5 month update for surgically repaired ATR
It’s really hard to think about your achilles when every other muscle in your body is screaming. I keep wondering each morning how I’ve managed to miss all the buses that have obviously been running me over! 
I’m not joking, it is that bad, but at the same time it’s really good to be back in action and getting fit.
It’s 5 months since surgery today, so I wanted to post, but I don’t really have much to add - things are going really well!
- My jogs are up to 12min intervals during a walk. I walk-jogged 5km the other day and it felt good and comfortable. I’m going to keep taking this very slowly and not rush it or push too fast or far.
- My knee-to-wall measure is now at 11cm, that means I have about 6cm to go until it’s the same as my uninjured side.
- I’m still doing 6kg in the eccentrics. The bent leg ones are managing 6kg fine, but by the third set of the straight leg ones I really struggle to slow my descent, so I’m not ready to move to 8kg yet.
- The big lump of scar tissue feels like it’s getting softer and smaller but there is still a lot of it. The achilles is also getting pliable - I can grab it with two fingers and wiggle it a little bit left and right. I’m not sure if the scar tissue is getting better because of my self inflicted and unprofessional Graston scraping technique using a spoon handle or the increase in activity or both.
- Single calf raises are still the same. I have fairly good strength to lift about 2-3cm, but I still have no strength to get to full height. As everyone comments, the calf seems to be really stubborn and difficult to strengthen especially in that top range. So there’s lots of work left to be done on that front.
At this point I consider myself to be recovered in terms of getting back to normal. The only things I’m holding back on are jumping, running fast and other plyometric activities. Those will come with time, as will better strength. I’m no longer concerned that they will never return, but I don’t want to push too much because I know the tendon isn’t strong yet. Biology says it hardens for up to a year, so I don’t want to push my baby tendon too much at this point.
I still have questions that can only be answered much later in this recovery:
- Will I be able to run at the same pace as I did pre-injury?
- Will I regain the mobility and flexibility that I have in the uninjured ankle, i.e. will I be able to get the same dorsiflexion measure on both sides?
- Will I be able to rebuild my calf strength so that I can achieve the same height and endurance in single calf raises?
- How much of the scar tissue will return to normal as the months progress?
None of these are important for living well. I know that, and I’m completely happy with being at the point I am at now. I don’t feel injured anymore. Still the athlete inside me wants to know how much this injury will affect my overall performance in the years to come. So I plan to log in from time to time to update my progress with regards to the above questions. There’s very little blogging that I could find where people tell you how their performance compares to pre-ATR and since I searched for this information and struggled to find it, I would like to provide it for any future ATR’s who may want to know when it happens to them.
I know they will never see this, but I would like to thank my two physios - Nick Torrance and Melita Moriss from Balance In Motion. They have been absolutely fantastic with assisting me through the rehab and I am so grateful!
I also want to thank the whole achillesblog fraternity. At first I only appreciated the site for the wealth of information. But as I became involved I realised just how awesome it is to have people alongside you who are always supportive and understanding. The encouragement has made this whole recovery so much easier. You guys all rock, thank you so much!
All the best everyone, and as always … happy healing!
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Wow! And thank you, Beanie for your great update and informative post. the introduction struck a special note in me, with the reference to pain in every other muscle in your body, since I often have pain in places that I didn’t know I had used the day before… Yes, you explain everything very well, and with a wealth of well explained special words and techniques.
You are an excellent writer, and I suggest you look into it in your free moments between work out sessions. ;-D
Thanks again! In my mind you are Super B!
Manny
It is difficult to answer your questions with any certainty but I feel you have travelled a similar line to me and I can do all I did before. My strength is as good as before but I notice or at least my partner does, that I need to maintain eccentric exercises or my calf will atrophy. Up and down ladders all day while building kept it up but once the building stopped and we took a break it shrunk. Ryanb got back to speed skating and posted personal bests. He worked hard on strenghening so if you haven’t yet you should read his blog. Good luck with it all.
Manny - thank you for your kind words. You are such an enthusiastic and encouraging person, it’s awesome! I will be following your progress and can’t wait to see the moment when you first dance again in 2 shoes
Stuart - thank you for sharing your experience and progress. I find it really interesting that the injured leg has an ongoing tendency to atrophy when it’s not worked and will keep a close eye on it and keep up with my exercises. I wonder if there’s a medical explanation for why it’s like that?
I read Ryanb’s blog when I was NWB and it was so inspiring and gave me so much hope. He was really determined and willing to be much more aggressive with his rehab than I have been. I’ll never forget his “muffin top” post where he showed a pic of his foot after a heavy day of exercise - I’ve never seen anything so swollen! Yet it all worked out perfectly for him. I have already been using some of his calf exercises at the gym - his idea to use the tricep cable pull down machine to reduce your body weight by a measured amount and then do single leg calf raises is genius!
Thanks again for your continued support Stuart, I really appreciate it.
Hi Beanie, I have watch your progress with enthusiasm and have been ever so grateful for the information you have shared and your support. I’m thrilled that your rehab has been such a success and wish you all the very best for the rest of the journey. You’ve got it nailed!
Agreed that the blog has been such a godsend and a very big thank you to all who continued to cheer each other on certainly has been a great contributor to keeping ones spirits high and the goal in sight.
I’m now at 14 weeks and very happy with my progress, walking with a normal gait, gaining pace, no more swelling at the end of a day, things looking pretty normal, scar tissue minimal. For me now it’s all about strengthening, I’m doing heel raises but clearly not a lot of strength in injured side compared to uninsured but doing 20 twice a day and trying to distribute weight evenly.
Got a way to go for sure.
All the very best beanie and a very big thank you.
Thanks Robyn! I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing so well and your recovery is coming along so smoothly. Keep it up! Regaining strength seems to take a lot of time and patience, so just keep plugging away at it. I found a good YouTube video that demonstrated dry needling for scar tissue reduction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqxiK6QazYk). You’ve reported such good results from it that I really want to find a therapist who can do it, but I haven’t had any luck searching around my area yet. I’m going to have another good search this weekend and hopefully I’ll find someone.
I wish you all the best for your continued recovery Robyn and thank you for all your inputs about coconut oil, dry needling, massage techniques, etc - they have been very helpful!
Hello there
I go to SportsMed, the surgeon there did my repair and then I have continued with their podiatrist & physio. I believe Sydney has SportsMed facilities there too so maybe someone there also does the needling. I got onto them through my son who has had great success with this treatment.
I do hope you find someone as from my own experience I have found it extremely beneficial.
Best of Luck with that, Robyn
Thanks so much Robyn! There is one here I can go to
I probably didn’t mention but the person who has been doing mist of my rehab plan is the SportsMed podiatrist. I didn’t realise that at first, I just went to her given my sons referral I presumed she was a physio, but not so, I didn’t realise that podiatrists specialise from the knee down. Also Carlie had her own ATR
which my son talked to me about so I went to see her initially to get advise and recommendation to a Specialist Otho in this field. She had done wonders with my sons calf issues ( he plays AFL) so I thought I’d start with her too. I went to the surgeon who did hers, also part of Sports Med.
I had an appointment last night and happy to say no more needling. She was wrapped at how much scar tissue had broken down, no swelling either, so she’s started deep tissue massage, manipulating the Achilles and working it in massage, new exercises and step up to working with green theraband.
Now concentrating on single heel raises for next two weeks. My walking pace has improved greatly in the last fortnight so I’m feeling quite normal, minus the strength I use to have, but working towards it.
Let me know how you go at Sports Med, I do hope you get the same quality of treatment I have received here in Adelaide.
You have done so well I hope this will be an added bonus.
Keep me posted, Robyn
Hi beanie…..
So happy to hear you are so strong at 5 months pre-op and don’t consider yourself injured anymore. I think that’s the main goal we are all striving for.
You truly have been inspirational in your meticulous details of your journey and recovery and for that, I’m thankful. It gives all something to strive for.
As for your questions about being back at the level you were as an athlete before the injury, as being an athlete myself, the one thing I’ve learned along the way, is not take the simple things for granted anymore, like just walking across the room.
I too plan to be back at my athletic level prior to injury, as you will. You’ve definitely put in the hard work and discipline to attain that. But I think going forward, when I can run again, no matter the pace, I’m going to appreciate it much more, because I’ll look back at those days when I couldn’t, and just be thankful, that I can.
Keep us updated with your journey. Stay strong.
Hey Bryanb
Im 12 weeks and just got in sneakers with 1.5 inch heels. still use knee walker a bit for longer distances. I noticed a lot of swelling at the end of the day and some mild pain around achilles. the ROM is very little ..i am supposed to start with PT this week and looking forward to it. There is also a bump above the heal by achilles ..is this scar tissue is this similar to you. I find in the AM when i wake up my foot feels great but by end of day it swells. My gait is horrible..trying to learn to walk properly ..any advice or similarities?
thanks
Hi Bryan, I completely agree with you! Getting back to sports is just a bonus. I have such an appreciation for being able to walk again at a normal pace without discomfort. I also have huge respect for people who live without the use of their legs or with discomfort and effort being mobile because it is so difficult. Strange to say, but we have it lucky with an ATR. So many worse things could happen from which there is no recovery. Being injured was an eye opener and has left me with a deep appreciation for being able once again to operate in the world at a normal pace and with all my limbs and health in tact. It’s a treasure.
Good luck with the rest of your recovery and journey back to full health and activity and sports!
hi arib….
I’m not out of the boot yet, but i’m trying to focus on a fluid gait while i’m stuck in this prisoned contraption. There is so much great information on this site. I’ve trying to follow the advice from Ryanb’s blog on how to walk in a boot.
http://achillesblog.com/ryanb/2012/06/19/stairs-and-crutches/
He emphasizes pushing forward with your shin, to ensure a full stride. At first, it was a bit rough, but after a couple days, I’m totally comfortable with it.
I did get passed by a pregnant lady in the grocery store today, so I’m still not at stealth mode yet.
I haven’t started PT yet. I hope to start in 10 days after I see the doc. I’m hoping my ROM will increase, like yourself, and I guess that’s the real learning of how to walk again.
The great news for you, is that I’ve learned from this site, that after 12 weeks, you’re free of a re-rupture. That’s great news for you.
Keep us updated on your progress and what you encounter in PT.