clementsblock’s AchillesBlog

Hey guys,

Just finished by 9th week post-op and feeling much more comfortable.
Some highlights:

• I just finished a 30 minute elliptical session and broke a very good sweat (first in 9 weeks…duh!)
• I have been continuing with my rehab and can do two-footed calf raises with no compensation or irritation
• I have managed to perfect the standing on one leg for one minute, but can only fair about 30 seconds with my eyes closed
• Going up and down stairs have gotten MUCH better!
• I did go out for drinks the other weekend (14 hour session) and my foot swelled up pretty good - guess there’s a trade-off there
• At the beginning of week 8 I had a noticeable limp, I am happy to say at the end of Week 9 I have a SLIGHT limp (I don’t think I am limping but my colleagues keep teasing me about it!)
• My calf size/strength is about 50-60% to where it was. It really did get weak.
• ROM is 100% I’d say.

My physio has been gone for 2 weeks so excited to see her this Friday.
For those who have just started, please understand the first 6 weeks are the WORST. But it gets better EXPONENTIALLY once you get out of your boot and start to walk again! You guys can do it!

Happy Healing and Father’s Day

CL

Hi all,

I am about 2 months in and had my check-up with my doctor today….

Said everything looked great and performed the Thompson test with success! Feels good to have that assurance from the doctor.

I continue on with my physio and here is my rehab I do 2 or 3 times a day.

• Ankle ROM exercises (Point forward, back, side to side, clockwise, counterclockwise)
• Resistance bands to strengthen the calf (wrap around bottom of foot, push forward for 3 seconds, release)
• Calf raises (sets of 12, unassisted)
• Squats (sets of 12, unassisted and no weight)
• Standing on my bad leg for one minute
• Standing on my bad leg for one minute, eyes closed
• Wall stretch - to stretch the calf
• Roller on the calf

I have been performing these for almost a week and will continue for 2 more weeks before ramping it up. I am cleared to go on the bike and elliptical. My AT is still pretty tight and having difficulties walking down stairs… anyone else have this problem or can state when they were walking down stairs normally?

Goal:

• The goal is to get rid of my limp (still about 10% limping)
• Calf raises with no compensation

Calf strength

• It has only been two weeks I have been rehabbing for calf strength, but my calf doesn’t look too far off my bad leg! Muscle memory is actually a thing in our human body.

Doctor’s Notes

• 3 month check-up (no running until then) and expected to return to sports at the 4 - 6 month mark depending on rehab process

Unfortunately, I still have to get an ACL op so my rehab will be pushed about 8 months…. but what can you do! For everyone in the early progress, there is light at the end of the tunnel and it could be worse! It is so important to do these exercises each day and it will get you back on your feet quicker.

Is this a bad injury? Yes

Can you recover from this with proper treatment? Yes

It is all about the focus and how you approach the rehab.

You will NOT make any substantial change to your Achilles Tendon if you don’t make substantial changes to your life.

Focus and Happy Healing!

CL

May 29, 2015 - 6 weeks to the date of my surgery.

I went into physio for the first time and:

1. Acupuncture was done to stimulate blood flow / healing
2. Massaged the hell out of my calf which was very very tight and sore.
3. I did one calf raise (assisted with a table) and was able to get some lift
4. Exercises where I had to push my foot against her hand to strengthen the calf.
5. Walking - I did a couple of metres of walking while she judged how my motion was.

I did ROM exercises on my ankle beforehand and she said it was very noticeable and beneficial that I did this (I do recommend this for everyone, as it quickens up the recovery time).

I am still walking with a limp due to a tight achilles but she said it was normal.

Homework:

1. Ankle rotations (up, down, side to side, clockwise/counterclockwise motions) = 2x a day 20 reps
2. With a band (blue), wrap around the middle of the calf, point your foot down for 3 seconds, release. This was to strengthen the calf

Prognosis:

I am now able to walk w/o the boot at home and work but have to wear the boot out (to bars or supermarket). I am still walking with a limp due to a sore achilles but that is normal.

Goal:

The physio said I have six weeks to strengthen my achilles to the point it should be relatively normal. I will then see if I need to get my knee (torn ACL) done in order to get back to normal.

To everyone that has just tore it or in the early weeks, I do recommend following your doctor’s advice but I highly found it beneficial to get out of the boot earlier to get range of motion and weight bearing to be done. It is all about getting your calf muscle strengthened. I was told if it is going to re-rupture, better earlier on which is more an indication that the surgeon may not have fixed it correctly in the first place. Obviously , please be very careful when walking to avoid any foreign substances that would make you trip/fall.

CL

Hi all, new to this whole game but wanted to give people an update on a newly torn achilles.

April 15 ,2015

- Playing basketball and tore my achilles while retrieving the ball (PS I was doing this while playing on a Torn ACL… not wise)

April 17, 2015

- Surgery for a complete rupture  of the achilles. On crutches and elevating for a solid 1 week. Had to return to work after 1 week

- Tips: rest and elevate. You can’t really ice it as it’s in a cast.

May 4, 2015 (2 weeks post-op)

- Stitches removed. There was a stitch right underneath a scab so it killed so bad…

- Still on crutches, no weight bearing (though I do read people start weight bearing at this stage, my doctor is very conservative)

May 15, 2015 (4 weeks post-op)

I kept talking to people and reading that get in a boot ASAP. You can increase ankle ROM and be able to breath. Plus you can actually shower if you would like.

There have been studies it is a faster recovery rate, no difference in re-ruptures, and no difference in the long-run.

For me, I need to recover faster so I can get under the knife for my next ACL surgery (FML).

My surgeon did not want to fit me in a boot but I pushed for this and told him I’d be very cautious about everything.

May 23, 2015 (5 weeks post-op)

- I was partially weight being from the week before. I kept reading everywhere that you can start weight bearing in week 2 and go onto FWB as tolerated. My doctor told me not to even touch the ground until 6 weeks post-op.

My first step on the ground was weird, I needed my roommate to be by my side just in case. I did a couple of laps but couldn’t even lift my bad foot off the ground. It was progress at least.

May 24, 2015 (5 weeks + 1 day post-op)

I am convinced the sooner I could walk was the sooner I could get better. It would help with calf atrophy (my calf ifs about half the size of my good, torn ACL leg), help with recovery, and improve blood flow.

I decided to try again to walk with and without a boot. I was able to do this without my roomate by my side and just was super careful. It was a success. By May 25 ,2015, I was full weight bearing in my boot and went to the beach and out to a bar. I continued to do laps around my bedroom without a boot. It felt great to even touch the ground and move.

Since I got my boot (4 weeks post-op), I performed ankle ROM 2x a day and this has significantly improved my ROM.  I am seeing my surgeon and physio tomorrow (6 weeks post-op) and will post again.

Pain - there hasn’t been much pain other than when performing some ROM exercises I feel the tendon is tight.

Scab - my scab hasn’t healed as well as I would have thought. Looks to be dried blood still at 6 weeks post op.

Thanks for listening and continuing to work hard… it can be worse (I have re-torn my ACL in my left knee, rupture Achilles on right side)

CL

To all my fellow rehab colleagues,

This site is dedicated to you.

Why did I start this site?

As I sit here in a walking boot, I could not find many recent blogs with regards to the torn achilles recovery.

What is my history?

I originally tore my ACL in September of 2010 (right after I graduated university). I had surgery in January and was back to playing basketball September 2011. To say that was the LONGEST year of my life is an understatement.

After one year of near 100% levels, I tweaked my knee playing flag football on artificial turn (my recommendation… never play on artificial turf). I got multiple MRIs after and confirmed my ACL was still in tact.

However, I always felt my bone pop out a bit when twisting and turning, and until March 2015, did not get diagnosed with a re-torn ACL.

Why do you listen to your doctor?

My surgeon told me….do not run, play basketball, play tennis or anything as we wait to settle a surgery date. Note that I live in the Cayman Islands and my surgeon is from Canada and was travelling back. So there was a logistical difficulty as he was going to be leaving the following Friday and I was unable to take time off from work.

I got invited to play in the basketball league in Cayman Islands and thought, what was the worst that could happen?

What was the worst that could happen?

On April 15, 2015, at the start of the second quarter, I tipped the ball and got the steal. When I burst out to catch the ball, I felt my calf give out. I thought the defender behind me kicked me in the calf. That was not the case!

I could not put any pressure on the leg and went to the ER. The doctor told me to come in the next day to see the surgeon but she was confident it was a torn achilles.

The next day, I got the prognosis… torn achilles and I went into surgery April 17, 2015.

What next?

This is a life lesson…. a mental challenge… a physical challenge… Not only do I have to rehab my way from a torn Achilles…. I have to strengthen it to the point I can get my knee surgery and start rehabbing them both at the same time.

I will chronicle my progress (or lack thereof) not only for informational purposes, but to inspire and motivate people that it could always be worse. A positive mindset goes a long way… so hope you enjoy this ride with me!

Regards,

CL

Welcome to AchillesBlog.com.

This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Following link will take you to your blog’s “command center” where you can write your posts:
http://AchillesBlog.com/clementsblock/wp-admin/

Be sure to fill out your city, Achilles rupture date, surgery date, etc.. (if you know it) here:
Fill out my Achilles Profile Here

When you do, you can keep track of your recovery progress and see your information on the Marathon Tracker.

Here’s more info: using Achilles Timeline Widget

Please change this post’s title to something more descriptive. Just leaving it as “Hello World” leads people to believe that you haven’t updated your first post!

If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask!

Dennis