and friends. New ways of communicating. Not taking mobility for granted. Being more sensitive to those who lack mobility. New hobbies. More focus. More purpose. And even seeing tomatoes in a different light. :) These are just a few things I have definitely found to be true in my own life. As with anything I mention, your mileage may vary. :) It's all about making sweet lemonade from the lemons even if you've never tried...   

More Site Functionality


http://myachillesrupture.com - An Achilles Tendon rupture is a serious injury and those of us who have gone through it share a special (I use that term loosely. LOL!) bond and this website is something I hope allows for more discussion and attention to this injury and the individuals who've suffered it.......and emerge from it with new perspectives on life and mobility.

This is a quick vid about adding 2 small details of site functionality to increase more contact and social aspects for the audience. Feedback is something I'm *ALWAYS* looking for.