For Michelle C., it had been a pleasant Wednesday playing pickleball with friends. But a split second after hitting a ball and then quickly turning right to retrieve another ball, she knew something was wrong.
“I felt like somebody had actually hit me in the back of my Achilles with a pickleball racket,” she describes.
Michelle’s pickleball partner quickly drove her to the Hillsboro Medical Center Emergency Room, where she was told that her Achilles tendon had ruptured.
The very next day, she was able to see fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Lara C. Atwater at Hillsboro Medical Center’s Orthopedic Services.
After a thorough discussion of treatment options with Dr. Atwater, Michelle decided that Achilles tendon repair surgery was the right choice for her.
Just two days after her injury, Michelle received Achilles tendon repair surgery at Hillsboro Medical Center.
By Friday, just two days after her injury, Michelle was able to receive that surgery at Hillsboro Medical Center. “They took really good care of me,” she notes. “I went under, she did the surgery, and then went home.”
After her surgery, Michelle required a knee scooter to get around town. She worked with physical therapist Miguel Paniagua Rodriguez at Hillsboro Medical Center’s HealthPlace Rehabilitation Services to build back her strength.
“He [Miguel] listens and he’s knowledgeable,” she says. “I guess he knows what he’s talking about,” Michelle adds, who was able to return to swimming laps at the pool just six weeks after her surgery.
With continued effort, she was able to do single-leg toe raises at her 90-day check-in appointment with Dr. Atwater.
“I healed so quickly,” says Michelle. “I’m very happy.”
Though Michelle hasn’t returned to the pickleball court yet, she thanks her Hillsboro Medical Center care team for helping her get back to her daily routine.
Michelle reflects, “I think overall the staff are very caring, know what they’re doing and they do take care of their patients.”
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