First PT visit
So I had my first PT visit today nearly 5 weeks after my injury.
He was completely shocked that I went the non-op route considering I had a complete rupture, I am still relatively young (35 y/o), and have an almost 5 year old son. Totally making me second guess my decision. :( Hopefully I don’t regret it later….
Other than that, the session went pretty good. I got a nice massage that loosened the tendon quite a bit. It wasn’t painful at all! I also learned from the PT that a complete rupture is actually less painful since all the nerves were also ruptured. That’s a silver lining 
Other than the massage, I did some VERY gentle exercises pushing my toes side to side and slightly up (not to stretch the Achilles at all). Also picked up some marbles with my foot.
6:47 pm - 9-24-2016
Looks like your PT did not have a “pleasure” of dealing with non-op achilles rupture patients.
In USA non-op is still not that common for this injury, but it is very common in different parts of the world. USA is catching up though. The newer studies show now that if early weight bearing and mobility is used, the re-rupture rate for ops and non-ops is very similar (re-rupture being the only negative for non-op in the past).
I opted for non-op as well based on the latest research, even though traditional USA route for my age/health/activity level would be an immediate surgery. I found a doctor and PT that are familiar with non-op treatment and protocols and so far I am not regretting it (15.5 weeks). Everyone’s recovery is really different, but many active persons are choosing now non-op and getting back to the sports after recovery. So, do not question your decision based on PT. Make sure you follow a good non-op rehab protocol though. Healing long can be a problem if too early dorsi flexion is introduced and tendon stretched too soon.
You seem to be doing good, however, and have great sense of humor about it! That’s the most important!
There are also few other people here further along than I am doing non-op treatment and they are doing really well, so there is hope for getting to full activity level with either treatment.
1:08 am - 9-25-2016
Hi there, I needed to find somewhere to get some positive stories about achilles ruptures and here I am. On the 5th September 2016, I ruptured my achilles playing tennis, trying to improve my game. I went in for surgery on the 12th Sept and had my first post-op appointment on 22nd Sept given the all clear to start walking around with crutches and a cam boot. Devastatingly on the first night I slipped on some tiles in the kitchen and in an effort to remain upright, bent my crutches and fell to the floor with excruciating pain, knowing full well I had just re-rupture the achilles. I went back to my surgeon the following day to confirm my worst fears and sure enough no longer intact. Im now going back for surgery tomorrow hoping that I can make a full recovery in the coming months. Wondering if anyone else has success stories from a re-rupture experience.
9:16 pm - 9-25-2016
Really appreciate the comment, agnesatr. Makes me feel a lot better about my decision.
When did your doc/PT, allow for neutral dorsi flexion? Right now I am week 5 since injury and set at -20 degree for another week. Then -10 degrees for two more weeks. So I’ll be at 8 weeks when I get to neutral.
According to this schedule, I am at PWB for another week. FWB at week 6.
Does that sound consistent with your schedule?
Looking forward to following your progress.
4:31 am - 9-26-2016
SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR RE-RUPTURE!
This site has a couple people that had a re-rupture. You can read their blogs here…
http://achillesblog.com/re-rupture/
Hang in there!!!!!
3:27 pm - 9-26-2016
Elyliu - I am following Twaddle protocol and it calls for going to 0 degrees at 6 weeks (which was 7 weeks from my injury - we started treatment a week since my rupture). Saying that though, my doc adjusted that and I put the 10 degree wedge back in week 7. I had discomfort of heel pain at neutral when I started walking and my doc stated that it might help to elevate my heel a bit longer and that elevation would not slow down the healing. Your protocol seems to be pretty consistent with that.
I went PWB at the beginning of week 6 and was FWB 5 days later. Looks like your protocol is very good here, since you are doing PWB sooner and that’s what the new studies call for.
Keep up the good work!
4:44 pm - 9-26-2016
Good to hear we are on similar protocol, agnesatr.
If there’s anything I learned from this site, it’s “listen to your body”. Everybody and every injury is a little different, so we have to adapt.
Excited to go FWB soon. Happy healing!