6 and a half months almost back to normal.
So it’s been 6 and half months since I fully ruptured my left Achilles tendon and I’m happy to say things are almost back to normal. I had my o/s discharge about a month ago and physiotherapy discharge 3 weeks ago. After the physio discharge I was cleared to return to outdoor fitness. I’ve done about 7 sessions now, gradually upping my intensity with each one. The Achilles didn’t give me any problems; it was just all the other muscles that hurt!
Since week 21 I’ve had three more physio sessions which added in light sprinting with changes of direction and more jumping and hopping exercises. The last session was mainly a review. My main form of exercise remained running, up to about 7K around the park. The only issue I have with running is that I would get the occasional sharp twinge behind the back of my left knee, where the calf and hamstrings attach. This would only be short lasting and more of minor irritation but is still there now when I do fitness sessions. My physio thought that this may be due to my left hamstring being tight. It is all part of the same running apparatus along with the calf. It is tighter then my right one and he advised stretches and using a foam roller. I’ve followed his advice and time will tell if this situation improves.
The left calf muscle is still a bit weaker than the right but I only really notice this when doing single leg raises and sometimes when sprinting. It isn’t noticeable when distance running or doing outdoor fitness exercises. The morning calf stiffness seems to be reducing with time as well. I realise that there is healing still to be done and am still careful to listen to my body when exercising. I’ll aim to check in again at nine months. Good luck with all your own healing.
October 15th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
My post-op AT is also tighter than it was, and that eventually combined with my naturally tight quads to pull my right knee out of alignment. Lots of tests showed little or no cause. PT got me stretching and rolling and it seems to be fixed!
No problem with my left knee, despite an even tighter Quad than the right. But that ATR was cured non-op, and 8 years later (almost 5 years ago).
October 15th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
I just noticed that you’re non-op, which makes your tight AT-and-calf much more unusual. Probably still the case, from your long stay in equinus casts (then to a hinged boot you couldn’t stand in).
October 15th, 2014 at 6:28 pm
I think you’re right Norm rolling and stretching is the way forward. Seems to be improving bit by bit.
October 20th, 2014 at 12:05 am
Hey Arman! Liked reading your first post. I also ruptured playing badminton and am amazed that your one clinic by itself gets 1 badminton rupturee a week! Wish more people played that sport in the US. At least till age 33 lol. I ruptured at age 35.
Here is my story FYI –
http://www.achillesbusted.com/my-achilles-tendon-rupture/
Did you measure your calf muscle circumferences to see the difference between good and bad leg? My difference has declined from 1.2 inches or so several months ago to just 0.5 inches in the past month. I am 1 year post rupture, and 10 months post re-rupture (so a little over 8 months after coming out of the boot a second time). Hopefully you improve even more by the end of month 8.