Comments on Achilles Tendon Rupture Blog: Share Your AT Experience

I am 18 months post injury, full rupture of my rig...

2012-02-05T14:11:11.642-05:00

I am 18 months post injury, full rupture of my right AT. I did have surgery and opted for an aggressive rehab schedule. I was back to work in a little over 2 1/2 months. I have very little lasting effect; however, it does tend to tighten up and requires lots of stretching out before exercise. My right calf muscle is also just a little weaker than the left, but I understand that is not unusual. All in all my advise is to be careful but bear weight and begin to use the injured AT as soon as possible post surgery. Use the protective boot but get it moving early. The studies say the long term results are similar between aggressive rehab and traditional immobilization treatments but your down time can be significantly reduced by early mobility. Take it or leave it, I am glad I opted for the mobility option.

I love the new site design. For me it's week 9...

2011-09-18T16:18:35.648-04:00

I love the new site design. For me it's week 9, I'm full weight bearing, totally out of the boot and walking. I'm doing very well, Ortho confirms this and my PT will start next month. I started to blog about my experience but it is so atypical that my first blog post received a number of slightly negative comments containing advice - so i realized that blogging isn't for me. I know that the negativity was non intentional so no hard feelings. I just wanted to say thank you for the site and for sharing your experiences with us. I'm doing exceptionally well and very eager to start riding my bike, which the Ortho has cleared me to do - that and swimming. Exciting! :) Cheers!
Calyxa

Hi, I had a Achilles tendon lengthening on July 11...

2011-09-14T23:26:52.039-04:00

Hi, I had a Achilles tendon lengthening on July 11, 2011. I was put in a splint for two weeks, then into a hard cast. I read some comments about the adjusting of the foot after a period of time. My foot was in a cast up until August 25,2011, or six weeks total. I never had any adjustments made. Now that the cast is off I am noticing my foot is more at a right angle and it hurts all the way around my ankle. It also seems to be stiff. Can anybody tell me if they have had this happen to them? Is this going to be permanent? I'm also worried that because my leg was in a hard cast for four weeks instead of using a hinged boot, I will not gain back what muscle I had before the surgery.

I was wondering if any one has had two ruptures on...

2011-08-25T03:57:14.578-04:00

I was wondering if any one has had two ruptures on their leg? After i had surgery my surgeon told me that i had two ruptures. One was a complete rupture be the heel, the other was a partial tear towards the muscle. Only one of them showed up on the mri. She told me that that was the worst achilles injury she has ever seen. If anyone has had a similar injury i would like to know how it went.

I'm 5 weeks post ATR, I had and ATV wreck on 5...

2011-08-24T12:30:53.560-04:00

I'm 5 weeks post ATR, I had and ATV wreck on 5-28-11 and must have partially tore tendon then. On 7-9-11, I was leaping into a swimming pool to cannonball my two sons. the moment I leaped into the air...POP!! I'm 42 and have always been very active. This is not an optimistic period for me...glad I found this sight, hope someone is out there

2011-08-19T10:39:43.811-04:00

This comment has been removed by the author.

As a follow up to my previous comment: I have fo...

2011-07-22T15:53:45.201-04:00

As a follow up to my previous comment:

I have four takeaways from this:

(1) Pick your doctor carefully. My doctor was pretty aggressive with his schedule and that seems to be the way to go. He also had done more than 100 AT surgeries. Experience makes a difference.
(2) It really helps to have someone to take care of you. My wife didn’t always enjoy it, but she was incredibly supportive and it made a huge difference.
(3) Don’t worry about how you’ll feel after surgery not being able to get exercise. Everything takes so much effort that you won’t miss the exercise. I lost ten pounds post-surgery.
(4) Keep a positive attitude. I quickly shifted from worrying about what I couldn’t do to being happy about what I could do. I went from being flat on my back to being able to go to the beach – I was pretty psyched.

Good luck!

I am a 51-year-old man who suffered a complete rup...

2011-07-22T15:52:56.494-04:00

I am a 51-year-old man who suffered a complete rupture of his right Achilles tendon on May 14, 2011. My experience should be encouraging to anyone who’s ruptured their AT.

I’m not a week-end warrior, although I injured myself on a week-end. I bike a lot and generally am in good shape. I was playing ultimate frisbee and it was towards the end of the game. I wasn’t doing anything dramatic; I was running and had just started a turn when it felt and sounded like I was shot in the back of the leg. I went down immediately.

The pain was pretty bad, but I was able to drive home (gingerly). I did not go to the ER – a doctor friend of mine told me that surgery was likely the only treatment and I would want to find a doctor I was comfortable with. My wife and I shopped doctors on the following Monday and found an orthopedist we both were comfortable with (do not go to a podiatrist – they do not have enough experience with this type of injury). Interestingly, the pain went away pretty quickly and I was able to walk without crutches the day after the injury, although my gait was severely impaired. I even cut the grass!

As did everyone else on this blog, I found this a very difficult time. All my big plans for the summer – gone. I had some major pity parties.

I had surgery on Thursday, May 19. The procedure was very quick (three hours from check-in to discharge) and I was placed in a splint to accommodate swelling. The pain was moderate and I used Vicodin for the first three days. I slept a lot for the first week or so after surgery. This was not from the anesthesia – that wore off quickly. However, everything I did was exhausting. I was on crutches or hopped around the house, and I’m sure that the healing process itself was tiring. I went back to work for a couple of half days on May 25 and May 26, but it was hard.

However, I borrowed a wheeled cart to roll around on. That was great! It made life in the office much, much easier. I highly recommend one.

The splint came off on May 31 and I was placed in a hard cast for two weeks. Interestingly, the cast was better than the splint. I could move my foot and leg in it to allow air circulation, so even though it was hot outside, I didn’t get itchy. I also liked the greater sense of security the cast provided. I even did some gardening on my hands and knees.

The cast came off on June 14 (26 days post surgery) and I was placed in a walking boot. That obviously made life much better. I could get around well, although I still wasn’t allowed to drive (don’t tell my doctor, but I did run a few errands). I was able to go on vacation to the beach, although I couldn’t go in the ocean. Still, I was able to go to the pool and I walked on the beach with a plastic bag on the boot to keep the sand out.

I started physical therapy when the cast came off and that seems to help a lot.

The boot came off on July 8 and I started wearing normal shoes. The doctor urged me to walk as much as possible and the PT has been ramping up. I felt pain when walking without the boot (the first pain I’ve felt since shortly after the surgery) but that is gradually subsiding. The bigger problem is scar tissue and general wound irritation, but those are both improving as well.

I’m now at nine weeks post-surgery. I can bike and do everything I did before, except run. Overall, the recovery has been remarkable. I start jogging next week as part of PT and I expect recovery to accelerate after that. Considering how catastrophic the injury is and how long I thought recovery would take, I’m thrilled at my progress.

12 weeks post op, boot off yesterday and it feels ...

2011-07-01T21:38:36.688-04:00

12 weeks post op, boot off yesterday and it feels great. Been doing PT 2X week for six weeks and it helps in the recovery process.

The recovery and rehab described in this blog is e...

2011-06-21T18:03:21.838-04:00

The recovery and rehab described in this blog is extremely conservative. I ruptured my achilles and had surgery on May 4th of 2011. I never had a cast after the surgery, just the boot for protection when i was out and about, though still no weight bearing. At 5 weeks i was already starting therapy. At the 6 week point i was off crutches, full weight bearing and into the boot. At 7 weeks the doc told me i could get our of the boot all together, which i have done. The schedule described in this blog is double almost every single milestone... At 12 weeks just starting therapy, still not 100% weight bearing. At 16 weeks out of the boot completely. I must have had an aggressive doctor, or this guy had a very protective one. Which it is, i am not sure. But i do know i have the absolute best ankle doctor on the east coast. In fact i am considering having his signature tattooed on my ankle ;)
(the achilles rupture isnt my first severe ankle injury...)

If you live in the Maryland/DC area, and you have ANY injury to you ankle, i highly recommend you try to get Dr. Stuart Miller from Greater Chesapeake Orthopedics to be your guy.

HI ALL,I AM GUTTED, I RUPTURED MY AT 6 WEEKS AGO T...

2011-06-10T09:29:40.745-04:00

HI ALL,I AM GUTTED, I RUPTURED MY AT 6 WEEKS AGO THIS SUNDAY WHEN I WAS OUT WITH FRIENDS AND SOMEONE JUMPED ON THE BACK OF MY LEG, I HAVE NEVER IN 42 YEARS FELT PAIN LIKE IT.I DID NOT GO TO A & E UNTIL THE DAY AFTER AS I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST VERY BADLY BRUISED BUT THEN HAD TO GO KNEW THER WAS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT.I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AT AND HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN HOSPITAL TO SEE THE CONSULTANT FIRST THING THE MORNING AFTER, I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF SURGERY OR CAST BEING A WHIMP I CHOSE CAST, I HAD TO CANCEL MY HOLIDAY TO TURKEY AT THIS POINT ON THE ADVISE OF THE DOCTOR, GUTTED. THE FIRST ONE MY FOOT WAS POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN IN IT FOR 3 WEEKS THEN THEY MOVED THE FOOT VERY SLIGHTLY AND PUT ANOTHER ONE ON FOR 2 WEEKS, I WENT BACK YESTERDAY ON MY 6TH WEEK AND WAS DEVASTATED MY FOOT IS STILL VERY SWOLLEN AND ALL COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW IT LOOKS WORSE NOW THAN WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, THEY MOVED THE FOOT TO 90 DEGREES THE PAIN WAS UNBEARABLE AS YOU ALL KNOW, ANOTHER PLASTER HAS GONE ON NOW FOR ANOTHER 4 WEEKS AND I HAVE A SHOE ON AND CAN WEIGHT BEAR A LITTLE WHICH HELPS WITH THE BALANCE, I AM WORRIED NOW BECAUSE THE DOCTOR SAID ITS NOT HEALING VERY WELL AND WARNED ME THAT THE SURGERY MIGHT HAVE TO GO AHEAD ANYWAY SO I WILL HAVE DONE 11 WEEKS IN CAST WHEN I GO BACK AND IF THEY DECIDE TO OPERATE I AM LOOKING AT ANOTHER HOW MANY WEEKS OF WORK, SICK IS NOT THE WORD AND FRIGHTENED, HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE?THANKS FOR READING THIS XXXXXX

I think I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m 39, a littl...

2011-06-04T15:09:05.698-04:00

I think I’m one of the lucky ones.
I’m 39, a little overweigh but enjoy playing tennis (moderately fit). I snapped my achilles (playing tennis) 13 weeks ago today (though I thought I was shot in the back of the ankle). I was operated on after a couple of days and then in plaster. Pain from the operation was hideous for the first week then I had no pain at all.
After a week (on crutches) I went to the physio to find out the best and quickest way to recover and I have to say this is where the advice differed from the doctor who told me to basically do nothing and rest.
The advice from the physio was to do as much exercise as possible BUT without putting any stress on the recovering achilles or calf muscle. So – I was in the gym every day and bought an oversized walker/boot and went cycling every day after putting it around the leg cast.
After 3 and a half weeks my ankle was put from “pointed” to 90 degrees which means I could put some weight bearing on it. That is when I managed to go “exercise mad”. By 8 weeks I could cycle up to 40 miles per day and walk fairly easily.
After the cast was removed as I had strength in both legs it only took me a week or two before I was walking normally, although I am still pretty stiff in the morning.
13 weeks today since the accident and I’ve been on the tennis court for two hours after 18 holes of golf this morning.
For what it’s worth – my totally unqualified advice is to do as much exercise as possible whilst in a cast to massively speed up your rehab. After all the horror stories I’ve heard I have to say I’m over the moon and am in debt to my physio !!
Good luck everyone.

Awesome blog. Thanks for the info. I snapped my ac...

2011-05-12T04:05:21.802-04:00

Awesome blog. Thanks for the info. I snapped my achilles yesterday. In bed now with a cast wondering if surgery is the way to go.

Here is my saga. Short version. Jan 17 rupture. Co...

2011-04-28T17:11:17.324-04:00

Here is my saga. Short version. Jan 17 rupture. Conservative treatment. March 31 re-rupture. April 5 surgical approach - now healing again.
http://achillesrupture-martin.blogspot.com/

This is a great blog and shared experiences got me...

2011-04-21T20:53:57.534-04:00

This is a great blog and shared experiences got me thru some tough times. Had surgery on Feb 10th 2011after torn achilles during soccer game. Cast for 6 weeks, boot for 2 weeks, now walking again after 8 weeks (with a limp). PT guys are doing a great job increasing ROM. Was able to lose 12 pounds while immobile.
Looks like a long road to recovery and being able to run again. leg is very weak but getting stronger. My advice: listen to Doctor, be conservative during recovery, pray if you believe in a gracious God like I do and do your PT homework as insytructed (no cheating or short cuts!!)

Thanks to all for sharing. It's is especially ...

2011-04-09T15:11:33.058-04:00

Thanks to all for sharing. It's is especially wonderful for those who have posted after getting back in action. I completely ruptured my Achilles trail cycling. I agree with everyone who says that the worst pain is the fear of not being able to go back to the activities you love. I am 9 days post-op, 17 days post-injury. I'm hoping to get the boot Monday. Very distressed over recovery time, so thanks and best wishes to all for sharing your experiences.

Can anyone point me to non-surgical repair info? I...

2011-04-07T14:33:44.878-04:00

Can anyone point me to non-surgical repair info? I just got out of the boot and will begin rehab. Any help is appreciated. I wish all a quick recovery.

Bob

Completely ruptured tendon whilst playing tennis i...

2011-03-15T19:48:33.868-04:00

Completely ruptured tendon whilst playing tennis in London. Had op three weeks ago. Been in plaster cast and hope to be in boot next week. I have been able to walk on my toes on right foot. Occasional twinge of pain but mostly cast is uncomfortable. Especially for sleeping. Hope to be driving eight weeks after op.

I'm now 11 days out of a 6 week plaster, Ive a...

2011-03-14T12:58:48.303-04:00

I'm now 11 days out of a 6 week plaster, Ive avoided taking pain releif by keeping it up to reduce swelling. Now walking in raised shoes. Repair has been described as successful. Treatment is around extending range of movement by moving the ankle using its own muscles, massage, no pressure, no stretching and taking extreme care not to strain it again. Have spent considerable time with the leg up over past 8 weeks, not expecting too much of myself at this stage. Ive resisted return to work as much as possible, though now I'm back to work driving and desk work, 4 hrs/day, no lifting or rushing.
IMHO patience is the key factor and not trying to push recovery too fast, and avoiding re injury. Remember its an area of the body that had little blood supply . I read these blogs about others putting in extensive exercise regimes, perhaps this is not the best form of recovery.

It has been extremely helpful to read other people...

2011-03-12T15:32:07.348-05:00

It has been extremely helpful to read other people's experiences and realize that I am not alone. I had no idea what to expect. I figured out patient surgery meant no big deal. I planned on going back to work right away, but I am glad my boss talked me into taking medical leave. I had surgery on Tuesday and am still feeling groggy from the pain and the meds. I am walking on crutches to use the bathroom and am staying occupied by my computer. I am scheduled to have my staples removed on March 23rd, and then will be put into a plaster cast. I have a plane ticket to go to California with my husband and children on the 30th. The doctor said I can fly, and the airline said they will provide a wheel chair, but I am wondering if anyone had any advise about the comfort of flying and/or traveling during the non-weight bearing phase. If I go to amusement parks with my kids, can I ride the rides? Is it worth it to pay admission to the parks or just have my husband take the kids? Any hints or advise on traveling would be great. I haven't even ventured into my first shower yet :)

so happy i found this website. ruptured my left ac...

2011-03-07T16:50:58.551-05:00

so happy i found this website. ruptured my left achilles on feb 15th. was working in the Caribbean but the skateboarding after work did me in. in a full leg cast for upwards of three months with a replacement cast applied every month or so. no insurance so surgery is not the best option. has anyone gone through this without surgery. any advice? feel like im not going to heel properly

I had surgery to repair a small rupture/tear in my...

2011-02-24T14:00:22.345-05:00

I had surgery to repair a small rupture/tear in my AT four weeks ago today. Also I had a large haglunds deformity removed as well as an insertional bone spur that was so large that the orthopedic surgeon actually cursed when he saw the X-Ray! For purposes of the surgery the AT was detached and anchored back with small metal screws.

The reason I'm replying is because my recovery has gone a lot different than most posts I have read. I was in a splint for the first 2 weeks with no weight bearing. After that I had my sutures removed from the incision. I was then put in a boot and told I could bear light weight on the foot with crutches. Crutches suck for a while. Your hands and underarms get sore but a couple of weeks on them and you'll be fine.

Yesterday was my 4 week visit with the surgeon. He said my progress was A+ and was told I could go with one crutch and start light stretching of the foot. Two more weeks with the boot and then I graduate to trainers and 6 weeks of PT.

I have read a lot of horror stories about this surgery and just wanted to let people know that it does go well. My swelling is almost gone and the incision is healing nicely. I recommend asking your surgeon about their history with this type of surgery. When I asked mine how many he had done he replied "thousands with 99 percent success".

I did experience some pain but the worst was trying to sleep with a boot on. It can be trying. In the beginning i use d a sleep aid for help. Rest and elevation are important as well as sleep as a lot of the healing is done in this period.

Good luck.

Great site and great comments. Thanks to all. Clas...

2011-02-09T03:58:52.590-05:00

Great site and great comments. Thanks to all. Classic AT rupture, I joined a friendly drop-in game of soccer. Played on and offf for 15-20 minutes. As I went sprinting after a loose ball it felt like someone kicked me in the back of the right calf (I'm right handed).

I fell face down to the floor and couldn't get up. My foot went numb and there was a sharp pain in the calf. The pain subsided in about 30 minutes and I slept OK that night. Next morning, someone at work said "that's not right", go get it checked out. Now I'm in week 1-1/2 in fiberglass cast (no surgery).

Warning to those 30-50, don't think you can just pickup physical activity at the intensity where you left off 10-20 years ago even if you feel reasonably fit.

I am commenting on a question as to what exercises...

2011-01-15T11:58:47.936-05:00

I am commenting on a question as to what exercises one could do to
strengthen his leg. It was recommended that I do toe raises using both feet and once I raised my body weight to use the weaker calf muscle to slowly lower one's heal.

This site has been so useful. I fully ruptured my...

2011-01-13T07:42:39.004-05:00

This site has been so useful. I fully ruptured my right AT just 3 days ago. I play competitive badminton and towards the end of the match, I lunged forward for a net shot and sadly my last shot! It felt as though my partner had kicked me very hard in the back of the ankle but of course she was no where near me. I went straight to A & E where they diagnosed the injury and placed my leg in a cast up to my knee. I have an appointment at the fracture clinic in 4 days time when hopefully a date will be set to stitch it all back together again. I think I'm at the beginning of a very long road to recovery. At present, I am not experiencing pain although I have been very careful to not place my foot down at all and keep my leg elevated as much as possible.