Comments on: Achilles Tendon Rupture Recovery Manual

By: G

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:10:20 +0000

You are welcome, it was the main reason I put this info up. I hope it is of some use in your recovery too. please look into the more detailed recovery diary and look at BEMER mats too, it all helps. Good luck with your recovery.

By: Richard Bold

Richard Bold — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:40:02 +0000

Hi,

This is the most informative site I’ve found on the net about my injury so far.

I snapped my tendon playing football 7 weeks ago, and it has been something of a nightmare ever since. When it happened, I almost didn’t go to hospital, thinking it was just a calf muscle tear. Thankfully, common sense prevailed!

Although the response by the NHS was commendably quick, I wasn’t offered surgery, in fact it wasn’t even discussed. It’s only now I realise it was an option. The lack of information forthcoming from the consultant was also an issue – I was basically given very little advice.

This lack of advice hasn’t helped me, as I’m not the sort of person to take it easy (although I have tried), but have only more recently become aware of the gravity of the injury, and the need to rest it more.

I’m getting my second cast off next week (first cast removed after one month, then a quick examination), so I’ve got my fingers crossed things are progressing well.

Again, thanks for some excellent information and advice.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:54:08 +0000

Just an update on this if anyone is interested. I had three opinions on my full rupture of Achilles Tendon (initially wrongly diagnosed and therefore was a delayed repair). Two surgeons, even though competent had far too much business and I was going to be pushed to the back of the queue for 12 months (one was opting for Lars treatment)! I went back and whinged to my Doctor who went into bat for me and I managed to get into hospital under “Emergency”. My surgeon was fantastic (in fact, I have seen him on RPA on TV doing surgery), he opted not to go for Lars treatment but instead preferred using my own tissue to repair. It was a five month delayed operation, so there was a lot of pulling the calf muscle down and also other “meat” was used in the repair. Surgeon says it went well but I am very hesitant about really doing anything with it. Surgery was six weeks ago, two weeks in an initial semi-plaster cast until swelling went down, then four weeks in a fibreglass cast (with my own football team’s colours – go Western Wanderers!). Now in boot with two wedges with slight (10% to 20%) of weight bearing on leg for weeks. I am about to book into Physio and aim to go to gym in about a month. I am being cautious because I am a 110kg male who works at a computer all day so not exactly peak athlete material . I am just so grateful to my surgeon and the RPA and would like to say thanks to them for their professionalism and care. Worst part about this situation (I live by myself basically) is toilet and showering. Soon though I will commence taking off boot to have shower.

By: G

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:28:30 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience. All my best wishes for your full recovery, which I believe is still possible.

By: G

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:26:31 +0000

I would suggest you see a good and qualified medical professional for your situation. i am not a doctor and your injury seems to be quite different from mine as I had no screws. I would advise you do your own research but use doctors and surgeons to educate yourself as much as possible. Good luck with the recoveery. All my best wishes for you, G.

By: G

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:24:42 +0000

Thanks for a great comment and new perspective on recovery. Good luck going forward and all my best.
G.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:46:27 +0000

Hi,
Full rupture on 4th jan after a fast run on the beach with daughter on back, silly in hind sight given my relatively poor fitness, but brain still thinks I can sprint like I once did. Achilles thinks otherwise. Am 39yrs and fit the profile well for these injuries. . Was put in a black strap cast within 4 hours. Had scan 3 days later confirming full rupture. Used some contacts to see a top surgeon and opted for non surgical repair. Controversial but turns out to be a good choice. Surgeon points out recent studies show very small differences between recovery rate and informs me that the NZ all blacks are now treated non surgically for these injuries. Good enough for thoses guys then good enough for me. Surgeon likes the back strap cast that emergency departnement in the hospital used and said keep for 2 weeks and come back for a boot. Got the boot and all looking good, told to wear for 6 weeks and come back. Also told to weight bare after 2 weeks and increase as able. I looked up the surgeon in NZ that looks after the all backs (Bruce Twaddle) and download his recovery protocal. Turns out he wants lots of movement 2 weeks after injury right after cast removal. I take off my boot every hour or two and do five minutes of range of movement flexing , not going past neutral for the first 2 to 3 weeks. In the end I only wore the boot for 3-4 weeks and then dropped the crunchers and boot and have been walking the last week.
2 weeks in cast – wiggle toes a lot
3 weeks in boot with weight bearing on crutches after 2 weeks . Massage and range of movement exercise every hour or two
1 week in boot without crunchers and range of movement contin..
1 week I’ve been walking around and am doing calf raises several times a day with range of movement exercise as much as I remember. Limp is reducing fast, but can only walk slowly.
Am at 7 weeks post injury today.
Am planning to back on road bike trainer next week with gental training program.
I’m very careful walking and look at the ground to make sure I don’t over stretch or strain, but the rate of improvement with exercise and weight baring is awesome compared to what I was expecting. Be careful but be active in your recovery. Don’t think surgery is the only answer. It is not!
All the best to everyone suffering this injury. Keep positive!
Cheers
Nick

By: La-La

La-La — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:07:36 +0000

Your article is explain everything I went and going through. I had surgery last year on my tendon in Sept. and I have two screws holding my tendon in place in the heel of my foot. I’m having a hard time healing for some reason and the pain is really bad on some days but the swelling is there everyday. The only shoes I can wear without pain are some crocs that allow your heel to be out. I want to get back to exercising on a regular without hruting myself. What are some you would recommand so I can climb stairs like regula people? I just don’t want to have this limp for the rest of my life.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:09:57 +0000

I am 64 endured a full rupture of the right achilles December 2, 2012 playing tennis. Surgery December 5. I am writing this time line February 19, 2013. Ten days after surgery the splint and staples were removed and I was placed in a cast for another week. At my insistence, I was given a boot which I put aside December 28, 2012. I chose to use a cane and be very careful with my “freedom”. With the help and advice of my PT, I started swimming at 5 weeks – stationary bike at 6 weeks.

Here are my observations in no particular order of importance:
Do not be afraid of the pain coming from movement and manipulation of your foot.
Learn the difference between pain as a result of damaging action and soreness resultant from trauma (constantly challenge the latter – never flirt with the former).
Your calf will not be able to absorb the blow to you heel when walking – always wear good athletic shoes (tennis or hiking).
Swimming is absolutely great – it stretches your achilles and (if you are as bad a swimmer as me) it is great exercise.
You will not be able to lift your weight with your damaged calf – that weakness will cause your limp and probably enflame the fermoris. Simply try to walk (slowly at first) without limping. Exercise the calf via toe raises – slowly try to increase the contribution of your damaged foot.
From the 7th week on try balancing yourself on your damaged leg.
Throughout the day constantly exercise your foot.

I am now at 11 weeks subsequent to surgery. I intend to train again hitting volleys starting next week. I am told the achilles is nearly fully healed at 12 weeks. At this posting I have my doubts. I do not intend to chase down any shots for some time – if ever again.

By: G

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:32:33 +0000

Hi Carolyn, always keeping in mind I am not a doctor (not even on the internet!), that said, my understanding based on the research I did is that the quality of the surgery is very important as are certain genetic factors of the patient. i am a very sporty person too, but I could not run (not like a human anyway, maybe like a slightly retarded zombie) after 5 months, BUT, I had a terrible surgeon and I also had a lot of other pressures that did not help my immune system. That said, my recovery has been essentially 100%. I did develop another injury on my left knee as a result of overcompensating a bit too much and I am trying to understand that now, almost 2 years later as it has not been doing well lately, but then i also did do karate for many years and that usually leads to problems in knee joints. I am one of the few that never had to undergo surgery, but there were previous underlying causes, so i would suggest manage yourself as well as you can and keep positive. As for the aircast/cam boot, I have no idea. My personal opinion is that maybe the doc gets a free holiday to Malta if he does X numbers of one or the other. I have found that doctors who cannot educate me are either useless or self-serving, so I would ask him the why and then ask him to back it up with data I can verify myself. If they don’t or can’t do that then they should not be doctors in the first place. PS: this advice works for ANY professional person really.
Thank you for your comment too, it’s always good to know it helped in some small way.
All my best,
G.