My Achilles Tendon detached from the heel. The sto

Most tendon problems are now referred to as “tendinosis” rather than (the older) “tendonitis”, and the change in terminology is related to the fact that cortisone (and NSAIDS) is not administered for it much these days.

The old “-itis” indicated that it was an inflammation, which apparently it usually is not. (That’s what I understand with AT pain, and also with the two common elbow problems, tennis and “golfer’s” elbows.) Anti0inflammatories like Cortisone (a steroid) and NSAIDS (NON-steroidal anti-anflammatories) are naturally most effective in treating inflammations, and “not so much” at treating tendinosis, which seems to be a different sort of deterioration of the tendon.

Me, I’ve survived a nasty bout of “golfer’s elbow” (from volleyball, which cleared up (all but the bump, which remains) maybe partly due to some exercises I got, and did.

What you’ve got sounds close to PF (plantar fasciitis, aka “heel spur”), which usually responds to various kinds of soft and “donut” supports that take pressure off the spot that hurts. It’s y’r basic “It hurts when I do THIS!” “So stop doing THAT!”

Sorry to hear that. Is the calcium like bone spurs? I had bone spurs in my lower back that caused a couple of nerves to be pinched, sometimes for long periods of time, resulting in a fair amount of pain. I was back riding my horse 6 weeks after the surgery to remove them. That was in 2000 and they haven’t come back, so far.
As for the podiatrist, when I was looking for someone to do my fourth surgery I talked with a foot/ankle specialist in Oregon Health Sciences University who had practiced in southern Oregon for several years. He said probably 75% of his practice was correcting problems created by podiatrists. He didn’t have a very high opinion of them. I hope you get better.

Susan, I don’t know if dogtired is still monitoring this site or not, a year after he last posted here. Some of the rest of us will be glad to give you advice, though, or at least support. Usually the best approach is to (get web-master Dennis to) set up a blog page of your own.

Your case is unusual (as you indicated) because of the work done to the other tendon. Do you know which one it was? PTT or ATT (if I’ve got the initials right)?

I’m certainly curious about the symptoms that led to that second part of the surgery.

Also, if your AT separated right at the heel bone, instead of rupturing above that point, that’s also unusual, though I think I’ve seen a few other blogs here from people with similar experience (including dogtired, of course).

What’s NOT unusual is that you didn’t start with a full written copy of the rehab protocol your Doc usually follows — including a schedule for the boot and PT. I was one of the few who got one, and it’s a huge luxury to know what’s coming next, instead of waiting weeks (or more!) for a few words of direction during a 10-minute session with “the boss”.

Thank you for creating this blog. I’m 3 weeks into my post-surgery recovery of a detached Achilles and reading your blog was helpful. I also had a tendon shortened on my ankle at the same time so my foot position in healing cannot be the same as a typical Achilles reconstruction. I’m in my second cast (quite fancy in green with a glow in the dark stripe!) which is much lighter than the first and angled differently (90 degrees) which is more comfortable as I have had to rest my heel at times.

Preparation was key to deal with being in the cast and not being able to drive (my right foot too) while working FT and raising 2 young boys. I didn’t get it all together but thank god for help from family and friends. I could not have done this alone. It’s really hard to manage with crutches when you have to cook dinner, clean up, get kids ready for school, bed, etc. I would highly advocate a walker and I wished I had one (I tried one at the outpatient surgery center and it was so easy to manuever). I completely understand how difficult it is to bathe with the cast on. I still had a plastic bag type cast cover from knee surgery years ago and

I’m reading through your blog as I’m currently recovering from a fully-detached Achilles tendon. While I could comment on each of your posts that I’ve read so far, I am commenting on this one because I, too, took Levaquin 3 months before my tendon detached. I had no previous pain or other symptoms in that tendon, it was a purely spontaneous event as far as I could tell.

I will be sending in the FDA’s Adverse Event form regarding my situation. There will never be any proof that the Levaquin caused or increased my chance of tendon rupture/detachment (or not), but it’s a heck of a coincidence.

I look forward to reading the rest of your posts and hopefully I’ll find that you’re doing very well now!

I am sorry to hear about your ordeal. It sounds rather terrifying and I think all those bloggers in the UK who wonder if they made the right choice going the conservative route may feel better after reading it.

It is good news if the swelling is down and hopefully now you will be able to concentrate on your PT.
Wish you the best.

Dogtired,
Fingers crossed the infection is only superficial. A thought on the shoe not rubbling the scar problem: Some people love them and some hate them, but I am a huge fan of crocs. They are the only shoes I can wear without socks underneath and not get blisters because they don’t contact with any of your foot except the sole. I’ve always found them fine for driving and they do a variety of more masculine styles too. Just a thought!
Smoley

this is when gladiator sandals would come handy…;-)

Good luck with your back and hope there is no more infection.

It sounds like a pain in the ……

I have a Whirlpool Tub W/ TV and it is quite an experience. I love it and it is pretty easy to get in. I just sit on the edge of the tub and slide each leg in. Much easier than trying to step over the edge.

I wish I could rotate my feet, mine only point forwards - it must be a great party trick!
Good to hear your progress is coming along.
Dylan

Great blog, worth reading thanks for sharing.

As a recent recruit, I’ve just been reading your blog. Wow, that all sounds very painful and, assuming you’re in the States, rather incompetent for medical advice you’re paying for.
Hope things are still improving.
Sam

dogtired - Congrats on the successful surgery. I hope you find some interesting things to do while recovering, so that you don’t get bored. Keep us posted!

hi,

One of our Shelties ran past my husband in the backyard on May 23rd. My husband spun around and as soon as he put weight on his right leg, he knew that something was wrong. He iced it, but with his medical history, we decided to deal with this. He called the doctor on call who thought we should wait a couple of days. With his medical history, we thought we should go to the ER. Three hours later, the doctor decided that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon. The ER doctor spoke with the orthopedist and they decided on surgery on Wednesday.

So he had surgery #14! He was in the first cast for two weeks, had his stitches removed, then in another cast for 4 weeks.

When I spoke to the surgeon he said that when he opened up my husband’s leg he could not find the tendon. It had detached from his heel. The doctor had to go looking for it, bring it back down, route it through the tendon sheath and re-attach it to his heel with anchors. The doctor said that in 20 years of this surgery, this was the third time it presented itself like this.

My husband was in a non-weight bearing cast for two weeks. They removed the stiches and

Hi DogTired…

I’m passed 9 months Post OP. I was in a none weight bearing cast for 4 weeks, full weight bearing cast for 2. Walking boot for 2 then back in two shoes. PT started when they took the cast off. Hang in there. There will be a lot of sitting around with your leg elevated. Catch up on your favorite tv program.

Good Luck

Glen
San Diego

DT, wow…what an ordeal! I agree with Smish, find an ortho whose specialty is ankle/foot. I had the same kind of tear (detached from the heel). My Ortho didn’t even consider anything but surgery. I am about 7 months out now and doing well… so far. I don’t think you’d want to go through the recovery process for this more than once…if you have a choice!

Hang in there and stay positive. All the best.

dogtired: I am so sorry this is happening to you. For the life of me, I can not figure out why so many doctors do this. (Not order an MRI right away) I wonder if it has something to do with the cost of an MRI and they have limits given to them by insurance companies. I have a friend that fits your story to a “T” except for the final complete detachment. I hope his doesn’t completely go like yours did.
I wonder if your second ortho just doesn’t like to work on Achilles tendons. I have heard that some docs shy away from them because they can be tricky, You could try to find a foot and ankle orthopedic specialist. I did a partial rupture at the heel about 11 years ago and I was casted for 2-3 months. That worked but it was only a partial and I then ruptured in a different place 3 years ago. Hopefully you are at least booted up. Hang in there and I will be curious what happens in your case. I’ll watch for more of your posts.