Friday I had my PRP and fat injected into my achilles tendon. First, blood was drawn then goes though a process of centrifugation designed to separate PRP from low-platelet plasma and red blood cells. Then, a local anesthesia was administered to my back above my left hip from which the Dr. Albano harvested fat graft material while observing on ultrasound by scraping it from by back, the donor site was closed, and the fat graft material was processed to be injection along with the PRP into my left achilles tendon. The harvesting of the fat material was more uncomfortable than painful -- definitely a strange sensation. Dr. Albano then uses ultrasound to inject the PRP and fat back into my achilles. I opted not to look at the gigantic needle, but did watch on the ultrasound on a monitor as he explained to me what was going on. I was relieved that the local anesthesia was very effective in limiting the pain for this part of the procedure. During the process Dr. Albano identified to me a number of interstial tears and he is hopeful the procedure will be successful.
I went home quite happy. Of course, when the local anesthesia wore off during the night and once my body began responding to the procedure, the pain intensified. Saturday and Sunday was very painful. The pain has subsided, but my range of motion in my left leg is very very limited, which makes me quite immobile. (I honestly did not expect to have such decreased mobility.) My leg has a ton of inflammation, but that is what will prompt the healing.
The black area on the image shows one of the interstitial tears.
Monday evening swelling.
Now, let the healing begin. (First course of action, being able to walk.)
So, I still have very limited flexibility in my achilles tendon -- so much so that I can't yet walk normally. I am working on stretching the achilles, but for the time being progress is slow.
I did have a follow-up visit with Dr. Albano, and everything seems to be going as planned. Unfortunately, my interstitial tears were significant enough that I will need another injection. I am scheduled tentatively to have another PRP/Fat injection on April 1. Exciting I know.
In the mean time I wear my Dynasplint dorsiflexion splint at night, and during the day when I have time. It is tension loaded, and I am steadily working on increasing the tension. Here are some shots of me wearing my splint at work.
