As I continue to recover I find myself continually concerned at the prospect of rerupture. Ever since I have transitioned to 2 shoes, I find that especially in the mornings my Achilles area can be sore and the skin to touch is warmer than the rest of my leg. I will be asking my physio about this later today, but I was wondering if anyone here had any insight. Is this normal during recovery, or am I seriously putting myself at risk of rupturing what has healed? Thanks in advance!!
Recovery Question - Help!
July 19th, 2012 | Uncategorized |
14 comments ↓
In general, no. But did you have surgery or no? For me the muscle loss was so much that I really did not have the ability to rerupture the tendon (tendon is stronger than the muscle). My mornings at 20 weeks (post surgery) I wake up with slight stiffness and I just don’t roll out of bed. I do take it easy to make sure everything is OK before putting full weight on it. My scar does tend to run hotter to the touch than my other leg.
No surgery, I am down the conservative path for healing. But glad to know that perhaps the heat is just from putting pressure on it after being off it while sleeping. Thanks for the information!
In the case of no surgery (my brother-in-law went this route) you need to a bit more careful. For surgery you have “stitches” holding the tendon together, so at 6 weeks the tendon is for sure healed. If you are a slow healer (maybe age/weight related?) then be careful as slight tears and strains can easily happen (brother-in law did it a couple of times on his recovery)
Hi Eva,
how many weeks are you now. It seems to me that you have gone very quickly into two shoes which is great. I am not allowed to wean off the boot until week 10 although I have taken a few pathetic steps around but using my heel really. My physio has told me not to walk until week ten so I shouldn’t even be taking steps at the moment. I know all the protocols are different but I think if you’re really scared of re rupture is that your body telling you to take it a bit easier? Of course I am no doctor but if I felt what I was doing was too risky I’d ease off a bit. For the sake of taking it easier for a week or two you don’t want to go back to square one. Are you using the boot sometimes or are you out of it completely. My physio has said to keep the boot handy for anything too risky once I go into shoes.
Hi Eva,
just seen yor time line and I think for non op you’re very early into shoes are you not?
Hi Sheena, I thought it was early as well, but the ortho said that it was time to get out of the boot and the physiotherapist agreed.
I’m also wondering if it’s due to the swelling and the back of my shoes (I’m currently just wearing under armour running shoes) rubbing against my achilles area that is causing the discomfort. Once I take the shoes off it seems to ease…
Hi Andrew
Could you please explain what you mean by healed at 6 weeks? Surely at this time the 2 ‘ends’ of the AT have only just met again and started to fuse together, and that soon after that milestone, we can begin to build up strength in an appropriate, safe way. I’m talking here of so called conservative rehab where they are brought as close together as possible, initially in a fixed equinous position, and the new collagen is produced.
H
Eva, my scar has become red looking and irritated since going into two shoes - particularly where I have some adhesions. I think it’s the scar tissue and skin pulling away, because my shoes aren’t irritating it at all. I’m yanking a bit more on the tendon with my walk, and it’s pulling a lot on the ankle/AT. After being immobilized for so long, I think it’s just reacting to the new forces on the area. I’ll ask my PT today!
I had to wear a slipper for months due to the fact shoes would irriate my incision terribly. It will go away. I am 84 wks post op and all of a sudden you notice the swelling has gone down dramatically. I am now running lond distances and dont have as much stifness in the morning as I once had. Beleive me…it will get better.
Hillie-
The doctor told me at my 6 week check up that the tendon regrown and to start slowly building it back up. I think ~6weeks is the normal time for a tendon to repair. Sure you don’t want to go out for a marathon but building up of the tendon/muscle should start. Again depending on your healing conditions. I was ready at 6 weeks to walk and get moving again. I am 20 weeks now and have been moderately aggressive in the rehab. Age 35, right leg (left handed) and done while playing basketball.
Well after my physio appt, we’re both in agreement that it was the runners causing the discomfort and irritation, so I’ll try either another pair or stick to more barefoot walking. Where my calf was noticeably atrophied a couple weeks ago, he’s see good improvement, so everything seems to be coming along nicely.
Thanks for all the tips everyone! Greatly appreciate it.
@eva10- congrats on 2 shoes and your recovery process!!
@andrew- thank you so much for the reassurance! I just came out of the cast today at 6.5 weeks in… still non weight bearing but the doc isn’t a fan of the boot so we’re skipping it. Just me, two shoes (one really never touching the ground) and my crutches. PT doesn’t start for another 12 days. Was kind of freaked out scared but if it’s true about the 6 weeks stronger tendon, I feel better!
@ 41 I think I am feeling my age, Eva’s ahead of Sheena and Sheena is ahead of me, yet we’re all on similar timelines in terms of the dates we started to heal.
2 shoes is a fantastic achievement at under 8 weeks, I think I am scheduled for a 12 week date with 2 shoes (I hope to beat that) and Sheena will be approx 10weeks (but I also think she’ll beat that
).
Has your doctor/PT discussed uneven surfaces (say walking in a field) reading here, wear the boot to be safe seems to be the general consensous here and I am inclined to agree.
Brilliant stuff Eva, congratulations, please keep us posted with your experiences
@onhiatus
big thing for me was to remember how it hurt myself while playing basketball and the things that lead up to it. I was not active enough, barely was stretching, and generally not taking it serious. I am very serious with all of my leg issues now. I do feel like I could have avoided this injury if I did more preventative “things” before the game
BUT… such is life.
Biggest thing for me was to keep the tendon stretched out. I have a desk job and I would take my boot off and keep my foot at 90 deg most of the day. Then I would do the ROM and light stuff the PT would allow. I think that really helped out with the pain, scar tissue and walking. If you wait too long the recovery will be more for muscle recovery.
You must log in to post a comment.