[greta]

Got my MRI results today (ankle and brain).

Ankle: I have a torn tendon (no idea how long ago it happened since I have sprained it repeatedly). PT gave me all sorts of balancing exercises to do that will help me compensate. She also broke the news that I can't sit cross-legged (indian-style) any more. It's worsened the stretching of the tendons on the outer side of my ankle and the ones on the inner side are contracting. She also asked if I sat with my foot on it's side instead of flat and occasionally I catch myself doing it (although I never noticed it until MSCherokee posted about it!) I'm really hopeful that with the balance exercises I'll be able to get all of my range of motion back and it will stop collapsing on me. Only bad part is that I can't get comfortable - I always sit on my feet...even at work!

Brain: For the 5th year in a row.....NO CHANGES & NOTHING ACTIVE!!

I couldn't be happier if I tried. I feel very lucky and every year, that big weight of fear that hangs over my head loses a little bit more power over me. I won't see the neuro until next Monday, but he won't have anything more to add really. Big sigh of relief now that it's over.

[Erin524]

I ruptured my achilles tendon in April of 2001 (worked at WalMart, squatted down to pick some trash up and the tendon went POP! and I went OWWWWWWWW! Stupid WalMart wouldnt let me file a report, so it went untreated till after WM fired me after 9-11)

Was it caused by a spasticity thing? I've also popped a tendon in my right kneecap and have chronic tendonitis in my shoulders, knees and ankles.

Cool that you dont have any changes in the brain. That's always good, right?

[Kitty]

That's great news, Greta!

[greta]

Originally Posted by Erin524

I ruptured my achilles tendon in April of 2001 (worked at WalMart, squatted down to pick some trash up and the tendon went POP! and I went OWWWWWWWW! Stupid WalMart wouldnt let me file a report, so it went untreated till after WM fired me after 9-11)

Was it caused by a spasticity thing? I've also popped a tendon in my right kneecap and have chronic tendonitis in my shoulders, knees and ankles.

Ouch! I've heard that it makes an audible pop when it goes. Luckily, I just strained/sprained my achilles. That was back last summer when I was mountain biking. I flew off, but my foot was still in the toe clip so I went one way and my foot went the other. It's still healing after all this time. The one I tore is just a little one on top of my foot. This not sitting on feet is way harder than I thought!!

How's your achilles now?

[Erin524]

I still have problems with it. Probably because WM wouldnt pony up the $$ to pay for me to go to the doctor. I couldnt afford to go myself (I did have insurance, but with such a high deductible that I still couldnt pay to go to a doctor)

Every few months, my ankle will hurt a lot and makes me think it's going to go POP! again.

When the weather is cold, it hurts too.

I still have the big "moon boot" that I had to wear for close to a year after I finally went to the doctor. (my dad forced me to go to the doctor and paid for it because he was afraid I'd have permanent damage from it)

[weegot5kiz]

congrats on the brain results and ankle, yes ankle.

because if you can manage to allow it to rest the way the doc wants (yes I know its a pain, i sit that way too, always have)the tendon can and will tighten back up and it may also help once healed, prevent the ankle from spraining so easily

rest easy and enjoy the day



peace

[braingonebad]

Greta - glad your brain is stable, and that you're getting PT for that ankle. Just wondering, is there some sort of brace that you could use for that? If nothing else, it might keep you from doing things you shouldn't do while that tendon heals. I mean you do it subconsciously. maybe a brace, or even different style of footwear, would remind you to keep that ankle straight.

Good luck with that.

[greta]

Originally Posted by braingonebad

Greta - glad your brain is stable, and that you're getting PT for that ankle. Just wondering, is there some sort of brace that you could use for that? If nothing else, it might keep you from doing things you shouldn't do while that tendon heals. I mean you do it subconsciously. maybe a brace, or even different style of footwear, would remind you to keep that ankle straight.

Good luck with that.

They didn't recommend a brace at this point. The constant turning is caused from the previous sprains and the fact that it's just all stretched out. The achilles just gets reinjured a bit each time I fall down! Luckily it doesn't seem to contribute to the rolling. They don't seem to be concerned about the small tendon that tore. I'll have to call the PCP about it.

I thought about a brace, but the funny thing is that I never roll it when I do my 2-4 mile power walk, it's in the normal walking around stuff (slow dog walks, stepping off a curb, etc.) Last time I really sprained it was last summer (same trip as the achilles just a different activity!) - it's just been smaller rollovers ever since

Some other things she showed me (when I do squats my knees pull in) showed them that I have weak gluteus medius' and apparently working on those will help the ankle as well (don't ask me how!)

All in all, I'm so glad I went. I got a bunch of home exercises to do that would have never occurred to me (I'd expected them to tell me to just practice writing the alphabet with my toe). I'm really looking forward to seeing how my range of motion changes over the next few weeks.

Now why didn't I do this years ago

[greta]

Originally Posted by Erin524

I still have problems with it. Probably because WM wouldnt pony up the $$ to pay for me to go to the doctor. I couldnt afford to go myself (I did have insurance, but with such a high deductible that I still couldnt pay to go to a doctor)

Every few months, my ankle will hurt a lot and makes me think it's going to go POP! again.

When the weather is cold, it hurts too.

I still have the big "moon boot" that I had to wear for close to a year after I finally went to the doctor. (my dad forced me to go to the doctor and paid for it because he was afraid I'd have permanent damage from it)

When did WM become exempt from workman's comp?? Very unethical.

[Erin524]

Originally Posted by greta

When did WM become exempt from workman's comp?? Very unethical.

WM is really unethical. They wouldnt allow me to make a report of the injury...and then when I told them I had to get my ankle looked at, they said that I didnt make a report and that because of that, they wouldnt pay for me to go to a doctor.

Worst job I ever had. I made the most at that job, but it wasnt worth it, having to Kow-tow to the management as if they were little despotic tyrants.