I’ve been back at the pickleball court now for a few weeks now, no problems. Injured calf still not as strong, or as big as the healthy one, but I do think it is still improving. Keep up the good work, all, and no matter how far along you are, keep working the program.
I swore I’d never play again, but after watching Richard Sherman of the 49′ers running around the field, 22 months after his ATR, I decided to go back. First time today. I was careful. I did not hurt myself. I had a lot of fun.
Keep up the good work, all!
Well, it has been exactly one year since I ruptured my right achilles playing pickleball. I went nonsurgical, early weight bearing. Status report is that I’m walking and playing golf, and have been since January, but, the reality is that my right calf-achilles complex is still significantly weaker than my left. Despite doing many, many, many calf-raises, I still cannot do a single leg full calf raise with the injured leg. I am still trying. I do multiple “ecentric” reps, where I use both legs to get up, and slowly lower myself with he right leg, trying with nearly all my might to keep from lowering to the ground. But, I thin I am still moving in the right direction. If I were an elite athlete, I would not be all the way back. I have resigned myself to giving up pickleball, which is a bummer, because my wife loves it and plays all of the time and I would love to be able to join her and her group, but I doubt I ever will. I don’t know if I’d be stronger if I’d gone surgical or not. There is no reliable data on the qualitative aspects of healing, one vs. the other, pretty much all of the data is about re-rupture rates. It could be more about being 65 years old when I did it. Anyway, I’m grateful for being where I am, and will continue to do the rehab.
A couple of days after my last post at 9 months, I experienced some lower back pain. This is not unusual for me, and I figured a few days of rest would get me back on track. Unfortunately it has now been 6 weeks, and I’m not back on track. I’m back in PT. Just had an MRI, haven’t heard the results of that yet. Everyone is suspicious, including me, that the root cause is walking with an altered gait, while attempting to rehab my achilles. So this sucks big time. But it is what it is, and we’ll get through it. The tendon gives me no trouble. I am still doing the heel lifts (not well) and stretches. I can’t walk much, so I’m getting out of shape again. The good news is I live on a lake, the weather has been too hot to golf anyway, and I’ve had lots of kids and grandkids visiting, and I probably wouldn’t have golfed much anyway. I just wish I could get my 2-3 mile walks in…Keep the faith.
Not a lot to report other than it has been 9 months. Still walking, still working on calf-raises and stretching. I am not all the way back yet, but the injury doesn’t keep me from doing what I do, which is walking and golfing. I still can’t do a single leg calf-raise with the bad leg. I can barely get the heel off the ground. I’m a bit surprised by that, but it is what it is. When I walk, I walk 2 to 3 miles, and sometimes it feels great, sometimes it is sore in the heel, and most times it goes back and forth between sore and fine on the same walk. Swinging a golf club causes no immediate discomfort, but I think I’m a bit more tender the day after I hit a lot of balls.
Former UConn star and current professional basketball player ruptured her right achilles tendon (yesterday, I guess) while playing in Russia. It got me to thinking about a few things about this injury. First of all, I feel for her. I don’t know how a professional athlete could ever get the point of trusting it again. I did mine playing pickleball and I have sworn off racket sports for the rest of my life. Of course, I’m 65, so even if I didn’t rerupture, I’d probably hurt something else. None of my caregivers told me to give it up, but when I volunteered that I was going to, they all, every one of them said “good idea”.
Two other things: when Richard Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback did his, he got up and walked off the field, without help. I could read his lips as he walked by a teammate, and he said “I tore my achilles.” So he knew it was torn and he still walked off the field.
Kobe Bryant when he did his, got up and made two free throws, before leaving the court.
These guys aren’t like regular people.
I hope everyone is doing well, and spirits are up. It gets better.
Just a quick note. We drove home from Florida this week. On the way down, after Christmas I was at 4months post-injury. I could drive, but after about 5 hours my right leg was getting pretty tired. On the way home, at 7 months, no problem. I drove 11 hours the last day with no issues from my foot. My back was sore though. The 3 months in Florida, being able to walk every day was the best thing for me, I believe. I still can’t do a proper single leg calf raise with the injured foot, but I’m getting pretty close. I’m still limited by the injury as to how fast I can walk, but of course, it’s getting better all the time. Before I was injured my 3 mile walk took 45 minutes. Yesterday I did it in 55, and that was as fast as I could go. It will be interesting to monitor that over the Spring and Summer months. Keep the faith, folks…it gets better.
Last Friday was the 6 month (26 weeks) mark since my injury..I have been in Florida since Jan. 1…As you would expect, walking much better than I was 2 months ago…still not completely normal. I can just barely get injured heel off of the ground with one leg calf-raise effort. It doesn’t bother me at all swinging a golf club, but after about 15 holes or so it starts to get tired walking, and my buddies say they can tell because I start limping a bit. That’s playing in a cart, not hiking the entire round.
For those of you behind me on the trail, keep the faith, keep doing what you are supposed to be doing. Don’t overdo it. It will happen for you.
Wintering in Florida, and it has been a great place to continue my rehab. Below zero back home, with a foot and a half of snow on the ground, so it’s great to be in a place where I can walk every day. Been doing between 2 and 2 1/2 miles almost every day, plus my calf raises, balancing, and stretching (+ my back exercises from a previous issue)…I started golfing again, started out a few weeks ago by hitting small clubs, then playing par 3 courses, then 9 holes on regular courses. It’s going well. I’m taking carts, not walking the courses, but you get quite a bit of walking in when you hit the ball where I hit it, where you are not supposed to drive carts…oops…It still doesn’t feel normal, I still can’t do a single leg calf raise on the bad leg…but it’s getting better, and I’m getting closer…Hope you all are continuing to improve steadily.
I straddled the 17 week anniversary with 8 days of travel. I drove 7 hours one day, 4 the next, then a full day off, then 7 hours, then 2 days off, then 3 hours. I’m glad I didn’t try to drive any more than 7 hours. With Holiday traffic, and snowbirds, there were some hour long “stop and go” situations, and my leg (ATR was right leg) was tired, and it got swollen. All settled in now in Florida. Got a good walk in. Tomorrow I’ll settle in to a routing of walking and exercising it. Also, I need to lose about 15 lbs…ugh…
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Thanks for the comment, Fred. Yes I warm up a lot, and am constantly stretching during play, and in between games I avoid sitting and keep moving and stretching and squatting etc etc. I stay well below 100% effort, but it reminds me of a story. I was in my early 40s, last year of playing softball. I hit a blooper over the second baseman, and trotted to first, but when the right fielder mishandled it, I “turned on the jets” to leg out a double. I eventually scored and when I got to the bench, my wise-a$$ buddy said he’d noticed that I turned on the speed. He said “the only thing that changed was your facial expression”….and I replied “well, not only my facial expression changed. My risk of injury went way up, so I’m never doing that again.”
Congrats on returning to the courts. I am 57 and running around crazy now returning the ball on the pickleball court, after 9.5 months, BUT I do try to stay below 100% effort. I DO a bit of warmup, and my leg still is a bit weak and lacks complete flexibility. They say warm ups are so crucial, and I try to listen to my body and go much slower if there is any weakness.
Yes, I agree about the warm up. In fact, in addition to my achilles rehab I exercises I still do every day, I have had problems with lower back and shoulders, so I have a slate of exercises for those issues as well. So it’s a good hour every morning, doing all of my rehab exercises, and then off to the courts and then more stretching and warming up.
also during play I am constantly stretching and moving around. I don’t run hard at all, nor do I jump. I probably couldn’t if I tried, but I don’t try. I am not too agile these days.
Yes, I remember being a bit scared first time playing - practicing. I have had no problems after returning to play 4 months ago, HOWEVER, I do a lot of WARM UPS beforehand, backwards, forwards, sideways. I get MORE exhausted from the warmup than actually playing. And STRETCHING is very important too before play, and a doctor told me after play too.
At first I was pushing myself to get through the warmups too quickly. Not good, my knee was starting to get wobbly. Warm up gradually, easily, if any concerns, slow down and go slower.
Enjoy the warm-up, perhaps that is more important to your recovery than actually playing!
That’s awesome to hear Dan. I’m hoping to get back out on the pickleball court one day too. I’m 3 months post surgery so I know it will be awhile.
Victoria: I was between 4 and 6 months before really walking normally, but only two months to walk with out pain, but VERY slowly. And I think I had a very good recovery time. (And I dont walk much anyway.)
You could try walking and heel raises in water, that helped me a lot.
Also I was finally told to work out only every other day, and to stretch every day. I think that has been a good regime for me, and I really notice it if I dont stretch out every day!
sweet70, what makes you feel you have “healed long”? Does your surgeon concur with that? I had some thoughts in that direction, but it sure didn’t feel “long” while I was trying to stretch it. Still doesn’t.
Are you still working towards the heel raise? How does it feel when you stretch it?
Best of luck on the bike ride, and thank you for the response.
I have had much the same experience as Dan. At 14 mos I am confident in the surgery, and experience no real pain or swelling. Mobility is good, but there is significant atrophy on the injured leg and delayed response time on the stride push off that I believe is due to ‘healing long’. Heal raises are pretty much impossible, but I am doing a 50 mile bike ride this weekend which will be a test for sure. Good to hear from everyone on the blog site-lots to learn and share…
Yes, definitely have visible atrophy. My calves were pretty good size to begin with so I don’t know that I’ll ever get them to even out again. The healthy calf is about 3/4 of an inch wider than the injured. The injured calf is also noticeably shorter and weaker on the distal medial head. My one year is in 3 days so I’ll try to post some pictures for the obligatory anniversary post.
Thanks for the encouragement, Bruiser. Do you still have visible atrophy?
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Congratulations Dan! The calf raises will get there. I can do 12-15 on my ruptured leg at about 1 year out, but I don’t get as high as on my good leg. Is it possible you healed a bit long?
paul 1, thank you for the comment. I COULD play pickleball, but I’m afraid to. I just don’t want to go through another year like the last one. Good luck on your recovery. My doctor told me in November that it’s a “one year” injury. That after a year I’d know where I’d be. I am hoping he was wrong, because I want to be stronger in that leg than I am now. I think I will continue, albeit slowly, to progress towards a more full recovery. Carry on!
cserpent, thank you for the comment. I sometimes wonder if all of the weird symptoms I have in my right leg are from the achilles injury. Over the last 25 years I’ve had, in my right leg, a quad pull (running to first base), a severe groin injury (water skiing) that required surgery, sciatic nerve issues that required epidural injections, with numbness and weakness, knee issues, and the achilles. Looking back on it I wonder if all of those other issues set me up for the achilles injury. Who knows? Anyway, we keep plugging along, and I am delighted that I can walk and play golf.
Dan, congrats on your 1 year anniversary! I, too, blew out my right Achilles’ tendon playing pickleball and am just 5 weeks post surgery. I’ve been walking in a boot for the past ~week now. I’m really sorry to hear that you haven’t been able to get back to pickleball. That for sure is a goal of mine. My doc is very encouraging to say that I should fully recover in time (his estimate is 8 months, but of course it’s hugely variable). I wish you all the best as you continue on your journey.
We’re close in our recovery time frames 
I’m about 2 weeks passed my 1 year mark. Keep on working on the calf raises! I have no problem with those but am having problems with an inflamed bone. Not sure why it’s inflamed but until it calms down I can’t get back to all my normal activities (soccer, HIIT classes, weight lifting class, …) I’ve been dealing with it for about 2 months now and it is really annoying.
I’m four months post op and still have pronounced limp and aches when I make an effort to ambulate ‘normally’.
I had a delayed repair with heal anchors as ed diagnosed muscle tear so it was almost 2 months after injury before I had the surgery.
I can do combined heal raises and walk for maybe 800 meters before calf muscles and heal are quite sore. My biggest issue is it has been 6 months since I have been able to drive and I’m getting more than a little down about being so confined. I’ve tapped out friends and family re help and support.
I find this the most difficult part of the process as its been a month since the boot came off and progress feels SOoooooo slow.
How long post boot removal before I can walk like a normal person again?
When I’m walking around the house I don’t limp. I’d say that sort of simple walking took maybe 4 months. However, I’m closing in on 8 months now, and I still can’t stride as long or as powerfully as I could before the injury, and when I get tired, I limp still. Yesterday, for example, I did my usual 3 mile walk, but the day before I had pushed my golf cart walking nine holes of golf on a hilly wet, soggy course. I felt like I was plowing a field. Consequently after about a mile and 1/4 yesterday, my tendon started to ache. It’s rare that it does that, but it bothered me to the point that I figured I should slow down, and turn around. It feels fine today, but I haven’t walked yet.
So the short answer is under certain circumstances, I still limp. The doc told me, at month 4, I shouldn’t worry about having reached the endpoint of my recovery until at least a year. Being I’m 65, I think it may take longer even than that to feel like it never happened, and frankly, based on how I’ve healed from other injuries received late in life, it may never feel like it never happened.
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[...]So how long did it take for you to walk without a limp?
I know what you mean! When I started walking I found I had to be very mindful of the crown in the roadway. No sidewalks where I live, and by the time I was walking in November, very little traffic, so I could pretty much walk right down the middle. The slant of the pavement had a big effect on how my ankle felt.
Keep at it Dan! I haven’t walked the dogs for about a month and walked them today (usually my hubby does the dog walking so when he’s out of town I do it ). Last time I walked the dogs I had to keep switching sides of the street since the up/down angle of the driveways was bugging my achilles. This time I had no problems at all! Another step forward in the road to a fully functional foot.
Glad you made it down there OK Dan! Walk, exercise, do PT and eat well
Have fun in Florida and keep us updated on your progress!
Enjoy Florida! Just keep doing those exercises and you’ll keep on making good progress.
jeff16, ha! glad I could be so inspirational. Even more glad that everything went well for you.
Dan-glad to see your moving along. You inspired me to also try a 3 mile walk today. It went alright, no complaints. Thanks man!
Glad everything is going so well!
Congrats! Seems like you made the right choice as far as your treatment plan is concerned. I had my first PT mention that you can see swelling well up to the 6th month mark. That darn foot is just so far away from your heart and fluids just collect down there. Keep us updated into the future…I’m curious as to how it holds up next to the surgical approach. Also, super jealous of the 3 mile walk! Well done!
Congratulations on 14 weeks! Keep up the great progress.
I saw the same thing recently - in the skin where my foot arches and back towards the ankle. But then I looked at my right foot and I see it there too. Of course those may be from my right foot surgery … who knows! I didn’t even notice them with my right foot.
I don’t know if you’d call them varicose veins but it seems like I do have some little spider veins developing in my cankle area. Of course, they may have always been there but I’m noticing them now because of my foot obsession. Kind of makes sense though with all the swelling and reduced blood flow.
Hi Robert, thank you for the post! My plan at this point is to forego any future pickleball. I can’t bear the thought of going through this again.
I will stick to my other sports; golf, walking, bicycling, boating, and fishing.
But I congratulate you on getting back in the saddle and playing.
Hi Dan914,
I check back periodically just to see what is happening with fellow Achilles victims. Like you, I ruptured my Achilles playing pickleball at the age of 65. For me it was my third time on the court, a freshly retired IT director ready to dive head first from the desk to the courts. I went the surgery route and it kept me off the court for about 6 months but I just wanted to ensure you that whatever route you take, you will get back to being able to play without fear of another rupture. I play competitively three or four times a week for several hours and I will be in the 3.5+ Sarasota Cup tournament this weekend. It has been 4+ years since my rupture… so far so good! Good luck and I hope you go back to the game. It is a great sport! Retired65
I’m doing the balancing work too Dan. I’m now balancing on a pillow and I suspect I’ll migrate to a bosu ball in 2-3 days. Now that your at 30 seconds try doing it with your eyes closed - LOL! That is HARD! But it gives you another challenge.
