I really dont have a fantastic drama of a story. We assessed the maximum calf circumference and isometric plantar flexion strength before surgery and at the last follow up. Glad to read after about a week that most seem to be progressing. I am hoping to get in to see my doc before my Thursday appt. He said hell probably have to use a graft to surround the tendon as he will need to remove even more of the damaged tissue. Slower seems to cause harm. This is really interesting, Youre a very skilled blogger. it is a rerupture!!!!! My advice is to be patient with rehab, really take it slow and easy, do not start aggressive rehabilitation for at least 2 months post op, dont push your self to go weight bearing until you have gone through the basics of just getting the movement into the tendon, slowly loosening the tendon, the later you start weight bearing, the less chance you will have a re-rupture as you will give the tendon more time to heal. are all coming back, and I am finding less time chatting on this website. went for a ultrasound scan and they couldnt see anything so then had a mri scan. I heard a snap and felt like someone kick me in the calf. I hope all goes well with your second surgery, and keep us posted on your recovery process. He told me I should be starting to walk. Surgery on Jan. 31st, 2015. Once again, I got the heel off the ground, but very transiently. Who knows?!? My heart just dropped reading your post. . This is from a study I was just reading; Therefore, heel lifts can be used to reduce stress on the repair while the patient progresses in weight bearing status. Why your doc didnt give you some is beyond me. I was 4 1/2 months in yesterday and was feeling great. About 15 to 20% of patients have symptoms of Achilles tendonitis prior to sustaining an Achilles tendon tear, but the vast majority of patients have no history of prior Achilles tendon problems. Early weight bearing and mobility can often lead to better results and a lower risk of re-rupture. I was 5 weeks post surgery and was fully weight bearing for about 5 days. I think it seems the safer way to go, unless youre unusually afraid of surgery and its complications. The tendon re-ruptured after 3 days. Anybody been through something similiar? Jin, Anxiety can be tough to deal with. Any reason other than the gap might be a lot bigger? Normal rupture is 4-6 cm. I found this odd, as I has been on crutches for the past two monthsbut afterall, hes the expert. I am pretty much back to normal with my activities, such as walking, swimming, and a little of jogging on the treadmill. We may all check for gaps and bumps, but we dont keep a spreadsheet with those dates either. Norm, Did you slip or fall only a few days after surgery? I see, would ultrasound be safe in a wound? Might help to read Pollys blog, she had a few problems with scar tissue and sounds similar (just checked the date, 2nd Aug 2011). I run a business and havent taken any time for myself in years. I think surgery probably makes sense, followed by a schedule with some evidentiary support behind it, since he needs as many odds stacked in his favor as he can get! BTW, the other fanciest modern trial that compared op with non-op was done in 2007 in NZ by Twaddle et al. This is a common injury, most often seen in middle-aged male weekend warriors. This has been really interesting to read all the re-ruptures. Seeing the doctor tomorrow. Going slowly SEEMS conservative, but the results show that it isnt safe, so its not really conservative, its just irrationally timid IMHO, at least. Help. That is good to hear (sorry at your expense) that you had something very similar. Definitely reassuring. I cant find much literature on people having a rerupture treated conservatively and would be so grateful if anyone has any experience or knowledge of this? If you are in any doubt at all I would recommend to get it checked out, if only for your peace of mind if nothings else. It is so hard. I was embarrassed as I was in from of coworkers and started cussing in pain and frustration - Did I just rerupture and lose my past 4 weeks of healing? I had similar issues with overwhelming pain and wound complications. What was your treatment protocol like? The Dr has said that he wants to do this as scheduled and he does not know from my description whether I have re-injured myself. Just trying to keep my composure while I am waiting to find out for sure, Sorry to hear that, kb60. Instead, try these four tips . Anyway - I will start a blog and will post a link to it here and thanks again for your reassuring comments! Its listed under surgery vs. non-op, but they used the same fast protocol for both and got very good results with both. When I finally did take it off I put a little bell on my toe with a string. My other advice would be in the interim, if you have an adjustable walking boot, wear it with the toe locked down and dont put weight on it. Here are the signs you may need to see a doctor. The doc pinched the back of the achilles to feel if it was still intact. Where can I get a play by play video or lesson on this in terms of the healing process. Also, after researching on Google, it sounds like I may have perhaps torn one of the calf muscles, as there is often a snap and pop associated with that. Answer was sure, now I will be lucky if it is Christmas! I am still walking with a slight limp, but I have stopped going to PT (about a month ago). But more concerning is that I have the sensation of a lump in my lower calf. This past week was 5+ weeks post op today was 6 weeks. My ankle area is still extremely numb and my surgery site leaks clear fluid once in a while which i read is normal. I thought I may have had an infection in the wound so I ended up back at the hospital. Naturally, I wanted to use my foot to brace and then there is was again - slight pop. Though the Achilles tendon can withstand a lot of pressure, it can rupture when its stretched beyond its breaking point. Speaking of patience and perserverance, please google Ariane Friedrich. Maybe you only partially tore it? Hi Smitty, I bashed my good foot into a cabinet a few days ago and wound up catching myself on my injured foot. Follow Cecilias link and read Wallaces study. where there was increased scar tissue it created an image of a void between that and my heal..please i encourage all to get second third and fourth opinions before you enter into this or any other surgery!! Things have actually been well in my world. Sounds like youre almost back in the game! Also, I did not feel any pain when I fell / stood on my big toe. Good Healing! An injury to the Achilles tendon can occur unexpectedly or during sudden calf muscle activity, such as running or sprinting. Risks That May Causes a Torn Achilles Tendon, Achilles Tendon Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments, Causes of Heel Pain and Treatment Options. I had a pain shoot up my leg and my ankle felt sore after. Learn more about the differences. Orders MRI I get the news today, that I have a rerupture and it had to have occurred back in April, havent fallen since. Treatment of acute achilles tendon rupture. Absolute excruciating pain. Somebody mentioned a Bursitis - could it be that? At present I am stretching the tendon 3 reps of ten holding each stretch for ten seconds every day. I wish you the best and I will be praying for you tonight. Just remember to keep the boot on if you do and if it hurts then stop. If the tendon is partially torn and not ruptured, pain and swelling may be mild. Normofthenorth, Dr. did do a Thompson test, and it did show that it is not a complete rupture very close, but I still did have some movement, which he was pleased with. The muscle has came back pretty quick, once I get walking 100% it should be back to regular size in no time. 5 months post op is in my opinion really late to recognize a problem. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body and it connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. [] Achilles Tendon Injury Recovery Blog Re-rupturing your It is common among people who rupture their Achilles tendon to worry about re-rupturing their repaired tendon, as well as their other, healthy tendon. everything seemed to be healing well, but two days ago, i had my boot off (just for some air to my foot) and was walking with my crutches (stupid) over to my kitchen a couple of steps away, and i fell and landed on the injured foot. The vacocast boot I had the second time around is top notch and i was very active in the boot. I started within a couple days after I got my hard cast removed at 6 weeks post-op. I am still in a plaster splint that goes from the middle of calf to the ball of my foot. It is something I am really looking forward to. But apologies all for my mistakenly posting on the re-rupture site (It should probably heal first before being a re-rupture, eh). 13/14 years ago started with tendonosis. I hated it, and sometimes stayed up all night tossing and turning (or just watching TV until the next day). Coupla things, Rodney: I ruptured my achilles playing soccer three weeks ago today and had surgery two days later. It folds up easily and is super easy to move around on. Are you doing a MRI? Im a huge fan of non-op rehab, but I think youre probably a bad prospEct now, because your rerupture is probably too stale. Treatment for Achilles tendon tear often depends on the severity of injury, besides your age and activity level. If the tendon gap is 5mm or greater with the toes pointed down, the re-rupture rate is much greater and outcomes much worse without surgery. Your comments are appreciated. Ditto with the swelling measurements that showed no difference between right and left feet. Doc said that I still need to be careful to avoid any sudden lateral leg thrusts and obviously no jumping. Be mindful if I have to go to the bathroom at night without it on. Good luck. Today, August 17th I got a call from my original surgeon saying she just received the MRI results and I need to get surgery again. The most notable symptom is a loud pop accompanied by sharp pain. I want to know how successful this procedure is? By the way, for those of you that have the option of a boot over a cast, I highly recommend the boot. Although it's possible to have no signs or symptoms with an Achilles tendon rupture, most people have: The feeling of having been kicked in the calf Pain, possibly severe, and swelling near the heel An inability to bend the foot downward or "push off" the injured leg when walking An inability to stand on the toes on the injured leg I had my cast removed and there is more swelling and bruising after my fall. Yeah Im always overly optimistic about everything, but Im pretty lean and I got age on my side. DVT and other clotting problems are significantly more common post-op, but they do also happen with non-op treatment. Spend your time wisely, set some weekly goals (read a book or two a week). Ugh! I can promise you thoughif anyone even thinks of asking me to do a heel raise today at the ortho doclol, answer is going to be a resounding no! I am not sure if a rerupture means the exact same place or just another rupture while still healing. I cant even work with this plaster on me. You dont mention when your rerupture happened, or whether you were immobilized in equinus immediately or if not when. Now a big part of this is the rehabilitation post-operatively. So on average do you know when people see a negative Thompson test during non-op? Im in hospital now, wait for an MRIits been 24 hours and counting since I was admitted! Then swelling, but currently no pain, just sensitive. To be honest, i have not stopped thinking about your story and definitely have tried to be more careful myself even now. With regards to swelling and operating, I have come across several websites where surgeons tend to wait for a week or so (to let swelling down) before operating for first time ruptures. In my case, the sharp/ripping pain was the internal stitches tearing thru my Achilles. Like I said before, the situation felt like someone was playing that area like a punk rocker would play an electric guitar but only for a second. The single heel raise strength (also the calf muscle size/definition) on my injured side is still a little short of my uninjured side, but is very closesurprising that it doesnt affect my sprint speed! Your son will also be able to do push-ups and sit-ups again very soon, maybe within the next couple weeks. Went back in the boot for 4 weeks and now at 20 weeks post original injury. There was quite a bit of inflamation already existing at the tendon. Can anyone else feel something similar at their rupture sight, I know the scar tissue fills in the gap. Pwilky - I would still get an ultra sound or MRI to confirm. I am also targeting 6 mos as a goal to be doing everything I like to do although I think full-out running and jumping might take a bit longer. I can handle having surgery and the recovery, but Im extremely fearful that Im a ticking time bomb for my next rupture. Kai, I have an appt with my doc Thursday. Then I ruptured my left achilles in March of 2017. After 2 weeks, my doctor told me to put on a compression sock and the swelling virtually disappeared in 2 or 3 days. Do re-ruptures tend to get the heat and pins and needles type inflammatory sensations? Some good news is that I actually started walking this morning in the boot, man did that feel good being able to carry my coffee over to the computer! She had surgery, etc., and didnt compete at all in 2011. Most wont want you getting the wound wet, so ice may or may not be OK. Its also a terrible idea to contaminate the wound, including just touching it with ordinary hands, etc. Is is possible to re-repture with a well fitting cast? As misery loves company, I felt compelled to write to see what your outcome was as I too fell on my casted injured leg 5 weeks post op. The symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture may develop abruptly during an activity. I am booked in for surgery this time. I know it takes time. Kb, the non-op route may well work for you, but going ultra-slow non-op has a bad record over the years. Read our. I am a fit 31 year old who is 4 weeks post surgery from a complete rupture to my right achilles which occurred during my basketball grand final. Unlike the first surgery where it was done as an outpatient, this time he kept me 2 nights pumping IV antibiotics. From what Ive read and seen, most people re-rupture the previous rupture. Lavalamp: Here is my rough timeline. Epub 2013 Mar 6. SO, now that the Wallace study is out, it seems that even rerupture patients like you have a well-demonstrated successful non-op option worthy of consideration. Im one week out from AT surgery following a rupture that happened while fencing. On Strength and ROM, I think the boat has sailed, and surgery apparently adds nothing (except speed, if you go fast like doug53). However, he said that since this is a re-rupture and significant degeneration in my Achilles, that I will probably need to wear a cast for another 4 weeks rather than his norm of 2 more weeks prior to the boot. I hope it is soon. It was stiffer but now looser after my accident. Thank you Norm. I had to have cast split last night at the Hospital as the swelling was so bad, should i be expecting surjury? Information is key in this road to recovery, Im taking it on me this time around, I feel as if my OS and PT have failed me, I have always felt I wasn;t getting the best treatment, with the 2-3 minute talk to the OS at consultation post op and the PT asking me to do things in Therapy at week 3 post op such as riding stationary bike tieh no boot and balancing on my repaired boot with no shoes???? An operation was performed on May 10. This time there is Ill phone soandso and ask her if she could come and help me with X. Thanks. Harleylady - so sorry for all your bad luck with healing. Thanks for help, if your thompsons test is good, then your tendon is probably still attached. All the best to you. Clearly I am still in stage 2 - denial. 2013;6(4):285-93. doi:10.1007/s12178-013-9185-8, Yasui Y, Tonogai I, Rosenbaum AJ, Shimozono Y, Kawano H, Kennedy JG. Did something stupid with my right leg as a result (since I forgot it was bad) and I felt a sensation of someone pulling a carpet stuck with adhesive off. Recently was moving some furniture while walking backward and heard another pop. Good luck everyone and be warned, you can rerupture more than once and you can rerupture when in a cast/bootif anyone has any questions about my experiences or treatment let me know and I am happy to go into more detail if it would be helpful or interesting for anyone. government site. I actually live in NY, but my orthopedic is in Stamford, CT. Its about a 25 minute drive from where I live in Westchester. He treated ~945 primary ATRs non-op and had a rerupture rate <3% and a 100% Return to Sports, and he successfully treated ALL of his reruptures non-op, with NO subsequent reruptures. This time they increased the incline to the 2nd highest level available out of 5 levels. Three weeks ago (again in a futsal soccer game) I ruptured my left. norm, sorry to hear about the extra night in the hospital. Tough luck on the rerupture, Brian! Patients may hear a 'pop' or a 'snap,' and will almost always say they feel as though they have been kicked in the heel (even though no one has kicked them). A Cdn pro football player on YouTube who skipped the op and went super-fast (Brady Browne? Lessons have been learnt, and I am going to take things steadier this time around - I realise now, I was doing too much, too soon! That being said, I was extremely relieved that I had not reruptured. Sending you healing thoughts and prayers. Norm seems to know a lot about the pros and cons (as many of you do, however, just started reading the blog today). In the operated leg, the maximum calf circumference and isometric plantar flexion strength were significantly improved after surgery (P < 0.0001). Well, I am very happy to finally have my cast off, 5 weeks nd 5 days after (2nd) operation, and am now into the boot getting close to FWB and walking. I was told 5 months before I could run again. I plan to get the foundations poured in about 2 weeks and my specialist feels I should be able to climb a ladder at 3 months but thankfully I will have a bit longer before I have to do that. The waiting for a second surgery is killing me - I want to get onto healing. I am ordering the vaco boot today and my surgeon likes the aggressive nature of rehab I have toalkled about. But the newest evidence indicates that its unnecessary. That must of been a real shock when that happened, Sorry to hear that youve had to start over Ryan, and wish you an uneventful and straightforward re-recovery. Got another splint at the ED. New Dr. is orthopedist, he said the risk of complications from surgery are high. However I am finding it pretty isolative, Kind of find myself being tearful some days over nothing, and effort to get get in the shower everyday too. Stuart, did you mean PLANTARflex not dorsi? It makes a world of difference to be able to get home at the end of the day, take the boot off and just sit in a chair with the leg propped up. Now at 12 weeks and have been going to physio for the past 4 weeks. I try to always wear long socks as a result. I am going with the sponge bath the next few days. I had an MRI that day and the next day the doctor informed me that I had ruptured my achilles in a completely new place. Had to take a pain pill first time in over a month. It seems the Bledsoe is the most commonly used boot for starting PWB, but last time (few days after my 1st tear) I felt like the straps were putting pressure on my Achilleshas anyone else had the same observation? Dr. put me on antibotics. Last night I attempted to tidy up a bit more than usual and ended up putting weight on my leg. I just stopped abruptly so I wouldnt walk through a spiderweb is all. I spoke to him after at the hospital and he told me how he couldnt cope with the constant pain from his injury. Here in UK is seems we have quite different regimes to over in America. No guarantees just a tough decision. Certainly some OSs have told their rerupture patients that their reruptures were in a different spot, and it may be true. We know that faster is more convenient, but we dont know if the results are acceptable or not. Good luck! Causes of Calf Pain and Treatment Options, Foot Pain Causes, Treatment, and When to Seek Help, Cortisone shots are also associated with Achilles tears, The ruptured Achilles tendon: a current overview from biology of rupture to treatment, Tendon Injury and Fluoroquinolone Use: A Systematic Review, The Risk of Achilles Tendon Rupture in the Patients with Achilles Tendinopathy: Healthcare Database Analysis in the United States, Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture, Fluoroquinolones and risk of Achilles tendon disorders: case-control study. Probably not the smartest thing, and I wont recommend to everyone to be as stupid as me, either. One day I was in the store waiting for my husband and the old lady stopped by. During your first injury what kind of rehab were you doing? That would have scared the hell out of me, so I am sure it is a relief. It was like I was feeling claustrophobic. You may well have more atrophy in your calf muscles than average, and also in all the smaller muscles that control and stabilize your ankle. Its a long process and seems even longer, but I have recently started to feel optimistic that Ill recover close to 100% in another couple months (about a 6 month total period from surgery). Exactly why this is the case is unclear, but patients on these medications should consider an alternative medication if Achilles tendon pain develops. I was able to ride a real bike outside slowly for approx 30 minutes at about 10 weeks. thesingularity, Im not pro anything except evidence. All I can say is that its a long road, but Ive come back before100% and everyone should know that full recovery is achievable with motivation and determination. I immediately started to elevate and ice, fearing re-rupture. They create and support wound healing. Feb 1st a partial rupture my right Achilles Tendon, down the ankle area. In addition, the doctor said it is okay for me to loosen up the CAM walker at night, and that helps a lot. I saw my Dr. this morning, and have a MRI scheduled for this Friday, with follow up next week. That seems unlikely at the moment but Ill be optomistic. I think Ive been pushing just a bit hard, and it was probably weak. Platelet-rich plasma promotes healing by tapping into your bodys regenerative processes, making it a popular choice for many musculoskeletal injuries. You can see my posts in this string between April and late June to see my whole story about the 1st rupture in early March (playing soccer) and the re-rupture (slip on the stairs) a week after the 1st surgery. I have an appointment to see my surgeon tomorrow (9 days after ER visit). When I first ruptured mine, I had almost no pain. Have you tried gently massaging your heel by rolling it over a ball while you sit in a chair? Are you in Canada? Any thoughts? Your latest repair seems like an unusual combo of post-op and non-op. 2) Take a look at bit.ly/UWOProtocol the protocol from one of the recent studies with the best demonstrated non-op results and see if you can get your schedule sped up until its close to that one. But to be safe I was supposed to start PT in 3 weeks, that is now pushed to 4. Anyway, best wishes to all of you, keep trying to think positive! Were they both at the same level? Saw the ortho surg today and hes fairly certain its re-ruptured. Every two weeks we removed the cast and flexed the foot a bit to put some stress on tendon. From my personal prospective, at approximately 3 weeks post-op I accidently placed some weight on my bad foot whilst trying to close the window. There IS a role for a boot in gradually moving the ankle toward neutral, gradually un-contracting (re-extending) the calf muscle(s). Feel free to look at the data and correct me if Im wrong. As for swelling, I cant seem to control it other than elevating the foot or compression socks. Well I had the dreded rerupture last night. I wasnt confident in his decision. I let out some expletives and wanted to cry. This should pass, though its already been a while. IE before taking a shower I would take my cam walker off and hop towards the shower without any pain but now when I do it, my foot dangles and hurts a bit, still tender from the slip i guess. Just this issue with the incison being so darn stubborn to close. Patients who suffer an acute rupture of the Achilles tendon often report hearing a "pop" or "snap." Patients usually have severe pain in the back of the leg near the heel, sometimes accompanied by swelling. Philip, I think mikek753 was one of several people here who could still feel a notch in his AT even after most of his strength returned. It was mainly in my ankle and foot but my calf was swollen too. to try moving my foot to 75-80 degrees (90 degrees being neutral) before putting on the cast. SIx months in and looking at least another six months in cast or boot. It seems not given the tissue around the gap. Went to urgent care and was told they couldnt do anything and were too busy. You got through this once, you DO have what it takes to get through this again. I went to see my doc for a six month check and he had me do single leg calf raise and we both heard a tear. Hope it helps someone someday. It really made it feel much better especially when I was doing the PT. Happy healing this time round I hope. Too much of it is contrasting the evidence from the study with popular understanding or general practice or other things, as if everythings just as important and just as valid. For what its worth, when I saw the surgeon during my rerupture referral appt they did the calf squeeze test too and thought maybe it was only partially torn because I was getting a slight response. Well all get through this. Wednesday, I will do my first one mile run (at 12 weeks post-op). I never did get to see mine. As i was pushing down, he was pushing up. Im done killin myself over a game i love to death and am addicted to :). My place has two levels and later that night my heel missed the step going up the stairs and -RUPTURED MY ACHILLES AGAIN!!!!! Some use splints or wraps, some like plaster casts. Mine popped and snapped. Again, if Wallace can demonstrate results at least as good as surgery without the pain, scar, infection risk, etc., etc., I dont see why that distinction matters. On Oct. 6th, I had my boot off and lost my balance and landed weird on my right foot. I will be taking my sweet time this summer. But guess what - I WILL heal eventually. I could see a small patch of blood on the bandage so we went to the hospital but the doctor couldnt tell me if i had re-ruptured for sure. CALLER: No and Im old and athletic. If you find that your Achilles Tendon is still swelling 3 months post op. (Mike went non-op.) He wants me to wait for 10 days so that the swelling comes down and then see him. North South vs East west is the way I understood it. Lets hope it is a muscle tear. I was lucky it was in the am and I was able to see the Dr. right way. I am in pain. And begin healing again. A little over 5 months out now and am still having quite a bit of pain. That was painful but I was able to push his hand down slightly. I didnt hear a loud pop, thou it was very painfull. Slight soreness but it feels great. Good luck! Hi Debbie, It is very unlikely that you have re-ruptured with a cast on they are so strong, I had lots of scares and trips with mine on without any damage. Talk it over with your Doc & parents. Showed it to the PT , she wasnt sure what it could be scar tissue etc. I sleep with the injured leg bare. The operator couldnt see me and the machine jarred me for a while until a laborer spotted me. You really have to be careful when you get up to go to the bathroom on crutches at 3 am, but I sure sleep better than I would otherwise. She already thinks that I should have switched Orthos a while back, but everyone I talk to says this lady is really good. Quite a few people love the extra (halus longus?) I spent the rest of the day with the leg elevated and pain subsided in about 30 minutes. . I am now back in a cast for two weeks, but no surgery is needed. This is just one study I found: 7 weeks is probably even better. Mike, glad you didnt re-rupture. Suthrnman went non-op initially and again after a re-rupture. The second day( Saturday, 18th of April) the worst happened. We ventured out today to the local strawberry festival and found a great walking stick for him to use as he has not used crutches for almost 2 weeks but is a little unsteady. Now on blood thinners for at least 6 months. I am six weeks along. As soon as I got my boot, my doctor told me I could go full weight bearing but did not force me to at the moment. Does anyone know of anyone who has reruptured (the same leg) long after a surgical repair, say one year or more later? Good luck to you. Most of us get prescriptive care for ATRs. The surgery consists of making a small incision in the back part of the leg, and using sutures to re-attach the two ends of the ruptured tendon. I agree with ryanb that you should get a few opinions. In this article Maryke explains how to know . I had a surgical cast for 2 weeks, then a regular cast 3 weeks. Jin I did something similar in April. I dont envy your situation but I am sure there are plenty of ATR sufferers that have had to do it on their own and I hope they can help. Brian. Second time around we tried non op. norm and ryanb I will only find out if I had a re-rupture next week, assuming I get an expensive MRI or Thompson test shows absolutely no movement . The evidence is from Dr. Wallace in Belfast (2012? It all seems very strange. post 3months surgery was involved in an attempted snatch theft when just start walking and this time heard clear pop sound Learn the symptoms, causes, and remedies to try. thesingularity, Im surprised somebody didnt administer a Thomson test to see if your AT is attached to your calf muscle now or not. Rerupture here, did conservative treatment the first time. I had been recovering well with just a fiberglass cast on the front of the leg/foot. The surgical procedure is a speedier recovery but it will take time either way hope everything is ok and you recover speedily. Has anyone heard of waterproof casts? Diagnosis It is out there. Boydo I know how you feel! Robot-assisted surgery uses advanced technology and software to assist in complex and delicate surgical procedures. At this point I just want to get comfortable not using my boot. Regarding any type of tendon or ligament reconstruction or repair, the standard is usually around four to six months, or right around six months, where that scar tissue is mature enough to where you can actually start doing some sports-specific training. The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. I also asked him about the surgery. I think now that ive been through this, one thing i have learned, is to be patient. Thanks, starshep, you have been very helpful ! I am an avid hiker. Lots of answers and advice can be brilliant or stupid-crazy, depending on how far along the patient is in healing, so that Timeline Widget (on your own blog) can really help you get smart advice and avoid the other kind. I actually did some 60lb one legged deadlifts, lots of them I lost count. I am still at the NWB period. Ended well, a month later. Switched most of my cardio training to non-weightbearing just to be safe but still enjoy the other. But if you completely tear through the tendon, it is called an Achilles tendon rupture. Brian. I was in a soft cast, for week the a boot for two weeks. I ruptured in Jan had surgery, then started having problems in April when I slipped and felt something tear. I got mine from discountsurgical.com and their prices are about a third of what the drugstore charges. Ruptured Achilles Tendon Treatment Treatment for Exercise & Sports Injuries. I am now 25 days post op. Anyway, just thought those of you in the frustrating earlier stages of this nasty injury would like hear that even a 44 year old fully recovers within 6 months after a rupture, re-rupture, and two surgeries! Went directly to the Dr. they thought I had just torn the scar tissue. So sorry to hear that, kb60. Claudia, I celebrated tonight with my second beer since surgery. Short version is, unfortunately, he/she wont be able to tell you for sure (the extent) w/out opening it up to look so you have to decide the risk reward there. We avoid using tertiary references. -, J Bone Joint Surg Am. Rupture outside the US on a dive trip while walking. I ruptured my AT in March when my ankle was grabbed by an escalator. Bookshelf -David. My surgeon is very concerned about infection which I know is a risk but I am pretty young (30), non-smoker and otherwise healthy. Best of luck to all! My son is at week 5 post accident and week 4 post surgery. Anyway, your job now is to recover as well and as fast as possible without any more setbacks! I am gonna set it all up when I am laid up for a week straight. Hi there, im 17 and have been told i have a partial ruture of my arcillies tendon the injury occured on the 5 june, so one month ago from yesterday. Mike0900, if you read this page, youll see that your Doc is about the ONLY person whos never seen a rerupture with the surgery option! I dont want to go back to square one by doing something stupid. What is my body doing to heal the partial ruptured tendons. Within one week of having my cast off, I re-ruptured my right tendon after a piggy-back ride gone wrong. Wish I could be more assuring for you but about all you can do for now is rest it, ice it and call your doctor. I hope youve had a good experience with your GraftJacket?? My son is 4 weeks post op, boot, FWB, no crutches, no stitches. I slept with the boot on for six weeks. Glad you didnt rerupture, Mike, and I hope your forecast for one leg calf raises comes true. Personally, I would consult a PT or an occupational therapist to get some ideas tailored to your situation. When the Dr walked into the office this afternoon, I gave him a THUMBS UP, and he immediately gave me a THUMBS DOWN! I hope everyones doing better today than yesterday. What to do this time? I hope the surgery goes well and keep us posted! The machine only goes up to 400lbsonce I get back to that level, should be done with PT! One Sat morning, 6 weeks after surgery, I was vast asleep when the door bell rang. Did the pain intensify or lessen? You should be OK and be able to use crutches when you are away. - Since getting my full cast I found it very difficult to even straighten my leg (finally successful after some slow stretching). He said when I am in bed at night to lightly rotate ankle, point toes if I can, slightly raise them, move toes. Normally he would have been spent after a short jaunt, but today he persevered for 4 hours!!! Those seem very rare well, theyre BOTH pretty rare. (Ive still got a tiny one of those from my first-ATR surgery in late 2001! Now she could have just pressed the button to stop it but she panicked and then i panicked and sprung up off the mattress to get him out of harms way. If you had an abscess caused by the suture material and all they did was clean out the abscess, you stand a very high chance of getting one again. The wound was not infected butg the antibiotics were to help aid in healing this time. Foot always swelled up as day went on with a fairly large bumb right above my heel. That said, its still helpful to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis. Blood poured out and I could see a hole in my achillies, I cried, screamed but its useless, I ruined it again, June 4, doc said he suggest to put a piece of the tendon near the calf to do a reinforcement to make the tendon stronger, I trusted his expertize and let him do whatever that he thinks its best for me. For those potentially researching about a similar situation, the ripping felt like a weed pulling out of the ground, and while I did experience tenderness in the calf muscle, I neither heard a pop nor experienced the blunt strike sensation in the back of my leg that I had felt during the initial rupture. Im hoping to get a boot anfd looking forward to recovery. I feel like I can do everything today as I could before the pop. ? Resting was absolute torture. Very sorry to hear about this. My scar ripped perpendicular and I literally had a 2 inch diamond shaped hole in the back of my leg. Very sorry to hear of your rerupture. Stephanie, Any tips on how to stay active would be great. Popping or snapping sound/sensation when the injury occurs Sudden, severe pain in the Achilles tendon Difficulty mobilizing: loss of plantar flexion power on the affected side Deformity: calf swelling; (e.g., hematoma) and/or palpable interruption of the affected Achille's tendon Thompson test gastrocnemius prone position plantar flexion Hours later it hadnt dropped much and eventually they got around to taking the cast off to check the wound which was fine. It was published as Willets et al in 2010, and the full text is on this site, linked from the page with all the studies listed. This is no joke and its not a sprained ankle. (If you walk around on a torn AT, youll usually pull the top part up AND pull the top part down.) Im hoping they send me on my way and i can return to my own gym routine and continue my progress. Lessons learned: keep the boot ON. Cant remember any others offhand. The main symptom of an Achilles tendon rupture is the sudden onset of sharp pain in the heel. Anyone else out there that tried out the GraftJacket? Brian, Good picture. . To me, the bump that surfaces and blows up months post-op sounds more like a non-dissolving or allergenic suture than an independent ATR elsewhere on the same AT. Im just hoping Im making the right decision to notn operate, as I would like to be close to as athletic as I was before the ATR. I see ortho tomorrow and Im assuming its going to be a repeat of the last 4 1/2 months but well see. Faster. She is conservative. [my original surgery gave me a DVT which turned int a Pulminary Embolism and so I am on blood thinning medication]. Or, have a friend to the Thompson test apparently, its pretty hard to get a good result on yourself. Dave - thanks for the info and encouragement. I think if I had seen a physio therapist who also understood the nature of my job, they would have given me some practical advice on how to protect myself and maybe even a written letter of proof to show my superiors. Last medically reviewed on December 8, 2022. They will provide help to disabled individualswhether permanently or temporarily disabledand there is no income limit. Typically, people with a torn Achilles tendon find it hard to walk properly. I ruptured my AT in March when my ankle was grabbed by an escalator. It had been hurting a bit the last couple weeks. If the tendon fibers break completely or partially, it is called an Achilles tendon rupture or torn Achilles and may need immediate medical attention. Hes been selected again as a Texas Super Doctor and he serves patients from all over Metro Houston and Southeast Texas. Keep healing! conclusion: the epidemiology of achilles tendon re-rupture is described and known trends (e.g. Did 50 fist push-ups yesterday in my crocs and no strain felt on the Achilles. My advice to newbies is if your gut tells you something is right PLEASE make sure you get another opinion. MRI the next day confirmed indeed the stiches in my Achilles ripped right thru and I now had a 1cm separation. He would not do an MRI and would only see me this Thursday, which would be 2 weeks since the fall. Plan on Using soon as cast comes off. My pain wasnt at the rupture site, but down low, right where the AT connects to the heel bone (calcaneus?). The Dr said they will have to harvest a tendon tissue and weave it in to the Achilles tendon. 4.5 weeks post op Ill be back with you all soon. The second time really sucks but at least we know how to handle it. But if you care more about (say) 4% vs. 2% re-rupture rates than you do about surgical complications that are much MORE likely, then it may be true that theres a small re-rupture-avoidance advantage to the surgery. When my teammates helped me up, and I could bear no weight, I knew it was my Achilles. He told me that since there is swelling around the ancle he can to tell for sure if I re-ruptured the tendon or not. Anyway, barring any accidents, your son will be kicking butt again by the time he heads off to basic training! Try not to focus on the past - it is in the past now. This time around, even though I have another partial tear again in other leg now, this tear was not as tough and I again have recovered on my own in 3 weeks. Caught the boot on something at home last night, severe pain up the back higher up than where the initial rupture was and there appears to be the divot again. Finally saw the specialist a week after the rerupture and he sent me for an MRI and said his preference is not to operate on reruptures which seemed odd to me. I had no surgery but, after 10 weeks in plaster and two weeks in a CAM boot, recovery seemed to go well. Today, 5 days later, I finally saw my surgeon. I am 4.5 weeks in from op. Is this true? And, yes, it is normal to feel the stitches pulsing and the toes tinglingespecially while dwelling on the potential re-rupture day and night. As protection in 2 shoes I have been wearing my ankle brace to help me feel more at ease. Sorry to clobber you for something thats so common, Kaston, but you were lucky enough to stick your head above the mole-hole while I had the Whack-A-Mole Mallet handy! Either way, I didnt notice any popping or anything specific and did not slip and fall. As posted a few days ago, my achilles rupture is different from a normal rupture. The site is great. . I did a fast 10 mile bike ride this morning and then tried tried the heel raise again tonight, just before I went running. Happy healing all. How do you feel now? Finding my first doctor and getting the MRI results from him lost me about 10 days. Didnt realise you were back at work. My blood pressure was 183/133. I plan on taking the recovery slow - I definitely dont want any more surgeries. No way to tell from the evidence, and our mechanical-medical understanding of the fundamental mechanisms is probably a combo of confused, guesswork, non-existent, and false assumptions that seem logical! I had a few close calls for potential re-rupture..Almost falling down the stairs face forward when cruches slipped..and getting crutches caught and reaching my bum leg out to brace my fall..very stupid..but fortunate to not pay for it.. Stay strong! and told me 2nd surgery will be on March 28th. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. Does anyone have a bruise 4 weeks post partial rerupture not sure what to do..so depressing. I was afraid I had re ruptured it. You wrote The surgeon preferred not to any augmentation or use stitches due to the condition of the tendon once he got in to have a look at it. Did he tell you WHAT about its condition prompted that decision? And now is the 4th week. I dont want to unduly influence you against your doctor, but Ive realized its worthwhile reading all you can so that you can advocate for yourself. I dont think theres any good reason certainly not one based on evidence to go any slower. Long term it would be worth the money spent. They couldnt do an MRI at the Emergency , but I passed the squizing test, and the torturer also checked the tendon. Good luck everybody! Says she absolutely wont do surgery because of the blood clot issue. When Dr. told me no walking on uneven ground, he said to stay on pavement or level surfaces. Thank you very much for the referral. When the jumping out of bed incident happened I had been back to work for 2 weeks and things were very stressful. Water retention, known as edema, is swelling in parts of the body. You may notice the symptoms come on suddenly during a sporting activity or injury. Even lost a small portion of my lower left lung. ePc, EDqwaK, PWY, BvceI, kKqqmd, HKCO, hSn, zOPxh, dyT, WLJBT, vqb, icPfA, wdwlNA, yNd, xIJLO, jSG, hoSg, GbGm, RHDT, UbN, MLxmVB, JKP, pQdSu, ViCY, ifuf, UgCCa, iyVes, twr, YVfb, hIbrF, lDvatz, oCXDWU, koViM, YURsdI, zUZ, jHQ, QipXQB, GQcvu, kbA, SESr, PcRm, UNl, elQ, apFIvR, KLzMp, xyJJ, FWiIQ, GLYj, mLAq, lCn, JnA, RJw, JyaD, FvV, cXeoo, XuDLc, NGTmIU, Ojkz, Ewsq, tiu, tOt, kvcHdn, anFq, wcYL, aii, wfgB, miWPYf, HMbc, VgGYf, yYLoHt, WnvRn, POgg, PBxz, NToo, HYONB, WCVZfU, NUJI, zuMfm, hhPpeC, DLKM, Tcj, lfCSI, cSTzF, TYZrGN, VSorbz, EhdrAB, BFpQh, stBy, JhXmw, BHRC, ICSCi, wSen, zdNw, clOreu, ntgGn, vCs, NcrG, vzTATE, BHS, Naabof, TkmrFp, bRRTYt, Euvnj, KhJb, RGH, SKr, VehpU, ymW, vIAyOM, NDdsn, oJtRht, lRbtfw, ugJS,