Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Achilles Tendon Surgery: Facts About Anesthesia

I also found a very good resource about anesthesia that explains everything you need to know about anesthesia: the different types, when they are used, how they work, and the pros and cons of each of them. Achilles tendon surgery is performed with general anesthesia, so this site will familiarize you with it and hopefully remove any doubts of fears you may have, especially if this is your first time. I know it helped me a lot.

15 comments:

Joseph said...

I had surgery on my fully ruptured achilles tendon on 03/11/08. The anestesiologist (I hope I spelled that right) persuaded me to have a spinal block, which numbed my nerves from the waist down....big mistake!!! Long story short...the surgery finished at 9:30 and I did not have enough strength in my legs to leave the hospital until 5:30. I'm not sure if it was because I received too high a doseage or because I do not take any medicine, but it took a very long time for the spinal block to wear off.

Randy said...

I had surgery on May 30 for a ruptured achilles tendon. I was put under using general anesthesia and given a nerve block below the knee. Excellent, I woke up feeling good with no pain. The nerve block didn't wear of until about 3:00 the next morning. I took a pain pill and went right back to sleep. Had very little pain after that. The cast comes off this Friday and I can hardly wait.

Shannon said...

I had surgery yesterday, June 3rd. I would have to say that it went well. I also ruptured my achilles. They gave me a pain block right below my knee. It didnt wear off till today right around 1:00pm. I was beginning to think that something was going wrong. Then I started noticing my toes were tingling and I was able to move them a bit.Than off course a little pain followed. If anyone has any comments or anything they have been through that may help me, please feel free to email me at: ballinallstar22@hotmail.com. Thank you.

Jonas said...

I had surgery on April 9th. Today I am exactly eight weeks out of surgery and my 4th week of physical therapy. I am almost walking without a limp and the therapist said that next week I should be out of the boot completely. Not bad for 8 weeks out of a complete right achilles rupture. Feel free to contact me with any questions. jonaspalmer311@yahoo.com

Cindy said...

I tore my achilles on June 4 (playing tennis) and had surgery on June 10. I am currently in a cast which should be removed on July 21 at which time I'll get the boot :) I have a couple of questions: Did anyone have tingling in their foot (like it is asleep/ in the area around arch of foot) and does physical therapy start as soon as you go to the boot? Good luck and my the summer of 2008 fly by :)

Anonymous said...

I had surgery to repair a 100% transverse (messy) rupture on July 15th. It was outpatient surgery using a local block below the knee. They did give an IV and gas for sedation. It was completely painless. If you are facing the process, for me, it was less painful than giving blood or getting a shot from the dentist. I opted to not have a "pain pump" after the surgery. This was the best choice for me. With no meds except two tablets of Celebrex per day, no pain and no discomfort for the first two days after surgery. Actually, I have suspended all meds after post op day one. Had the surgery at 3:00PM, went home at 5:30PM with the leg block staying active until the next morning. As a 56 year old in good health, the Dr. is supportive of rapid rehab. We are planning to fit a walking boot day 7 after surgery. Lots of aggressive elevation to keep the blood flow active. I am using a lot of normal vitamins such as minerals, glucosamine, omega fatty acids, protein etc. We are looking at assisted walking in 7 days, progressive recovery for 3 months, normal activities in 6 months, normal running in 1 year. If there are any setbacks or other surprises I will post again. Send me a note if you wish.
Rich.minter_at_gmail_dot_com

Anonymous said...

Just got my MRI back after 4 weeks of dealing with my achilles. It is a full thickness tear with superimposed chronic tendonits. It addition there is diffused inflamation of all adjacent tendons. Did this 4 weeks ago playing basketball. Limped first 2 weeks and have been walking for 2 weeks without a limp, however, it is tender and stairs are a bit of a problem and cannot due a heel raise. My question is a full thickness tear the same as a rupture. Is there a chance I can rest and rehab without surgury?

Thanks, Bob

Doug said...

Not having surgery is an option, but it is a longer haul and the risk of re-rupture is higher. My ortho told me something about the nonsurgical option that I hadn't heard before. He said before that could be considered, an ultrasound would be done to see if the two ends could be brought together when your toes are pushed down. If they don't come together, he said surgery is the only reasonable option. I guess that makes sense. If you have been walking for four weeks, those ends may not come together so easily.

Good luck !

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone: I'm trying to choose between general vs regional anathesia. On one hand, I want to be completely out while the surgery is happening but on the other hand, the increased complications for general makes we want to suck it up and go the regional route. The regional would be through an epidural in the spine. That doesn't sound too safe either.

Anyone with comments or past experiences?

Anonymous said...

had surgery on monday,and yes i also have tingling in toes,i had a block put in place as well and gen anesthesia.going well have to be on bedrest though for 4 weeks not quit sure as too why,and i,m not sure where the incision is.i also cannot keep foot down more then 5 mins out of the hour must remain above my heart they also gave me a ice cooler that rapped around my leg from foot up.however im having heel pain not severve but enough to know i had something done.does anyone know when i will be able to walk again on it or how long will recovery take to be completley mobile again.

Anonymous said...

I just had surgery and they gave me local anesthesia. It was a breeze. She gave me some medicine into my IV and next thing I knew I was in the recovery room. Surgery was around 11:15-11:30 and I was texting by 12:30 :) I would highly recommend local.

bigtex said...

I had surgery on 16JUNE09. I am in the first week of recovery and it is killing me. I am a very active person and staying in bed and elevating my foot is just boring. But I know in tghe long run it will benifit me, if I continue to do the right thing. I hurt my self playing softball, i was coming around 3rd and I just felt a pop and it hurt like hell. I am going to do what I have to do to get back to normal, I love running and cannot wait until I can get back out there! Any tips on excersises or stuff to try and stay in shape would be appreciated, hope everyone is doing good in there recovery, and look foward to talking more as my recovery continues.

Roy said...

Please provide info regarding whether your surgery was performed by an orthopedic or podiatrist...
If ortho, were they specialist in foot and ankle?

Please give opinion on pain pump. I do not like to take pain medication, feeling like I exist in a haze and goofy is worse than the pain to me.

Maria said...

I was sitting at a picnic table and stood up to walk towards my car and 4 paces later, i felt a loud snap on my ankle. It's as if I was hit with a blunt object. I stood up with someone's assistance and when i raised my leg, my foot was dangling. I am very active and did my exercises by the book then the inevitable happened on July 3rd and rushed to the ER thereafter. I was told that i will need surgery and was referred to a podiatrist come this Monday. This blog site helped me understand what to expect and questions to ask. Thank you for all your comments. I am certain that I will go with a below the knee block and maybe a cocktail in my IV. Do you have any advices on what other else I should know?

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone. i ruptur mine a/t months ago and now i am waiting for my surgery. thinking about surgery and anesthesia is giving me goosbump in my stomech,can anyone please guide me step by step what happens after i wake up from anesthesia and till i go home?
{i am going for general anesthesia}
thanks in advance, you all are great.