Today hasn’t been a good day for my achilles as my impatience has gotten the best of me, and I am in a little pain. I feel tingling sensation around the region of my achilles where it was repaired, along with periodic pin-prick sensation that comes and goes. Sometimes it happens every few seconds. Then it dissipates, and comes back in 10 minutes or so.
The tingling sensation is eerily reminiscent of the feeling I had when I ruptured my achilles on the basketball court. I know definitely that it’s not re-ruptured, but could I have stretched it?
I have been at my desk working a good part of the past two days, and I usually have my boot off. I have a towel under the desk so that I can move it around with my toes. Also, I’ve been resting my foot on top of the PC that’s under the desk. While my leg is resting on top of the PC, I have been unconsciously resting my foot against the wall, subtly pushing at it with my toes, and also stretching the tendon a little against the wall. This might have caused the tingling sensation.
I’ve been gently massaging the tendon hoping that would somehow make this slight pain around the tendon go away, but it’s still there.
Has anyone had this feeling in their tendons? Hopefully it’s just part of the healing process, and that I didn’t damage it somehow. I hope I didn’t stretch my tendon as Brendan’s doctor warned him about.
I’ll be taking it real easy for the next few days until the condition improves.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Tom // Mar 24, 2008 at 12:22 am
Dennis - I’m not sure if I experienced the exact pain/discomfort that you are describing, but my hunch is that it isn’t too serious. You may just be feeling fatigue in the tendon and other muscles and ligaments in your ankle. It’s amazing how stiff and weak the ankle gets even after only 2-4 weeks of immobility. Your weakened ankle can get a pretty good workout just from some simple ROM exercises. My leg feels fatigued after I do a long session on the bike trainer, do a lot of ROM exercises, or try and go for a longer walk. I would suggest trying to give your leg some rest for a day or two. Also, like you said, it’s good to call your doctor to get his opinion.
2 dennis // Mar 24, 2008 at 12:31 am
Tom - Thanks, that’s a bit reassuring. The pain isn’t from my ankle, but specifically the area in the tendon where it ruptured.
I think I am being overly concerned, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to call the doctor. As you suggested, I’ll take it easy until the pain goes away.
It’s a little spooky since I haven’t felt pain (it’s a minor pain.) like this since the rupture.
3 Jim // Mar 24, 2008 at 2:06 am
Dennis
I have had this exact pain attack you describe a few times, and I am only at day 20. My theory is that it is nerve tissue regenerating. The tendon does have nerves, as you found out when you ruptured it. Sometimes when the nerves regenerate it can cause some pain. I had this exact experience when I crushed off the tip of my left middle finger. I was told the pain would be the worst in 3-6 days as the nerve tissue reorganized itself in the finger. It was pretty incredible. I think the tip of my finger actually hurt worse than my Achilles ever did (not much though) for a day. The finger heals much faster though. This is my theory, and has been sufficient to make me feel better. Hope this completely unscientific explanation helps.
Jim
4 dennis // Mar 24, 2008 at 2:09 am
Jim -
Still, I’ll be very cautious until the pain subsides. It still comes and goes.
Thanks. I think I’ve calmed down a bit now.
5 Doc ross // Mar 24, 2008 at 9:32 am
Dennis,,,
I agree with Jim…tingling is usually indication of nerve pressure. As you increase movement, pressure like on the towel you may feel some tingling or numbness along the sural nerve. Nothing to worry about just back off and make sure there is not pressure along the path of the nerve and tendon.
Slow and easy wins this race.
Doc Ross
6 dennis // Mar 24, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Dr. Ross -
Thanks, I pain subsided so I am not too worried. I am taking it slow.
I’ve posted the water rehab link on the main site under “Physical Therapy”.
Thanks for finding it.
7 brendan // Mar 30, 2008 at 9:42 am
I need a little advice from someone who has been through the initial ROM stuff….Yesterday was the first day I worked the ankle ROM excerices http://achillesblog.com/files/2008/03/exercise_at_home.pdf I am able to just get to 90 degrees…but it’s definitely tight, I’m not using any towels/bands or anything to pull my foot up (doc said no resistance yet)…but how much effort should I be putting into that up motion where I feel the tightness? Any advice on frequency of the ankle exercises? I’ve been applying heat for 10 minutes, doing the exercises (~10 reps of each), massaging the foot/ankle/tendon/calf, and then icing for 10 minutes….did this 3 times/day. Anyone think this is too much or not enough? I woke up this morning and it feels a little crampy/fatigued in the calf area. Thanks for any thoughts/experiences you can share.
8 dennis // Mar 30, 2008 at 11:27 am
brendan -
I have been doing exercises about 3 times a day. I don’t use any resistance, and I try to move my ankle as much as possible without force. I don’t push too much in ranges where I feel tightness. Just a little bit at a time until it gets uncomfortable.
I’ve also recently been testing the strength of my calf muscle a bit too. Sitting down, I try to see if I can push off with my toes just a bit. There is not much strength there, but it’s gradually getting better.
I’ve been curious about other’s exercise routines too.
9 brendan // Mar 30, 2008 at 11:57 am
Thanks Dennis…I think I just was trying a little too hard yesterday, I’m going to go with the easy motion for a few days and see if that helps with the cramping/fatigue feeling. I think it was Tom that said that once you get past the first month, it’s good to start looking at your progress from week to week, rather than day to day….this is a good lesson, and I think I’ll start thinking like that from this point forward.
10 nancy // Mar 30, 2008 at 7:43 pm
brendan
my OT recommended to do the exercises as many times as possible during the day, without pushing it
gentle movements though
it was better to do it often then to do it lots, once
also, i can only push my foot to 70 degrees, was not recommended to go to 90 yet
massaging is excellent, especially the plantar fasia, my obsession these days
and she also said that it was better to apply ice if I feel pain
she said that heat might encourage fluid build up..
i feel the same though, every morning it’s like i’ve done this major workout (yeah, really…) but it gets better after i’ve stretched and massaged the foot
i’ts my 5th day of working on ROM
good luck
11 Jim // Mar 30, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Just a general rant. I’m kind of down today. I feel that I have improved as much as I can with the cast, and it’s now holding me back. I get it off on Tuesday. I don’t think a week will hurt, as I can FWB now without pain, but to really get anywhere I still need the crutches, as the cast is not at a full 90 degrees and solid as a rock. I may have to have my girlfriend hide the Dremel tool so I don’t cut it off (the cast that is). Sorry to be a wet blanket, but thanks for reading. One positive, I can now dependably carry my own open beer.
Jim
12 Tom // Mar 30, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Jim - The recovery can be frustrating. For all the highs we feel as we reach a new milestone, there are also several lows. Don’t feel discouraged. As others have mentioned, the recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. Tomorrow will be a better day!!
13 brendan // Mar 30, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Jim - Sorry you had a bad day. I have had quite a few of those crappy days in the first month of recovery. What I finally have realized, to Tom’s point, is that with every milestone (surgery, 1st post op appt, ankle mobility, weightbearing, PT, shoe, etc.) there is a new horizon on the other side. I was thinking too much about the milestones as “ends”…and really they are just the beginnings of a new stage which brings it’s own challenges. It’s like starting over every few weeks….I was so stoked to get into my boot…but when I moved my ankle for the first time, I thought….”wow, I’ve got a long way to go still!” The old sayings “slow and steady win the race” and “it’s a maraton, not a sprint” were so cliche to hear 4 weeks ago..but boy, do they resonate with me now. Oh…and a beer never hurts either!
14 brendan // Mar 30, 2008 at 10:44 pm
http://achillesblog.com/brendan/achillesblog-user-datainformation/
Updated the sheet with recent comments and added Anne’s info as well. Still waiting on some emails from some folks who filled out their own tracker as well. Hope everyone had a good weekend…and here’s to a good week!
15 tomtom // Mar 30, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Brendan - Sorry I missed this question earlier. I was away from home the last few days, so I’m trying to catch up with all the recent comments. Anyway, I did ROM several times a day. I would site at my desk at work, take off the boot and continually rotate my foot around, no resistance for the first several weeks. Keep in mind this was starting at week 6 for me, so things might be slightly different for you. My tendon is still tight every morning, altough it is improving. The crampy/fatigued feeling you’re experiencing may just be the stiffness of the tendon.
16 Jim // Mar 31, 2008 at 1:53 am
Thanks for the uplifting comments everyone. I think I have counted the days to “cast off” about 1000 times today. I’ll find a good book off the shelf tonight to keep my mind off of the time. We will have house guests the next few days so that will help pass the time.
I’m fairly cantankerous, so I’m probably best off with this thing on so I don’t do anything to cattywompus . I keep flexing my toes and I kind of push down on the ball of my foot ever so lightly. I don’t think I will ever complain about having to walk anywhere again.
JIm
17 brendan // Mar 31, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Tom - thanks for the details on your ROM exercises. After 2 days of ROM, my foot/ankle/tendon felt great this morning…amazing what a day will do…it already feels less tight in the tendon area and I have more strength in my ankle. The cramping must have been from the first movement after 5 weeks!
18 baccaratsite // Aug 8, 2022 at 5:35 am
Your writing is perfect and complete. baccaratsite However, I think it will be more wonderful if your post includes additional topics that I am thinking of. I have a lot of posts on my site similar to your topic. Would you like to visit once?
19 majorsite // Aug 19, 2022 at 5:09 am
When I read an article on this topic, majorsite the first thought was profound and difficult, and I wondered if others could understand.. My site has a discussion board for articles and photos similar to this topic. Could you please visit me when you have time to discuss this topic?
20 casinocommunity // Sep 20, 2022 at 4:53 am
I came to this site with the introduction of a friend around me and I was very impressed when I found your writing. I’ll come back often after bookmarking! casinocommunity
Leave a Comment