debvn’s AchillesBlog

That’s terrific! My doctor reminded me again today that this is a long recovery. You are doing great. I hope to be where you are at some point!

Hi deb

Sounds like we are at similar stage. I have been running (or more precisely run-walking) and road cycling (no standing on pedals) last few weeks, but limp, stiffness, and swelling have not gone and probably shouldn’t be doing as much running as I am. Like K, I don’t limp when power walking or even running but find myself limping when doing every day activities. Not sure if an exertion issue or just a focus issue (ie when doing it as exercise I am focusing on not limping). Mornings, especially coming down stairs, is the worst. My surgeon also preached patience.

I had the same issue with limping, but I always thought it had more to do with my exertion level. For example, if I was power walking my limp would go away, but when I was back home making dinner and wondering around my house, I would be limping from the earlier workout. Also, as a school teacher, I spend most of my days on my feet and walking up and down stairs (My classroom is on the 2nd floor and there is no elevator). This always seems to have me sore before my afternoon workouts (still does at times).

As far as progression of the running program, I might level out next week because I’m starting to get a little soreness after the workout that continues until the next day (more in my ankle and foot than my knee), but
I don;t want to overdo it again. Also, I don;t plan on trying to run a 10K race until the fall, so I have plenty of time to get through this 3.5 month program.

The spin class is probably what leaves me the most sore. I really have to push myself to remain standing and pedaling. I get that sma esoreness in the top of my foot I used to get during my early FWB days, and muscle fatigue, but we will see how I do

kkirk,

Thanks for the response re the limping.

I’m doing the same as you with the spin classes. I think the standing and pedaling is working wonders for my ankle strength and hopefully that will transfer over to my walking. The funny thing with the walk is that the longer (further) I walk, the smoother it gets so I guess that means I should be doing more of it!

You’re smart to level out on your plan for a while. Slow progression is still progression in the right direction!

Yeah, I still do when I run, so I will probably have to level out for awhile on my Couch to 10K. I just finished week 3. I up to running 3 minute intervals for about 30 minutes. Its a slow progression, but I still feel that my gait is off and the lack of strength effects my knee (I think). Today it time for Spin class again (I’m trying to increase my stamina for standing and pedaling.

As far as walking, I don’t have a limp at all, but I start to limp after Spin class, and/or running at times when my muscles start to fatigue. I just make sure to ice my leg real good after working out and sometimes take NSAIDs

ripraproar,

In addition to what Kelly said, from Dashboard, on the right hand side is QuickPress. That’s what I use to make a post….

@dbvn: Thanks for the reply. It gives me something to shoot for at least. IKWYM about the wall–I was curious about the stretching as well. I thought my balance would be okay but I worry about falling out of the poses and placing my bad foot. Sounds like caution is in order–if and when I go back. Thanks

Oops, the “right” for “save” “preview” and “publish.” sorry.

@Rrr: Hmm. When you get to your Dashboard, there is a menu on the left where you can access your posts. One of the options is “new post”–can you click on that? It should bring up a page that allows you to type in a title and a post. The first post that Dennis creates for all of us should be there. That one can be edited and the titie changed just by overwriting his title “Hello World.” On the left side of the page, there is a box that allows you to “save draft, ” “Preview,” or “publish.” If you publish, it makes the post public. I apologize if you’ve already done this.

Hi sorry to hijack this thread in addition to at help I need it help, any willing volunteers, I’m trying to get my blog working, I can get on my dashboard , also on profile i updated this many weeks ago as i did my biography but it doesn’t display to the wider audience, I also can’t see anywhere that it says I can write a post, and on the original blog that Dennis sent me it says to change the title from hello world by using the edit or delete buttons which I can not see. Am I missing the obvious or do you think I need to contact Dennis.
Thanks in anticipation
RRR

Thanks Norm,

I finally feel like things are moving nicely now…. a huge change in just the last month. Funny how people progress at their own pace but we all get there in the end.

Knowing when to hold back and when to push yourself is one of the hardest things about this injury and something that I’m still learning!

Thanks for your wisdom and advice over the course!

Hi Kevin,

I just went back and re-read a few of your recent posts. I thought I remembered that you started running a few weeks ago but then had some knee and ankle pain. I’m glad to see that it’s resolved to the point that you started interval running again. I’m definitely following your progress so keep the posts coming! Just wondering if your limp is completely gone now and do you have any ankle stiffness? I still limp a bit and going down stairs is still a bit of a stretch on the ATR side.

p.s. Nice shout out post the other day! I agree with everything you said and also appreciate the way you share your progress (and setbacks) and give encouragement, keep it up!

kellygirl,

I started doing some seated yoga while I was still in the boot. I googled seated poses and restorative yoga and there were a few poses that were doable (seated and prone twists, cat/cow; eagle arm stretches, forward bends etc.). The Yoga Journal site is a good resource. As others have mentioned, I also did some upper body strengthening with light dumb bells; really anything to feel a little bit active. Once the boot was off, I practiced using yoga dvds at home making sure that I always had a wall to help with balance and modified things when I needed too. I found that my balance was thrown off on the good leg too. As things improved, I was able to do more (believe me it felt like forever but now I have to really think back). I went back to classes (hatha) at 5 months post op. At that time I still needed to be close to a wall for insurance but now I’m pretty well back to normal with yoga although I’m still careful. One thing I did was always keep a bend in my knees to protect the achilles (in down dog, forward bends etc.).

I am also addicted to this site and that’s not a bad thing! Lots of great advice and

Deb, it sounds like it’s taken you a while to get where you are, but you’re moving nicely now. And your plans and approach sound great. Don’t stop!

Congrats. Sounds like up are progressing well. I’m about a week ahead of you and close to the same point. I just started running a few weeks ago and still have to take it easy. Interval training has worked the best for me. Anyway, keep up the good work and keep us posted.

Congratulations. It sounds like you are doing great! I am somewhat addicted to this site–I’m only two weeks in but all of these recovery experiences are hopefully preparing me (somewhat) mentally for the next year. At what point did you go back to yoga? I do Bikram–(well, I used to at least) and am curious at what point you went back.

hi sundance,

Great news that all is well. Very interesting explanation about entering the leg from the inside to avoid the Sural Nerve. I’m glad that they were able to diagnose and explain all of your systems as they were not ones that we’ve read about on this forum before. I’ve had impingement also (a shoulder injury) and it resolved after doing PT so I’m sure you are correct in assuming your symptoms will improve once swelling and scar tissue decline.

I’m with you on slowing things down and paying close attention to form. I saw a my PT today and she remarked that my calf raises are better now. I feel I’m targeting the calf more now (I used to feel I could do them all day) but I also feel stress in the peroneal tendon so she warned me not to over do them. She also watched me walk and said that I’m not picking up my foot (extending my hip) as much as on the good side. So, I now have to ‘practice’ walking. On the bright side, I’ve re-activated my gym membership starting today. I’m off to do a yoga class at lunch and swim later after work. This job is getting in the way of my rehab!!!

I appreciate that you took the

Deb,
Post testing and all is well…according to the docs. . Prognosis is that the Sural Nerve (nerve that runs down outside of ankle and foot) is aggrivated. This is likely caused by normal swelling and scar tissue + increased activity of rehad. Something I was not aware of before is that most surgerys enter from the inside of the leg to avoid damage to this nerve. But, nothing can prevent impingement from the healing process. So - hopefully numbness is temporary and as swelling and scar tissue decline, so will these feelings.

Sharp pains - suggestion from docs and PT is that this is signes of stress on the tendon. Result of over working the tendon is best guess. Just a couple days of low activity and light stretching have improved situation greatly.

For workouts - bike is still in (note I wasn’t at high resistance but was pushing the rate of increased resiatance while trying to maintain high cadence) and little has changed with work out plan other than intensity and….

To your comments, you are spot on about form. I felt I too was doing very well but after asking PT to pay closer attention to my form I am defi

sundance,

Has your PT done the Thompson Test on you? This will confirm if your tendon is intact.

Numbness and pins and needles sounds like it involves nerves, perhaps an impingement. Do these feelings come and go, do they happen when doing certain things? You say you are stationary cycling at a high resistance. How is your form? Are you turning your knee in/out, likewise check your foot, are you pronating or supinating? I have had to back off on cycling because I realized I was compensating with my good leg and not applying even pressure through the ball of my foot. My PT has also noticed that while doing calf raises, I’m scrunching my toes and turning my ankle out ever so slightly (compensating) and here I thought I was doing them ‘perfectly’.

I’m just throwing ideas out there but if I were you, I would seek medical advise. There could be something in the kinetic chain that is ‘weak’. Also, as we age, we are susceptible to degenerative disk disease. This could cause symptoms that are mistaken for sciatica etc.

Finally you could try using a foam roller (or the stick) to massage all the muscles in your legs.

Deb, dross

I think we are all at similar stage of recovery and frustration with slowness of it. As one of you said, could be linked to fact we all had long struggles with Achilles issues. I am just trying to be patient, and not push too much.

Deb,
Thanks for the reply and wordy response to follow - just a warning.

Seems rehab protocals and PT advice vary greatly. Typically leaning to the conservative approach (as noted by dfoss), which of course is smart - but to and extent. My program up to week 17 post surgery was a bit too conservative based upon the research I had done.

I worked into my program more aggressive training, mostly balance training, while still progressing on heel drops with assisted calve raises (single leg using pull up bar), stationary bike at increasing resistance and massage therapy. I recognized good results. Strength recovery still much slower in returning than flexibility.

But by week 19 was walking without a limp, noticable fatigue and some swelling at night - but felt good. By week 20 I was working in light tredmill work, 2-3″ heel drops with assistance still on raise just focus on repititions.

The tightness, pulling (like the tendon is slipping through a sleave - especially at height of toe raise), and stiffness is normal based upon all I have ready and felt.

Which brings me to week 22 and the numbness and needle li

Deb, I do heel drops with my bad foot standing on an analog bathroom scale and my good foot on a phone book. I am also holding on to a chin up bar for more control. My high dollar digital scale wouldn’t work for this, feedback is too slow, had to get a cheap analog one at Walmart.

At my last Ortho visit I found out that my doctor is very conservative. He told me no long walks until June - a mile or more - and no biking or running until September. The protocol he gave me is metric based, “progress to walk/jog program if appropriate strength and function (15-20 single leg toe raise)”. This is from the Carolinas Physical therapy Network protocol. At the rate I’m going his calender my apply to me. I am concentrating on heel drops right now. I have a stationary bike but just use it now for 10 minute warm ups. I hope to log more time on it eventually before going outside.

sundance,

I find it hard to describe how things feel. I usually use words like tightness, tugging or pulling and sometimes burning sensations. I’ve read on here that due to scar tissue, blood cannot circulate properly through the ankle and that causes swelling. That may explain why things feel tight and less flexible. Things also feel different when scar tissue eventually breaks down.

I have not experienced the feelings that you are describing in your post. It sounds like you are ahead of me functionally at this time. Perhaps you are experiencing a set back and need to RICE and consult your PT or physician.

Perhaps someone else will chime in with their experience.

Good luck and keep us posted!

dfoss,

I remember our conversation very well. I agree that you were probably looking at a total rupture sooner than later. Looking back, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had a partial rupture long before it completely let go. The other strange thing was that I didn’t have any ‘popping’ sound that most people describe.

I was also able to cycle up until the day of the rupture even completing a 4 day tour from Ottawa to Kennebunkport (very hilly) with a coach bus for the return trip. It was awesome and definitely something I would like to tackle again in the future.

I’m hoping to get back outside on the bike in a few weeks although my strength for cycling is not good. I’ve been on my bike on a trainer for the last 3 months but just on a light gear and working on keeping my RPMs around 90. As I add gear, I feel strain so I back off. I’ve also backed off from going up to two hours back to just an hour at a time. I think I was too impatient and have a hard time accpeting the loss of fitness and strength.

You make an excellent point about compensation prior to the surgery. It makes sense that we would be behind some of th

Deb, as you noted sometime back our injuries are amazingly similar except that mine never fully ruptured. Given time I think this would have happened. I tried to do a single leg lift back in October and couldn’t even then. My surgery was Nov. 27th. I think the compensating I had been doing for the last couple years gave me a big head start on calf weakness, long before the cast and boot. Surprisingly though I was still able to bike ride up until late October. Right now I can only push down about 70 or 80 pounds right now and am currently at 60 lbs doing eccentric heel drops. Any more than that causes excessive AT pain and swelling for 2 or 3 days. I am disappointed with my pace of recovery also so we have that in common too, probably not just coincidence.

Fellow Achilles rehab-ers. I have beed reading through many blogs on rehab and have found little about how the repaired area actually feels. I had a full tear on right Achilles and I am now at 22 weeks post surgery and all seemed to be going well until last week. I was well through balance and strength training, riding stationary bike and even jogging. Then I began to have some interesting sensations:
1. Numbness in outside of the ball of foot and toes
2. Needle like brief pains through length of scare area (mostly high on scar)
3. Reduction in flexibiltiy
My strength has not changed but the above symptoms and my issues with patience in recovery have made me concerned about possible re-tear.
Has anyone experienced such symptoms at some point during recovery process?

hey norm,

Interesting that you mention steroids and NSAIDs, I have had both. I think my injury was caused by a ‘perfect storm’ of repetitive strain injury, a tendon perhaps weakened by NSAIDs and a change in footware (to a lower ramp running shoe). As they say, hindsight is 20/20 but I’ll never know for sure.

I have never taken fluoroquinolone antibiotics but thanks for the warning.

Nice to know I’m in the minority around here (lol)!!!

Deb

I cheat in the hydrotherapy pool also, Eccentric heel drops starting about 2-3 weeks ago and getting easier, but as I get tired towards the end of my workouts and /or the day I’m not very successful with the heel drops.

BTW that salt water pool sounds very nice!

Your story — of a gradually deteriorating AT that finally ruptures under “normal” strain — is very rare hereabouts, Deb. Only a minority of ATR folks even have AT discomfort or pain pre-ATR (though maybe a higher % of runners), and even those folks mostly push harder than stairs when it goes. I’ve heard that steroids (and NSAIDs too) are bad for tendons, though I haven’t seen any definitive studies on it. Most of the few folks here who tore their AT “effortlessly” had taken Cipro or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic. (Recently, those finally got a “black box warning” about tendon tears in the US.) Ever taken one of those?

debvn

cycling really helps all kinds of injuries..try and get shoes with cleats and spd pedals if you dont already have any…they really make a difference…as for windsurfing…what can i say…its a truly great sport…you’ll see that in a years time we wont even remember this nasty injury!! take care and have a great recovery!!!

lefkas81,

Sounds like an awesome bike ride! I’m just waiting for the snow to melt on our trail system and then start bike commuting to/from work. That gives me about 44 km a day, throw in a long ride on the weekend and the mileage really adds up. I’ve never tried wind surfing but it looks like a great sport. If you’re already on the road bike at 15 wks, I’m sure you’ll be out surfing this summer. It would be amazing if in a year we could forget this injury ever happened!

Today its been 15 weeks since surgery day and i feel pretty nice..i went on a 40km ride on my road bike and my leg was holding pretty good.. i almost walk without a limp and i continue with my balancing/strengthening exercises together with stretching stretching and….stretching…today’s ride was just epic…i was so happy on the bike…still have quite some time ahead of me but I’m very optimistic…Doc says that after a year i won’t even remember the injury…I have to work hard and be patient cause in 2 months windsurfing season starts on the island and hopefully I’ll make it..looking back at these 15 weeks I’ll never forget the time after surgery, the boot, the crutches, everything…i just want to wish everyone a good and safe recovery…this blog has been amazing in terms of psychological support for me and we all know in here what everyone is going through…patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet!!! I wish the best for everyone!!

kkirk,

Nice to hear from you and good to know that we have similar restrictions at this point. My PT just introduced eccentric heel drops off a step. I’m no where near running or plyometrics either although I ‘cheat’ and do them anyway in the pool. I’m very lucky that there is a 20 yd salt water pool in the hotel accross the street from my office. The health club membership is expensive but worth it. It’s not the workout that I would like to be doing but you take what you can get with this injury!

I’ll be following your progress and wish you all the best too!

I’m just a few weeks ahead of you, and even though I have gained strength and endurance, I still have some pain (especially in the evening, weakness, and sometimes a limp). All of this is noticeably less since I started 2-shoes around 12 weeks, but my leg still lets me know how much I messed it up

My PT sounds much like yours (its early in your recovery), but also pushes my strengthening and endurance training also. I still haven’t started running or plyometrics per the doctor’s orders, but I feel close to physically being able to introduce some. I wish you luck in your recovery and happy healing DEBVN.

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