Injury and Recovery by Debbie Czempinski

Debbie Czempinski

2006, was shaping up to be a good year, I was fortunate enough to receive another invite to the Arnold Classic, which I considered to be a huge privilege and one of my favourite comps. I had 2 fantastic new routines and my physique was improving every time I prepared for a comp, under the watch full eye of Mike Davies. Unfortunately 3 weeks out form the Arnold, Valentines Day to be precise, everything took a drastic change.

During the last rehearsal of my routine for the day, as I landed out of one of my somersaults I felt my left calf tighten so much that it felt like a I had a wedge under my heal. I felt no pain, could still point and flex my foot, although I was unable to rise on to my toe or push against anything with my foot. I told my husband and choreographer that I thought I had just strained my calf, and with correct taping, there would be nothing to worry about. How stupid was I! As they both looked at my leg my husband became increasingly concerned as where my Achilles should be, was completely indented and when he pushed on my Achilles there was no band of tendon and his finger just disappeared into the back of my leg.
I called my physiotherapist who told us to get ice on it straight away and get in to see him NOW. I was still adamant there was nothing seriously wrong and was getting increasingly frustrated with my poor husband as he kept fusing that it could be my Achilles, “but I have no pain and there was no snapping noise” I stated in my calm, carb depleted, physically exhausted voice.

Debbie Czempinski

As I laid face down on my physio’s bench, I could sense he was “mouthing” something to my husband. As I turned around he told me my Achilles had completely ruptured and there was no way I could even travel to the Arnold let alone compete, as I would now have to have surgery. I lay there and cried like a baby (good job, Gary, our physio is also a good friend). I kept saying are you sure, I have no pain and can still move my foot. But as Gary had spent 4 years studying, I knew he knew what was wrong.
It was then straight of to my surgeon who was, unfortunately getting to know me too well, I tore both my hamstrings 3 weeks out from the Arnold in 2005, still competed, but had to have surgery later that year. He looked at my Achilles and said “yes, it’s gone, the quicker we get you into surgery the better, we will book you in tomorrow”.  On the up side, I knew I had one of, if not the best orthopedic surgeons in Australia, who has performed surgery on some of our highest level athletes. We drove home in silence not really wanting to talk and not knowing what to say with out starting to cry again.

Anyway surgery went really well, but I was now bedridden for 2 weeks with my leg elevated, to lower the chance of infection in my stitches. This was HELL, I had gone from training up to 4x’s a day to this; I could only get up to go to the toilet or shower with a plastic bag around my leg. I can assure you I wasn’t a good patient. My husband’s account of the situation is unprintable.

2 weeks later was my next appointment with my surgeon. I was getting my cast removed and my stitches out and was to be fitted with a movable boot; Kirsten Nicewarner told me she called hers “The Moon Boots”.

Debbie Czempinski

The boot was quite large and came all the way up to my knee. At least it was black so it coloured co-ordinated with anything I wore. It had 2 steel rods up each side and gauges with pins at each side of my ankle that could be changed according to what degree my surgeon wanted my foot to move. At first I was only allowed to move it between 0 and 15 degrees. This is when my poor surgeon was bombarded with my questions. How quick will it repair? When can I take the boot off? How long until I can compete? When can I walk on it? Etc etc.

Dr Annear told me it could take the “average” person at least 12 months to be back to normal and regain full strength. But as I was extremely fit and also “knowing me” he didn’t expect I would take that long, but I had to be sensible.

It was nice to be able to stand up right, all be it with crutches. I was now able to weight train again, well at least upper body and as long as the exercise didn’t require 2 feet on the ground.

The degree of my foot was adjusted every 1-2 weeks, to slowly start stretching my Achilles again. To be honest I could feel improvement in my range everyday and I also made sure I followed Dr Annear’s instruction, by removing the boot and pointing and flexing my foot, but never to a point that caused any discomfort. In the beginning I was only allowed to move my foot 1-2cm with the boot off and when my boot was on I moved it constantly, knowing that the boot would only allow me to move in the range I was allowed. But it gave me the feeling that I was actually on the way to recovery.

During the next 3 months my boot was adjusted constantly, until my foot was at an angle that allowed me to walk again with the boot on. During this time I had regular visits with my surgeon, but until I was able to start rehab it would be unclear how well and quick I would recover.

Debbie Czempinski

April was the last time had to wear the dreaded boot. Next stage was, I now had to wear a 2cm heal wedge in my shoe for a further 2months, but I can’t tell you how happy I was to have both feet nearly back to normal. I was able to do some cardio and my husband was happy that he no longer had to mop all the floors!
I had thought I was so tough having no pain with my injury or even surgery, that was until my physio rehab began. My physiotherapist has fingers that resemble thick sausages and when he started using them to deep tissue massage up and down my Achilles, to break up the scar tissue, I thought I was going to pee on his table, I reminded him that I still had nerves in my foot that transmitted pain to my brain, but he told me it was for the greater good. After 2 weeks I then had to start my strengthening program, this was just basic calf raises starting off with 2 feet and working up to where I could rise on my left foot only. I was under strict orders that I was not to start any passive stretching for another 2 weeks. I was extremely diligent with my rehab performing it at least 3 times a day Again I could feel improvement everyday, but really had one here to compare too,  how well I was progressing.

At  4 months  it was my last appointment with my surgeon, I was looking forward to seeing how well I actually was improving. Dr Annear asked if I could raise on my left foot at all, I was able to raise from flat foot right up until I was on the ball of my foot 15+ times, unaided and using nothing to help my balance. I think I impressed Dr Annear that day, as he told me most people aren’t at that stage by 12 months. I could now start back to normal training, even running, but I still had to wait another 2 months until I could start back at gymnastic training. I think my gymnastics will be the biggest psychological hurdle I will have to over come, partly due to this being how I injured my Achilles, but I am sure once I get a few flips and somersaults under my belt, fingers crossed, there will be no stopping me.

5 months seems to have passed so quickly and I am really really happy with my progress so far. I would love to compete at least once this year, but I will make sure I am 100% recovered first, so if I have to wait until next season, so be it.

I now have a greater understanding and sympathy for athlete’s who suffer injuries, as it not only distresses the athlete, it also has a huge impact on their family. With out the strength and support of my husband and children, I doubt I would have made such a speedy recovery and for that I am so grateful. I would also like to thank my friends and fellow competitors for all their support and well wishes. I hope to be back on stage with you all soon.

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