Comments on Achilles Tendon Rupture Blog: The Day of the Surgery

I have achillies tendinosis, achilles and plantar ...

2011-11-26T10:34:38.713-05:00

I have achillies tendinosis, achilles and plantar spuring and am scheduled for surgery Dec. 13. I have dealt with this pain and limp for over 5 years and can't bear it any longer. I am 55 years old, pretty good health except extremely overweight. I do have the knee scooter coming, but I have tried crutches for stairs and just can't handle it. I live in a trilevel and once I get upstairs to my bedroom, that's where I'll remain parked until my visit to the ortho. Any suggestions about anything will help. These blogs are wonderful and has helped me alot.

Well, I'm back. 16 months after surgery for co...

2011-09-10T08:37:46.525-04:00

Well, I'm back. 16 months after surgery for complete rupture. Looks like I get to go thru it again :_( Never gained strength in calf, and cld never really push off. Went to work too soon/lots of trip ups, too. Doc(s) say I must have torn again very soon after the first surgery. PLEASE, everyone...DO NOT RUSH YOUR RECOVERY! I am not one to sit still, but never want to have to go thru a third surgery. God Bless all of you dealing with a rupture.

Fully torn achilles, compliments of league basketb...

2011-08-16T16:59:29.634-04:00

Fully torn achilles, compliments of league basketball game (note: stretch and warm-up before tip-off!). 35 years old, other activities include: running, weights, skiing.

Timeline:
7/6 injury
7/19 surgery
8/2 boot

Advice: find new hobbies to keep busy, the sooner you accept the situation, the better off you will be mentally and physically. This injury happens to a lot of people, usually the ones who LOVE being active.

Things to consider:

In lieu of "real" workout, crutching around can give you a decent upper body workout.

If you are single, boot/cast & crutches are an excellent conversation starter. :)

Vio, my doctor kept me in a cast for 8 weeks as it...

2011-08-10T00:44:16.923-04:00

Vio, my doctor kept me in a cast for 8 weeks as it was hard for me to stay still. (they marked where the incision was, on the cast, & cut open to inspect, replaced with gauze & an ace bandage) As soon as the cast was off, I got a brace but was able to hit the pool everyday for swimming/walking. I was back skiing in 5 months!

Hello everybody. I torn the tendon playing soccer ...

2011-08-10T00:16:27.053-04:00

Hello everybody. I torn the tendon playing soccer and had surgery on 07/11/11. Never thought it can happen to me, played soccer professionally, very active guy and 30 yrs old is not that old... Everything went fine, got the cast off 2 weeks after the surgery, got the stitches out and the boot was OK until last night when I accidentally slipped and stepped onto the foot without the boot on. Back to square one guys, had to go through surgery again next week and, if the pain is manageable, I can't say I am mentally ready for this AGAIN. My words of wisdom (probably heard it over and over again but trust me it's true): Take is very very VERY easy and do not even think of rushing it; it will snap again when you least expect it. I learned the hard way but I hope you'll be smarter than me and wear the boot on all the time.

Hi all, just found this blog and hadn't realis...

2011-07-21T11:59:43.773-04:00

Hi all, just found this blog and hadn't realised how big the AT community is.
I ruptured mine playing cricket with my son - it was a great shot too. I accused him of kicking me behind my ankle which would have been quite an achievement from 10 yards away ! I thought I had pulled a calf muscle although my foot was numb, pins and needles and an odd feeling as if the ground was sloping towards my heel.I could walk but wiith a bad limp. I then made the first of a number of silly decisions. I carried on walking around on it for 3 days - it was sore and numb but I could get around. I then spent a whole week in a support bandage but no improvement. Finally I went to the doctor who gave me pain killers and told me to give it a week and if no improvement go to A&E (ER). So - after 2 and a half weeks I finally got diagnosed as have a rupture.
I then made another silly decision and elected conservative treatment. So, after 3 weeks in one cast and now moved to a second with foot closer to neutral. I'm bearing up ok except that I won't know if my AT has healed for about another 5 weeks. It is getting me down knowing that I may have to have surgery anyway. Basically the 8 weeks of conservatine treatment will have been a waste of time. I have a stinging in my heel, sometimes a tight feeling at the back of my calf and swollen foot and knee. I can also move my foot very slightly up and down within the cast but it might be wishful thinking. Is there any way I can be sure it is knitting together so I can stop worrying about having to go through surgery anyway ?

just had my surgery on monday 5/16/2011....had my ...

2011-05-21T20:45:18.973-04:00

just had my surgery on monday 5/16/2011....had my cast taken off and into a boot 5/20.....is it just me ? or did anybody else have to urniate like a race horse after the surgery for the next 24 hours? i had the spinal block and an iv attached to me for like 6 hours

I ruptured my left Achilles tendon on May 8th, had...

2011-05-21T15:57:15.870-04:00

I ruptured my left Achilles tendon on May 8th, had surgery on May 19th.

I ruptured my other achilles tendon over 20 years ago so I am familiar with the process.

If you dunked the basketball before you injured your achilles tendon, you will again after this one heals.

The first few days are the hardest after surgery. The pain can be excrutiating to extremely execrutiating. But everybody is different, and there is nothing wrong with taking those percosets or vicodines to relieve pain the beginning.

I am taking a whole bunch of vitamin supplements as well.

I counted the days until my first cast came off. Everyday after that it does get better.

Not the kind of exclusive club I wanted to be part...

2011-05-12T12:39:02.473-04:00

Not the kind of exclusive club I wanted to be part of but here I am! Full rupture of my left achilles tendon playing basketball. Ruptured on may 5, 2011(Cinco de Mayo) and surgery tomorrow May 13, 2011 (Friday the 13th) go figure!

I'm a decently healthy and active 5'11", 235lb, 35 year old male. Went to the gym regularly and was in decent shape. Started playing basketball once a week for the last two months. Hadn't played the previous 2yrs. Doc said jumping into the high impact activity caused my AT to rupture. I should have eased into it. Instead, I played for 2hrs straight each week. Doc says I'll make a full recovery in time.

I was anxious and a little bit scared but many of the stories on this blog have comforted me and educated me on what my road to recovery will be like. Although this blog goes way back, I still feel the camaraderie from those who have suffered like I have. Thanks for setting up this blog, it has tremendously helped calm my nerves!

On my way to surgery at 6am tomorrow!

Hi. As far as I know this blog is still open. So...

2011-04-13T20:16:50.774-04:00

Hi. As far as I know this blog is still open. Sorry you've had to go thru a rupture. It is my 1 year anniversary this week...Your question? I experienced MUCH involantary movement for quite a while after my acute rupture repair. It frightened me alot! The doctor(s) told me, "it was the way your body responsed to trama". It will eventually go away. Mine lasted about a month or so. Hope this helps. Good luck with your recovery.

Gina

Hi, I am not sure if this blog is still active, bu...

2011-04-13T19:12:20.841-04:00

Hi, I am not sure if this blog is still active, but here's my question.....I ruptured my achilles on 3/15/11 and had open surgery to repair on 3/18/11. Recovery is going well. However, I have been having calf cramps and was given a muscle relaxer meds. Has anyone had pain in the achilles area, involuntary movements, where it feels like you have stretched the tendon out so far, like you have flexed your foot? I have these issues a couple times a week. It wakes me out of a sleep and is very painful. I don't know what to do. Dr does not seem worried; I keep thinking I have re-ruptured the tendon and have been physically checking it daily. Am I losing it???

This blog has been a blast to read - everyone'...

2011-03-25T16:38:24.474-04:00

This blog has been a blast to read - everyone's stories helps provide hope. I'm a 50 year old who plays basketball 3x per week on average, it I guess it was my turn. I ruptured my right achilles while playing basketball, and the doc said it was quite unusual in that the tear was very high - near the calf. Injury on 1/12/11, surgery on 1/17, in a cast until 2/3, then walking boot with no wedges or heel support - right to 90 degrees in the boot. Started PT on 3/3, and just ditched the boot on 3/22, 9 weeks post op. I never experienced much pain except for 2 days after surgery. Still have very little strength but since doc was progressive in getting me out of the cast, I didn't suffer too much calf atrophy. I can feel my muscles coming back each day. I cringe when I hear of folks in a cast for 4-5 weeks, then months in a boot. By the time you get past that, it's gonna be tough to rehab. Best of luck to those just getting past surgery. It gets better!

Interesting blog. I've been through this befo...

2011-03-06T02:31:47.244-05:00

Interesting blog. I've been through this before, tore my left playing indoor soccer 6 years ago. Tore my right last weekend, Feb 27'11, again playing indoor soccer. I'd not played soccer since my last rupture until this current season. Talk about bad luck. I'm hoping to get in for surgery tomorrow. The pain was real bad last time after surgery. Some of you have stories about less pain and so I feel more positive.

I came across this page before surgery. I initial...

2010-12-07T03:36:35.298-05:00

I came across this page before surgery. I initially ruptured my tendon on 10/13 playing basketball. I may be in a different situation than others since for the first time in my life I didn't have insurance. For those who have to pay out of pocket, be careful cause some doctors charge way more than others. I checked with three doctors on prices and I was able to find a great doctor for a little less than $4,000.
I live in Los Angeles, but flew to DC to get surgery done since my family and doctor was located there. So I had surgery on 11/5 and flew back on 11/16. I was in the cast for about a week and a half, and then I rested for another week and began walking around in a boot. I never experienced much pain, maybe a sharp pain here or there but nothing was bad enough where I needed pain killers. I was more concerned with opening up my stitches or getting it infected.
I did accidentally strain my achilles twice by getting up to go the restroom to quickly and that hurt like crazy. Right now i'm on my 5th week and still wearing a boot. My foot is very limited on movements and I still try to ice it every night for about 30 mins to an hour. It helps tremendously to ice my foot at night, since i'm at work during the day and I can't elevate it. I should be starting Phys. Therapy soon and am hoping to get the swelling down.
Staying positive is something i'm trying to do and hope I can walk with out the boot in a month. Thanks for everyone else's posts. It helps to hear everyone's experience and I hope mine helps someone out there as well.

Jason, sorry you joined the club. It gets better e...

2010-11-12T01:31:39.187-05:00

Jason, sorry you joined the club. It gets better each day just keep staying positive. I've been in a walking boot for 11 days now. Only using one crutch now and will be shedding that in three more days. I could go without it now but I want to be compliant with my doc's rehab plan. It feels great! No pain at all, just a slight stretching sensation. My range of motion is nearly the same as my other Achilles. I would talk to your doc about doing weight bearing in a walking boot at two weeks post-op. You will recover faster and have way less calf atrophy. I'll be a full 4 weeks in the boot and was 2 weeks in a half cast/splint to start. But definitely do what your doc says! Do not want to rerupture. Let's keep in touch.

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:23:00.933-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2010. I was playing volleyball teachers against students when all of a sudden everyone in the gym heard a loud pop I heard the gym teacher say it was probably my Achilles heel seeing as he had been through a similar experience. After a half day at the hospital and my doc calling a specialist I was due for surgery 2 days later. I was given a half cast in a 45 degree angle and sent home. The day of the surgery I went to the hospital and was ushered to a room and put on an IV. Was operated on at 7:30ish they normally just epidural the area but seeing as I have 5 titanium rods holding my lower back together anesthesia it was! Woke up with a lovely plaster full cast covered in purple fiberglass. Was sent home the next day and I am now on my 6th day of recovery. Bored outta my mind but moral is still high. Will be getting the staples out on next Thursday. They want me to take 2 Oxycodone's every 4 hours for pain but I cut it down to 2 twice a night to help me sleep. I have been on hard meds b4 and went cold turkey, let's just say the week of withdrawals has me scared enuf to never take them regularly again. The pain is manageable except when I stand. Wow it's fine first few seconds then it starts to throb unbearably. I can normally endure it for 5 minutes or so then it's straight to lying down elevated position and 5 or so minutes later it get's better! Anyone else et this for awhile I thought blood clot but seeing as I never had it I don't know, my toes are normal colored, no swelling no heat at area. Anyhoo Kudo's on this website got alot of info from others experience. If I can give but one bit of advice it would be that morale is 95% of the battle if you find some way of keeping that up your pain, boredom, and such will have no bearing on your healing! Find funny things to watch keep occupied! I am currently catching up on my netflix shows lol

Jason Canada

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:12:47.869-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2010. I was playing volleyball teachers against students when all of a sudden everyone in the gym heard a loud pop and I looked behind me to see who had run into me. When I realized there was no one there I heard the gym teacher say it was probably my Achilles heel seeing as he had been through a similar experience. After a half day at the hospital and my doc calling a specialist I was due for surgery 2 days later. I was given a half cast in a 45 degree angle and sent home. The day of the surgery I went to the hospital and was ushered to a room and put on an IV. The pain had been pretty bad over then last few days and this was with me taking that dilodid stuff but only 1 MG every4 hours. So they injected me with the required 2 MG and even though I suffer from chronic back pain and never take anything for it so pain threshold is very high I was feeling no pain at the ankle or back! Was operated on at 7:30ish they normally just epidural the area but seeing as I have 5 titanium rods holding my lower back together anesthesia it was! Woke up with a lovely plaster full cast covered in purple fiberglass. Was sent home the next day and I am now on my 6th day of recovery. Bored outta my mind but moral is still high. Will be getting the staples out on next Thursday. They want me to take 2 Oxycodone's every 4 hours for pain but I cut it down to 2 twice a night to help me sleep. I have been on hard meds b4 and went cold turkey, let's just say the week of withdrawals has me scared enuf to never take them regularly again. The pain is manageable except when I stand. Wow it's fine first few seconds then it starts to throb unbearably. I can normally endure it for 5 minutes or so then it's straight to lying down elevated position and 5 or so minutes later it get's better! Anyone else et this for awhile I thought blood clot but seeing as I never had it I don't know, my toes are normal colored, no swelling no heat at area. Anyhoo Kudo's on this website got alot of info from others experience. If I can give but one bit of advice it would be that morale is 95% of the battle if you find some way of keeping that up your pain, boredom, and such will have no bearing on your healing! Find funny things to watch keep occupied! I am currently catching up on my netflix shows lol

Jason Canada

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:11:57.010-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:11:17.704-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:10:41.824-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:10:03.211-05:00

Hey gang joined your group as of Tuesday Nov 2nd 2...

2010-11-11T13:09:28.635-05:00

Saw my doc on 11/1, 2 weeks post-op. In a walking...

2010-11-05T15:04:43.403-04:00

Saw my doc on 11/1, 2 weeks post-op. In a walking boot now using crutches 25-50% wt bearing. Tendon and calf were soooo tight the first two days could hardly get the boot on. Mainly just did stretching and ROM. It's loosening up more each day. Been gently massaging the tendon and lower calf which are both pretty sore. Will be in the boot partial weight bearing for two weeks then progress to full wt bearing for two more weeks in the boot, then into a shoe with a heel lift. Currently have a 1inch lift in the boot. I'll fax anyone who wants it my doc's rehab protocol. He said there are different approaches just depends on your doc, they basically do it how they were trained or what has worked for them and their patients, no absolute right or wrong. I'm happy with the more aggressive / earlier wt bearing approach. My calf atrophied so much after only two weeks non wt bearing. Can't imagine 4-6 weeks. But I think ultimately you have to take it at your own pace, but there should be at least a small degree of discomfort, not intolerable pain. Definitely don't want to rerupture. Ill update again in a couple weeks, sooner if any one has questions. Stay positive all :)

Gina, starting partial weight bearing at 6 weeks a...

2010-10-23T22:44:39.675-04:00

Gina, starting partial weight bearing at 6 weeks and had some increased discomfort, so have backed off a bit. I am anxious to start PT but also don't want anyone to be too aggressive. I am listening to my body which is telling me to take it slow. Now it's a matter of trying to stay upbeat as I enter my 8th week on the couch. I get around with crutches, but if there are stairs then it makes it difficult. I go up and down them in my house on my bottom, but that wouldn't look too cool in public. Thanks for your responses.

Hey all. Just had RAT surgery on 10/18/10, injure...

2010-10-21T15:10:13.270-04:00

Hey all. Just had RAT surgery on 10/18/10, injured on 10/14 playing basketball. Thought someone landed on the back of my leg and I was pissed! I'm a physician assistant so when the guys told me no one touched me I pretty much new what I'd done. Felt way different than rolling my ankle which I've done countless times. Ironic thing was I'd just started back playing again the past few weeks and I'd joked about it happening since I'm 40 and hadn't been doing much lately. I was so close to playing golf that day instead. But here I am, a member of the AT club and I must say this sucks! Worst part for me is the boredom and mental aspect of trying to stay positive. My doc has me in a posterior splint for two weeks and no weight bearing. Then supposed to be in walking boot for 4 weeks. I'm hoping to shed that sooner, just have to see how it feels. So far my pain hasn't been too bad except for the first two nights after surgery. Still throbs and gives twinges of pain at times, and if I don't elevate after about 10 minutes it's throbbing and my toes are purple. I'm going to try and go to work next week using a motor scooter that my neighbor let me borrow. He built a leg stand on it so I can keep it elevated somewhat. Another doctor who I work with used it for a few weeks too after rupturing his LAT about 6 weeks ago jumping off a diving board. I'll keep posting as things progress. Stay positive everyone!