Kaulin participated in Track & Field through Central City Recreation. His favorite events were the Softball Throw & Shot Put...
He was the youngest in his group, still managed to place at one of the meets!
And then during practice one day, dropped a shot put on his big toe.
Luckily it didn't break his toe!
It was pretty ugly for a long time, but aside from losing the nail - he's good!
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And then there's me. I spent the summer going to Physical Therapy two times a week! Had a huge lump on my Achilles tendon. My doctor had been thinking it was Achilles Tendonitis
The Physical Therapy had me try out Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape one weekend.
After two full months of Physical Therapy, and no change in the lump - my Podiatrist ordered an MRI. "Achilles Tendonosis."
In this picture, you can see the green circle, which shows how my tendon should look, then in the red is the problem area. It's quite larger than it should be!
"Achilles tendonosis is a degeneration of the tendon. "osis" means degeneration. This usually starts our as achilles tendonitis, which is an acute, short lived inflammation of the tendon, or the tissue within the tendon sheath.
Tendonosis usually develops from microscopic tears wihin the tendon. The tendon changes from a very organized rope-like structure to one that is very disorganized and is filled in with scar tissue which is in all different diractions and is much less orgainzed. The pain and degeneration usually occurs between 2-6cm proximal to the insertion of this tendon at the heel bone. Occasionally this tendonosis occurs at the insertion itself.
Tendonosis is a condition where the tendon is weakened and thus the risk of rupture increases.
Tendonosis is a condition where the tendon is weakened and thus the risk of rupture increases.
The treatment of this condition is difficult, because there is very limited potential for the tendon to heal, due to the lack of good blood circulation to the chronically worn out tendon. Nonetheless, there are patients who can manage without surgery, and even though the tendon remains chronically abnormal, it may not be painful.
The treatment begins with a very carefully designed program of stretching, a specific type of physical therapy, and either a boot or a brace designed for treatment of chronic tears of the Achilles tendon. This commences with various physical therapy treatments and immobilization of the leg in a walking boot to rest the Achilles. If pain and weakness continue after prolonged boot treatment, then surgery is necessary to repair and reconstruct the degenerated Achilles tendon. Full and successful treatment is unfortunately not always successful without surgery.
The treatment begins with a very carefully designed program of stretching, a specific type of physical therapy, and either a boot or a brace designed for treatment of chronic tears of the Achilles tendon. This commences with various physical therapy treatments and immobilization of the leg in a walking boot to rest the Achilles. If pain and weakness continue after prolonged boot treatment, then surgery is necessary to repair and reconstruct the degenerated Achilles tendon. Full and successful treatment is unfortunately not always successful without surgery.
The surgery is not always predictable, since the tendon has deteriorated, and it may not be possible to get it to heal again. The deteriorated portion of the tendon is removed (debrided), and the healthy sides of the tendon are stitched together. If the extent of the degeneration is severe, a tendon transfer is performed. The tendon transfer is done much like the repair for chronic Achilles rupture as described above."
So, my Doctor recommends putting the surgery off as long as I can- as things will never be "normal" after surgery. And it'll require 5 months of crutches. So much fun!
