Comments on Achilles Tendon Rupture Blog: Achilles Tendon Surgery: Facts About Anesthesia

Sharon said I ruptured my achilles tendon on feb ...

2012-02-19T15:03:12.563-05:00

Sharon said

I ruptured my achilles tendon on feb 5 2012. Two days later i had surgery with general anastetic. Takes about 1 hr, stayed overnight in hospital. Came home in a semi cast which will be on 4 8 wks with the aid of crutches. My advice about the experience is be aware of the side effects that comes with the pain killers. Mine were Tylex, they make you constipated and also i had difficulty urinating which was very frustrating because you actually drink quite a lot at this time. I am almost 2 wks post op and today is my first day without pain relief. Due back to the surgeon in 6 wks time when I go to the next stage..... the BOOT.
Looking to get plenty of help from my 3 teenage boys and hubby who are also in shock with the amount of extra jobs they have to do( ha)
I hope this helps anybody who is early in recovery like me.
Take Care everyone and take it nice and slow.

I am 55 years old had completlh ruptured my AT Oct...

2012-02-09T00:07:26.451-05:00

I am 55 years old had completlh ruptured my AT Oct 21, 2011 jumping doube dutch. ER doctor misdiagnosed injury, so I walked around with a limp for 2 1/2 months before I Finally had surgery 1/17/12. Surgery went well. Pain afterward not too bad. Kept foot elevated 24 7 for first three days and swellng and pain was minimal. I felt the most pain, although it was temporary when I stood up and the blood rushed to the stitches. WOW! I Flexed and pointed my toes often. Still do.I think it helps. In splint for one week, then the doctor gently stretched the tendon and put me in a ROM boot. I returned to work in one week. I fell off my crutches trying to open a door, so stithes came out 2/9 instead of 2/2 as scheduled. Knee walker came and OMG,it beats the hell out of crutches. As I am still nonweight bearing, I use a wheelchair at home, and the knee walker at the office and outside. Kneewalker not good on gravel, but otherwise great and fun, on smooth floors.Still need ctutches unfortunately for stairs and small spaces. Imobility is challenging and I believe I would have lost my mind if I had to depned soley on crutches to get around. The plan is to weekly stretch the tendon 5-7degees and adjust boot accordingly until my foot is back to 90 degees doral flexion. Then I can start putting weight on the tendon and the more intense PT starts. so 6-8 weeks from surgey to weight bearing PT. I understand that it is a slow recovery. So i guess its best to go easy then to try to overachive. My mishap on the ctuches set me back one week and that is precious lost time. I try to stay upbeat and arm myself with positive affirmations. Any recovery tips are welcomed.

Hello! I just ruptured my Achilles tendon 6 days a...

2012-01-23T06:22:36.147-05:00

Hello! I just ruptured my Achilles tendon 6 days ago. I'm scheduled to see an ortho tomorrow morning anticipating they will tell me I need surgery. I have never gone through surgery and am having high anxiety as I am a little scared for this process. Is surgery painful? What is the easiest, safest, and most reliable way to go through repair?

Btw all of the posts above are very helpful! I would just like to put my point of view. I'm scared!!!!

Charles - posted he was 76 years old, surgery Sept...

2012-01-15T00:32:55.545-05:00

Charles - posted he was 76 years old, surgery Sept 2011. I am so interested in how your recovery is going? I am in the same situation (playing tennis) and not sure what to do. I hate to give up the game but I am concerned about 1 year of recovery time.

How are you doing now that it has been 6 months??

Gary

I am 76 yrs,had a complete tear in Sept/2011 playi...

2011-11-19T12:44:11.162-05:00

I am 76 yrs,had a complete tear in Sept/2011 playing tennis. At that time had reservations for big trip to Asia and did not want to cancel trip. Had a special foot brace made for walking and protection on trip. Was terrible, very uncomfortable. Dr. said I could have surgery when I got back. When I returned,Oct. Dr. said I could leave alone if I am not going to play tennis again. Told him I love tennis and want to play again because it was my only means to enjoyment & exercise.
He did Surgery as an out patient had blocker lft. leg.and local anesthesia.
After surgery very groggy,nauesa,hard to swallow,not bad pain just aggravating. Taking Percocet for pain. Foot was wrapped in a gross fiber cast which was removed after two weeks and replaced with Boot which is worn 24hrs each day, horrible!
Rented a kneel roller which is indispensable vs Crutches. My biggest fear was going home after surgery going up 4 steps with crutches. it was tough but made it. Had "Home therapy" come and it was well worth it. Had to learn how to best get off & on roller re: going to bathroom,washing & getting in and out chairs etc.
Felt bad for the past couple of weeks,at my age you want time to go slow now I can't wait till this over and to take a showere again! It makes you very humble. My wife is a God sent she does everything for me, very lucky to have her!
Coming up to 4th week going to see Dr., I know I will have 2 more weeks in non-weight bearing mode. After that, don't know. Hope this helps,good luck.

I ruptured my right achilles tendon on 9/25/11 and...

2011-11-17T10:39:49.532-05:00

I ruptured my right achilles tendon on 9/25/11 and had an open repair on 10/12/11. Surgery was performed with general anesthesia and a nerve block below my right knee. Surgery was a breeze along with recovery thereafter. I was places in a surgical cast for 2 weeks with my right foot pointed. After 2 weeks I got my staples out and was placed in a fracture cast/walking boot for 3 weeks(non-wight bearing). I have been non-weight bearing for 5 weeks now. If possible, get a knee cruiser rather that use crutches 100% of the time. Anyway, I go to my surgeon 11/17/11 for follow up. All in all, my surgery and recovery times have been rather easy with very little pain.

I ruptured my right achilles tendon on 9/25/11 and...

2011-11-17T10:39:37.822-05:00

This blog has been very informative. I appreciate...

2011-11-08T14:02:46.514-05:00

This blog has been very informative. I appreciate the info I've been able to gleen from all of you. I'm 40 yrs old and like alot of you I tore my AT playing sports (for me it was a baseball tournament).

I officially wrecked it on Oct 29. But I didn't feel or hear anything when it went. It was like my foot just went dead and the pain was more like a bad pulled muscle. I had mentioned to my teammates that 3 days prior that it felt like someone had kicked me in the heel. According to my Doc, that was when the tearing started. I saw him 2 days later and within 30 seconds he knew it was ripped. Had surgery on Nov 4th.

Surgery itself never really bothered me. I've had 3 scope jobs on my knee and the recovery for them has been pretty quick and uncomplicated.

So I am writing this 4 days post op. Here is what I can tell you from my limited experience. I woke up in a splint wrapped in gauze. I'll be in that until I get the staples/stitches out on Nov 14th. then I am supposed to go into a walking boot. I haven't had any major pain. I haven't taken any meds, not even tylenol or advil. And I've slept normally since. I don't say this to make light of any of the bloggers. I fully expected to be in complete agony. And it appears how invasive the surgery is (ie nerve, tendon and muscle trauma) is a big determining factor in how bad the post op pain will be. Again, I can only speak for myself, the worst I've dealt with to date is pulling of the stitches (feels like someone is ripping a bandaid off) but I a simple readjustment of my foot and it goes away. Also, in the past few nights, I've experienced twitches in my foot and calf that definitely pull on the tendon and stitches but it is short lived. I've read that this is the nerves firing up as it repairs itself. Not sure how true it is, but I'll take it as a positive in recovery.

Hopefully if it goes the way the doc says, I'll be therapy within 3 weeks of surgery and should be good to go by february 2012.

Wish all of you the best in your recovery.

hi i'm 45 year old woman from aberdeen Scotla...

2011-10-31T07:13:44.019-04:00

hi i'm 45 year old woman from aberdeen Scotland who ruptured my achilles tendon playing badminton. Went to A & E that night and rupture confirmed and was given pain killers and crutches and told to come to fracture clinic the next morning. Next morning seen by consultant who said they prefer non-surgical because of the complications of surgical and was put in a hard cast for 4 weeks foot fully pointed. after 4 weeks was put in another hard cast for 2 weeks with foot slightly pointed, still no weight bearing. after 6 weeks was put into another hard cast with foot flat and still no weight bearing, for another 2 weeks. after the 8 weeks non weight bearing the cast comes off completely i think and then what? anyone one else aberdeen scotland gone through this procedure? its doing my head in hopping about on the dam crutches unable to do much!

I tore my achilles tendon playing basketball July...

2011-10-25T13:51:36.740-04:00

I tore my achilles tendon playing basketball July 27th, 2011 didnt think i did much but sprained my ankle. Things just didnt seem right so July 29th, 2011 I went to the ER and was referred to orthopedics were i found out my achilles was ruptured. I had surgery Oct. 6th, 2011 with general anesthesia and a nerve block below the knee. No pain and it was over with before i knew. I was placed in a cast up until Oct. 24th and now am in a walking boot, however, am still on crutches until my next docs appointment Nov. 22nd. From my experience general anesthesia and a nerve block below the knee is the best way to go. After that the most important thing would be to have patience because an achilles rupture is a long recovery and can be very stressful and depressing. If anyone has any questions u can contact me at brandonrobinson76@yahoo.com

I completely severed my Achillies tendon this past...

2011-09-10T17:54:50.102-04:00

I completely severed my Achillies tendon this past Wednesday Spetember 8, 2011. I was trying to dislodge a tire on a trailer that was rusted and gave it a kick. heard a pop and felt numb. No pain at all but I was not able to use my foot. I limped on it to a nearby truck for a ride to the hospital. I then limped into emerg. They were amazed that I could kinda walk on it. Orthopedic surgeon said it was completely severed. Waiting to have my surgery this coming Wednesday September 14th. I was given the option of leaving the severed tendon to reheal itself on its own or surgery. Apparently, studies are showing that leaving the tendon to heal on its own is the new way to go. That is crazy!!!!! I opted for surgery. At least with surgery you will know for sure that it is reattached. Good luck to everyone.

I did a complete thickness tear of the Achilles on...

2011-09-08T23:27:59.167-04:00

I did a complete thickness tear of the Achilles on 8/17/11. Surgery on 8/19/11. I was playing softball and thought the bat had gotten wrapped up in my legs, I ran the length awkwardly to first, each time thinking the bat was still hitting me.

I'm allergic to the local anesthetic lidocaine and had my face swell to the size of Beavis on two occasions. I told the anesthesiologist this and was told they couldn't do a local block like most surgeries have, however she didn't believe me, despite being tested at an allergist. During the surgery she accidentally spritz lidocaine from the breathing tube and I woke up with a big swollen face, but luckily otherwise alright.

My tendon was frayed and could not be reattached smoothly, so small sections had to be cut from the tendon to attach two smooth edges, then my calf muscle had to be cut and lengthen so the tendon was the correct length again, ouch...

Because I could have no local block, it hurt a good deal when initially waking up, but the pain meds hit the IV and I was just fine after that. But then I had the side effect of diminished respiration from the pain meds and had to spend the night in the hospital on oxygen.

That was actually for the better though as they got the pain med schedule worked out and I've felt very little pain since. They gave me dolotiden and percocet to go home with, but I just used the percocet as the dolotiden didn't seem to work. After a week of percocet I'm off the pain meds now and only have a feeling of tenseness regarding the Achilles.

I'm in no cast or boot or splint or anything. My doc wants me to simply keep it elevated and do as much range of motion as I can with no weight whatsoever for 6 weeks, which I find as a welcome change to my other ankle surgery. At week 6 I get a Vacoboot and can start partially weight bearing.

I'm somewhat apprehensive about doing a lot of the activities I did in the past just because of how abrupt this was...

2011-09-08T23:22:29.668-04:00

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Update to my previous post. I had surgery to repa...

2011-08-14T02:12:24.794-04:00

Update to my previous post. I had surgery to repair a completely ruptured Achilles on 8/10. Surgery went smooth and I had little pain, however, upon returning home that evening I quickly realized how tight the cast felt on my foot. I've had casts for other injuries before with no issue but this was so tight, perhaps due to swelling, that it felt like I was wearing a shoe two sizes too small and my foot. It got so bad that I had an anxiety attack and wanted to rip the cast off just hours after surgery.

My wife called the after hour number but the doctor on call was no help. He refused to perscribe something to ease my nerves and said to call back in the morning if I still had an issue.

To my surprise I found something that really helped get my mind off of it. I had downloaded a self hypnosis relaxation app for my iPhone a while back. I used this app more or less to help me fall asleep when active minded at bed time. I always figured the boring music and monotone narration were putting me to sleep. I put on the headphones and laid in bed listening to the relaxation app...surprisingly I quickly calmed down to the point where I dosed off.

I awoke the next morning to find that the cast was still extremely tight. We called the doctor again and the nurse suggested my wife use scissors to carefully cut a slit on the top of the cast. I didnt see how this would help since it was my foot not calf that felt discomfort. My wife called back yet again after my foot started to cramp up. She realizes I have a very high pain tolerance and if I was complaining there was really something wrong. This time I insisted that they see me. I was in the doctor's office within an hour and saw the surgeon that repaired my Achilles.

He was very understanding and quickly ordered that the cast be removed. The doctor unwrapped the bandages and took a quick look at the 2 inch incision and said it looked good. He rewrapped the foot in an Ace bandage and agreed that they wrapped the first cast too tight.

He went on to say that he didn't want me to be miserable during the long recovery process...it was a pleasant surprise when he said he was OK with me going home without the cast! He said as long as I promised to strictly keep the leg elevated and wear the boot to protect the injured area I did not need the cast.

I was sent home and told to return in 10 days for post op exam. At that time I was told that I would most likely start gentle stretching. It's only been three days since surgery, no cast, no serious pain, no issues! I keep the leg elevated and iced all day/night with only the Ace bandage and throw on the boot only when going to the bathroom or to take a shower as protection. It beats wearing that dreaded cast!

I cannot stress enough if something doesn't feel right or if you're really suffering...CALL YOUR DOCTOR! If you have to, be persistent if you're not getting the help you feel you need...its a long road to rehabilitation and as my doctor said it makes no sense for anyone to be any more miserable than they have to! Speedy recovery!

I ruptured my Achilles on Aug 3,2011 while sparrin...

2011-08-11T00:31:45.082-04:00

I ruptured my Achilles on Aug 3,2011 while sparring at taekwondo. My neighbor and good friend, suggested it as a great form of exercise and way to beat work related stress. I am a 40 year old guy that was religiously active in the gym his entire adult life, however, after getting married with children I gradually packed on the typical 30 lbs that I was eager to knock off.

Crazy thing is I was just standing there doing nothing when I felt like someone hit the back of my leg with a pipe! When I struggled to stand up I knew what it was.

I live in the Akron, Ohio area and everyone I know, including several doctors, all recommended Dr Gordon Bennett. I'm glad they did, he's supposed to be the best of the best and he was very nice to deal with along the entire process. I went in for surgery today Aug 10, 2011 at 4:00 and I was rolled out of the ER by 5:00 and home by 6:00.

They went with the nerve block behind the knee. I woke up, with a little pain so the nurse upped the morphine a bit which helped. I realized as I came too that I had a soft cast on my right foot when I cane too...I didn't even realize that the surgery was finished. My mouth was bone dry and had a terrible chemical taste from the breathing tube they put down my throat.

By the time I got home I started to have a bad anxiety attack? I had surgery before with no issue, but this time I was so anxious and felt claustrophobic. My wife had never seen me like that, even after two different surgeries in the past so she became worried. I have to think it was the meds plus the itches that I can't scratch and the surreal and weird feeling of not being able to feel my leg from the calf down that did it. It did feel like the soft cast was on way TOO tight around my foot...squeezing my foot?

My wife called the doctor on call but he wasn't much help, he said there's nothing I could do, despite my doctor friends suggesting I ask for a mild sedative to take the edge off for the next day or or so,

I did find something that surprisingly offered relief to the post-op anxiety. I had downloaded a self hypnosis app for the iPhone a while back to help me get to sleep those nights when my mind was too active worrying about what I had to do at work the next day.

I laid down in bed, foot elevated and iced with iPhone and self hypnosis app at my side. I fell asleep right after listening to the stress relief app and woke up feeling just fine...funny, the self hypnosis app that I skeptically claimed was just B.S. and so boring it put me to sleep actually worked with the anxiety!

The cast still does feel entirely too tight around the arch of my foot, the nerve block is just now staring to wear, so I took a Vicodin and plan to go back to bed after I submit this post. I'll call the doctor's office tomorrow morning if the cast still feels this tight to see if there's anything they can do...

Otherwise, the plan is for me to return to the doctor in a week to remove the soft cast and switch to a boot that will be worn for 6-8 weeks. I will be able to take off the boot to take a shower and start light stretching....I can hardly wait! Then it's intense rehab to get me back the way I was.

Over all, the surgery wad not as bad as I thought...just hoping I don't freak out again about having to wear a cast for the next week LOL. I am eager to start rehab and get back to living...

If your in the Clevekand/Akron/Canton, Ohio area I highly recommend Dr. Bennett...

I'v ruptured my achilles tendon last june 7, 2...

2011-07-20T07:52:36.878-04:00

I'v ruptured my achilles tendon last june 7, 2011, was playing basketball, felt like i was thrown by a stone...got my surgery june 14, it lasted for 1 hour and 10 mins...im getting the local anesthesia (from spine)...during and after the surgery, it went just fine, i feel asleep when my Dr. give me the local anesthesia. The team woke me up after the sugery then i was brought to the recovery room for an hour. At 4th week, my cast was removed. It will be my 6th week this saturday, but still on cratches. Cant wait to start my therapy next week...hoping, 4-6 months from now, everything will be the same and be back playing basketball after a year.

I fully ruptured on 7-4-11, surgery 7-14-11. I ha...

2011-07-16T02:45:29.329-04:00

I fully ruptured on 7-4-11, surgery 7-14-11. I had never had surgery so I was a bit freaked but all went well. Great orthopedic surgeon and anesthesiologist allayed my fears. Anesthesia scared me the most but perspective is good: You have a much greater statsical chance of dying on the freeway. anyway post op pain was killing me day of, now is day 2 and percoset/ibuprofen combo knocks it back pretty well. More recovery now but to anyone who is freaked about anesthesia, make sure you have a good, solid guy with great bedside manner. If you are pretty healthy anyway (I am) you will do fine. Non activity sucks as I am active but I'm also a musician so I can practice more and going to do Rosetta stone language learning. Take the injury as an opportunity to focus on something. That and do the PT prescribed, I think. This is day 2 post op hopefully I can keep the optimism up!

I ruptured my achilles 04MAY11 playing basketball....

2011-06-14T21:04:19.796-04:00

I ruptured my achilles 04MAY11 playing basketball. I had surgery on the 18th after some of the swelling reduced. Rupturing it wasn't very painful at all past the initial "pop". Post surgical pain was much worse. Elevation is definitely the key in the beginning. I was given percoset for the pain. It worked, but it made me nauseous. I stopped taking it after 3 days and just accepted pain as part of the recovery process. After two weeks in a soft cast, I was moved to a boot with a 2" heel lift. I use crutches to move around. Today my lift was reduced to 1". I start rehab and I'm a little apprehensive, the tendon is so tight. I guess I have the same fear everyone does; any amount of pain means re-rupture. However the doctor has encouraged me to trust his aggressive schedule. I will be in a heel-less boot in two weeks and back in a shoe another two weeks after that. There is still much rehab to be done, but to be in a shoe in a month seems like quite the arduous task.

I ruptured my right achilles tendon playing basket...

2011-06-14T14:07:29.257-04:00

I ruptured my right achilles tendon playing basketball on June 1, 2011. Surgery on June 3, 2011. I was released way too early. Surgery at 4 pm and I was home by 7:30 pm. Once the initial meds wore off, I was in intense pain. Burning, swelling, throbbing, dull pain, sharp pain . . . you name it. I did not sleep one wink the first night and ended back up in the ER the following morning with IV meds. Went back home and it started again. Finally, I was admitted overnight for IV meds. Once the initial pain was knocked out, I've managed on oral meds. Still, it's been almost two weeks, and I still need a few meds to make it through the day and especially night. Very tired of this hard cast, and looking forward to its removal. I am very active, so the immobility is killing me. Can't wait to start PT and get this behind me. I can see where the mental piece of recovery will be fun. I already worry about my left tendon, because as you all know, I don't ever want to experience this injury again. Terrible, terrible. The initial pain was intense, but it wore off fairly quickly. It's been the post-surgical pain that has affected me most. Hope everyone heals quickly!

Todd, I am a 34 yr old male, about a month ago I ...

2011-05-30T12:53:56.999-04:00

Todd,

I am a 34 yr old male, about a month ago I tore my left achilles 99% of the way with the rest very shredded.

I am only 3 weeks out of surgery. I never got the hard cast. Went from soft cast directly to walking boot.

I am putting pressure on it partially by walking normal with crutch assist. I want to mention I removed my batting and wraps a week after surgery to let my leg breath! It was remarkable how fast my leg healed by doing so! I am to the point now that I never were anything on it unless im moving around.

For the past 2 weeks I have been sleeping without anything on the area, just elevated with one pillow.

I have been exercising the calf daily by flexing my toes up and down in a pillow.I also have been doing foot raises( flexion/ dorsiflexion movements).

I have been playing pool for the past week with my boot. Yesterday I even went to the beach to catch some rays and let my leg feel some sun without any bandages.

I have also been wearing both tennis shoes occasionally with my crutches for mental progress!lol

I think I am doing great so far. I believe recovery is mental and common since, if something doesn't feel right to you don't do it. If it feels right go for it with caution.

I ruptured my Achilles last night, and met with th...

2011-05-25T18:08:40.242-04:00

I ruptured my Achilles last night, and met with the orthopedic surgeon this morning (5/25). Surgery is scheduled for 6/02.

I'm 39 (M) and ruptured it playing b-ball (I'm fairly fit and active).

The Doc told me I would be in a cast for 2 weeks (non-weight bearing), then after the stitches come out in a cast for another two weeks, but can begin putting some weight on it at that point.

4 weeks in, he said I should be back to regular shoes and able to move around some without crutches.

Based on blog posts above, this seems overly optimistic. Has anyone had a recovery similar to the time table above?

Thanks!

I haven't got a rupture but tendonitis in bot...

2011-05-25T14:26:06.542-04:00

I haven't got a rupture but tendonitis in both legs. Had 6mths physio, plaster cast for 6wks, shock wave therapy, steriod injection and still no better. I have my hospital appointment tomorrow to discuss surgery on my worst leg - can someone give me hope? Desperate to get back running but would settle on walking the dog without tears in my eyes?

Ruptured my achillis on May 18, 2011. They operate...

2011-05-21T11:19:34.042-04:00

Ruptured my achillis on May 18, 2011. They operated on May 20th with a block from the knee down. Worked great. Left the hosiptal about 3 hours after surgery. No pain until the next morning when I woke up.

When I had my surgery and they put me out it took ...

2011-05-08T16:25:11.024-04:00

When I had my surgery and they put me out it took me a long time to have the strength and energy to get up and go home. Every point of my body was fighting it.

I ruptured my AT on December 16th of 2010 and opte...

2011-04-26T13:39:47.808-04:00

I ruptured my AT on December 16th of 2010 and opted for the non-surgical approach. I just turned 60 this month.

I was in a boot cast for about 11 weeks with heel wedges to keep the foot pointed down. Gradually removed the wedges starting at about week 7 and got to 90 degrees and then started physio. It was not coming along as well as I had hoped and revisited the physician, had another MRI and lo and behold the tendon is re-ruptured so now I am pretty sure I will be going for sugery in the next week or two. Will probably have a spinal block anethesia and hopefully the repair will be more permanent this time.