clementsblock’s AchillesBlog

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