The Morning After (Surgery; Day 8) — Reposted

(Reposted from the official fundraising blog, Get Kyle Back on His Feet!)

Once again, I'm tired and in pain, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.


Eating is a Chore

It's extremely awkward eating while laying prone.  I've made a compromise to sit up and try and keep my leg semi-propped up (those yoga classes paid off finally).  It still hurts but it's better than letting my foot just rest comfortably on the floor in a seated position.


Logistics of Pissing (The Female Persuasion Is the Key)

It's not that bad using the restroom.  I just sit down like a woman instead of trying to keep balance on one leg and giving the toilet seat and rug a golden shower.  (Now I know why y'all get mad about keeping the lid down!)

Oh and I dunno if this it TMI, but I've also been constipated ever since I started taking the Vicodin.  I'm going to try and eat more raw salads and see if that helps.  Meh...I've never had this issue before, but my dad said the nurse warned that this could happen.


Smellin' Like the Filthy, Rank Dog That I Am

I haven't showered or bathed in 2, maybe 3 days now and I'm sure I smell like a rank, mountain man...but oh well, it's not like I'm entertaining guests in my condition.  And according to Alex, a man's rank B.O. attracts the opposite sex with his pheromones (I'm not holding my breath on that one).

When it gets so bad that I can't even stand my own odor, I'll probably have to figure out the logistics of crawling into a tub with my injured leg hanging off the edge.  (And no I don't have someone in mind to help me with this endeavor.)


Reason for the Cortisone Shot to the Bum!

The scars have mostly all but faded but there are still remnants on my upper right arm (yes, it looks like some bulbous fat thing but that's actually my arm.)  The scratches on my belly have already faded away.  I have fast healing abilities!  Let's hope that applies to the poorly vascularized Achilles tendon as well.


Keep Dat Foot Up, Son!

Whenever I have to stand up to go to the bathroom or let my foot drop down, the pain comes rushing back as the blood pools and collects in the ankle that has been operated on, so I try my best to keep it elevated above my heart at all times.  This means I'm basically an invalid at age 26.

It's a gorgeous day out and I'm stuck here looking out from my bedside perch by the window.

Free Mystic Tan (From the Knee Down)!

FYI:  My skin isn't naturally that orange-y...they covered my leg and even the toes in some reddish-orange disinfectant, probably something like iodine. It stained my skin.

So now I have a free mystic tan on my right leg (below the knee) from Faith Surgical Center! Yay! ;-p


Why the Hard Splint?

A friend just commented that he was surprised that I will need a cast put on after this hard splint is removed.  From my limited knowledge, it's because my tendon has contracted so much and they had to pull it and then sew it together.  It's really taut right now, hence the extreme PAIN.  (Someone f'n get me some codeine or oxycontin please!  LOL...I'm actually kinda serious. Vicodin is not doing it for me.)  If it wasn't held in place by a hard splint and/or a cast, then I may accidentally flex my foot back and rip apart the fragilely-held together strands that are holding my ruptured Achilles together now.  Right now, the splint is keeping my foot in the awkward position where the foot is angled down (like when a woman wears high heels), which doesn't exert pressure on the achilles tendon.  (So now I know what it feels like to pee like a woman and to wear heels...)

The hard splint was put on to allow for some swelling post-surgery.  After a week and the swelling subsides, then a hard cast can be put on and that will be left for around 2 months to let my tendon fuse together on its own.  This is slow work though since tendons and ligaments are not highly vascularized like bones and muscles (thinking back to A&P class...I think that's right?).  After the cast is removed, then I will wear a boot for a month or so.  Then I believe finally, I can start physical therapy.  Dr. Hanssen said that recovery will be 3 to 4 months and he warned of a 20% reduction in strength but I'm hoping with proper nutrition, rest, and physical therapy I can beat the odds and get it back up to 100%.

(Beastmodal told me that he has set PRs after his surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon so there's hope for me yet.  He did say that his calf muscle is weaker but he feels like his tendon is back to where it was.)


School Next Week?

I doubt I'll be leaving the house next week due to the pain and since just letting the foot drop below my heart increases the pain.  I seriously hope I don't wind up failing Organic Chemistry II because of this.  I've already failed the past 2 quizzes and then having to miss the quiz next week would not be ideal.  Then I would miss the 3 hour lab and all those hours of lecture as well.  I'm way behind in guitar class too.  Oh well.  I think I'll pop some more pills pass out and hope for the best...

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This Would Have All Been for Naught,  If Not or Y'all!

I've spent nearly the whole fund on the surgeon and anesthesiologist already (father paid for the facility fees) but I was reminded by Ted that I'll have to still pay for follow-up visits and a long physical therapy, so I'll still be accepting donations.  Thank y'all for continuing to express your generosity with your pocketbook (#PayItForward).

Updated List of Cream of the Crop Top Contributors (Triple Digit Donations):

Jorge Salhuana
David Wu
Alex Holliday
Alvin Lin
Siby Spurgeon
Kyuha Lee
Jonathan Ko
Niven Hsu

Extremely Generous Contributors (very close to the cream of the crop):
*
Shawn Hiller
Valerie Easterling
Christina Ayala-Vance
Chase Park
James Haver
Kim Palumbarit

*Vast majority of donations ranged from $20 -50, so I needed to make a judgement call and have a cut off point for this second list (right below top contributors).  Since the amount donated could be any amount you typed in, it was hard making that decision.

There were amounts such as $40 and $60, etc.  Just know that whatever amount you contributed, you definitely helped tremendously and you are greatly valued and loved.  Thank you all.  Even to those who did not contribute and helped out in non-monetary ways as well.  Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers.

I promise whatever you dole out will come back to you double or triple-fold at least.  It's an undeniable fact of life.  Those who are perceptive enough already know this.  Skeptics will discover it eventually as well...that karma is as real as electricity.  We're all connected on this Earth and every action has a reaction (e.g., the holographic universe, Indra's Net, and all that jazz ... a friendly suggestion — watch "What the Bleep Do We Know?").

Whatever we do for (or to) another, we ultimately do for (or to) ourself.

I still need to calculate the fund amount since most of it has already been spent on the surgery... I'll post that later (my mind is foggy after taking that Hydrocodone + Acetaminophen + Ibuprofen).  (Around $200- $300 has been added to the pot since then though.)

If you don't see your name on this list, know that I still greatly value your contribution and that every bit counts, even the single digit donations.  I just wanted to provide more praise and recognition to those that went above and beyond the call of duty.  I promise to include the entire list of contributors eventually.

Fundraising Kick-off!

(This is reposted from the official fundraising blog, Get Kyle Back on His Feet!)

I'm totally new to this so bear with me.

I'm one of those statistics you hear about on the news made real.  I had health insurance just last year and I will have health insurance again in September but as of now I am uninsured.  Lo and behold, I get a debilitating injury on the one gap year that I am uninsured.


What Did You Do?  

Completely Ruptured Achilles Tendon (Right).

Long story short – plyometrics; specifically, from doing high-rep box jumps while participating in WOD 12.3 of the CrossFit Games Open Qualifiers (2012).

Now just mentioning those 2 syllables either brings confusion or causes an inadvertent gut reaction to defend the exercise regimen.  I completely understand both sides since I've been doing it for around 3-4 months (known about it for 6 months or more) but still remember the days when I was skeptical of exercise/training as a competitive sport.

I'm not here to criticize or defend the protocol.  I just want to want to be back on my two feet again!

4 Days After Acute Injury

The Issue:

It's been nearly 3 weeks since my acute injury and I haven't taken care of it yet.  Why?  I was told initially that it was a sprain.  After seeing an orthopedic surgeon 2 days ago and describing classic textbook symptoms of feeling a sharp pain in the back of my heel/calf during the injury and then having a positive test for the Thompson test, the doc said—without a doubt and without an MRI—that it is indeed a completely ruptured achilles tendon that requires immediate surgery.

So I don't have time to apply for Indigent Health Services at Collin County Health Dept. (though I'm still going to give it a shot on Monday), which takes a minimum of 2 weeks.  I don't know if I would qualify for that in any case as there are many, who are probably much worse off than me waiting in line.


Why Do You Deserve My Hard-Earned Money?!

I'm only 26 and I can't foresee a life ahead of me without sport or intense activity.  Try and think back to a time you've been down and out and wanted some support.  If I don't get the surgery, I'm told a re-rupture of the achilles is a constant and apparent threat.

I believe Karma is real.  What comes around goes around.
When I'm a head honcho, calling the shots I won't forget ya, brotha/sista!


The Breakdown (Give me the Dadgum Numbers!  How Do I Know You Won't Pocket This Yourself?!):

The surgeon is taking a measly $667.60. The anesthesiologist is pocketing approximately $300. The lion's share of the total amount comes down to the hospital fees (originally $9300 with a 30% discount) $6,550. So around $7,500 total. I will know an exact amount on Monday when the receptionist tells me the anesthesiologist fees.

On the off chance that this fundraising event is wildly successful and it went over the cost of the surgery, then I will gladly pay each of you back in CASH, in person! I will even upload a photo of the surgery receipt on this website when it's all said and done. I'm all for transparency and frankness.

The orthopedic surgeon will be John T. Wey, M.D. from L & W Orthopaedic Associates and he had a fellowship trained in foot and ankle surgery, which is why I would like to have the surgery done at this place (Methodist Richardson Medical Center).

I have yet to schedule the surgery as my father would like me to explore more affordable options but I would like to get this done hopefully as soon as next week.  I will post an update with more details as I get them.


Why Don't You Get Help From Official Charities or Companies?  I'm Poor, Yo!

I've tried.  I reached out to some Catholic Charities and are waiting for their response.  I think a measly achilles tendon surgery isn't even a blip on their radar. They want the sad childhood leukemia child with the shiny, bald head.  All I can do is hobble around and look pathetic (or in my book, totally badass pimp limp).  No one would even bat an eye.

Oh yeah and a good friend of mine told me it would be great if I could get CrossFit HQ to match the amount that is raised from this fundraising effort, especially since there have been a large number of injuries related to Open WODs both last year and this year involving high-rep box jumps and I believe I could raise awareness in the risks of these injuries. (If you are interested in this, you can read a (controversial) article by Beast Modal Domains here.  I won't delve into that here.  Beware, it's a hilarious article but it's got some language.)

I would hope that CrossFit HQ would want to make a strong effort to show they want to prevent future injuries in the sport and to shed the negative media attention surrounding the controversy over its safety.

I am planning on writing a letter seeking assistance from HQ but if anyone has any connections with HQ that would be of great help.


OK STFU Already!  How Can I Help?!

See that "DONATE" button at the top right?  0_0  ---------------------->

*Click* on that and you can donate any amount you want to a PayPal account.  No one will know how much you donated, so don't be shy.  No one will judge.  Any amount is a worthy contribution.  St. Peter at the pearly gates will cross out that little menial sin you committed last week for your generosity.

(FYI:  PayPal deducts $0.30 + 2.8% for every transaction that is made for their service.)


Go To Hell!  Everyone Needs "Assistance" in This Economy!  Where's My Charity?

If you don't want to help and think I'm an ingrate, that's fine.  Just know that angels will cry and doves will fall from the sky in mourning.

J/k.  Jesus and I still love you. =)


Was There Something I Didn't Address?  Have More Questions?

Shoot them in the comments below or send an e-mail.

Achilles Tendon Injury

Update:  4 Days After the Injury

Less swelling but the bruising's more vivid

3 Days After the Acute Injury:

Swollen like an elephant's foot.

I was afraid it was a ruptured or torn achilles tendon at first but after seeing a chiropractor, I was told it was only an achilles tendon sprain.  The swelling and inflammation has gotten worse but I think this is just a sign of healing.

For those wondering how I got this injury, it was mostly due to a lack of warming-up prior to intense plyometrics and also lack of support in my Vibrams Five Fingers as well as landing on the front half of my foot rather than my entire foot.  The downward pressure driving my heel down with nothing below to support it led to a strain on the achilles tendon.  This is what I think anyways.

Epic from "Beastmodal Domains" believes there is an inherent risk in doing plyometrics at such a high volume.  He points out that the inventor of this exercise said the maximum number of reps should be 4 sets of 10.  I had done 5 rounds before I was injured, which means I had already done 75 reps of box jumps at 24" in addition to 115 lbs push presses and toes-to-bars.  (I was doing the CrossFit Games Open 12.3 WOD when I got injured.)

The Beastmodal Domains article on the association between high-rep plyometrics and rupturing of the achilles tendon can be read here.


3/14/12 Update:

I am SOOO grateful that my injury was not so severe that I needed surgery!  Thank the sweet Lord! I will never be so careless with my body again.  You only get one...