Achilles woes

For me, I was off the serious pain meds after the 3rd day and was just taking Ibuprofen to take the edge off and keep the swelling down.

I did get the claustrophobia/restless leg feelings once in a while. This typically happened when my toes were feeling cramped or hadn’t been moved in a while. I would understand what “triggers” that feeling since it seems different from person to person.

I agree with Marianne about the pain pills. I was only on them for three days and had mild withdrawal symptoms as I eased off of them.

- mike

Be very careful with perscription pain pills! I had a horrible experience — took Darvocet for one month and then doc told me to stop “cold turkey” and had the most horrific withdrawls and had to be hospitalized on top of the ATR situation….was no fun…so I learned the hard way that after 2 weeks, you are addicted ….learn something new everyday
Just a word of warning….

take a couple of pain pills before you go to bed. I woke up several times at 3am in severe pain!!!

The ED gave me vicodin and I never took it during that first week pre-surgery. The Surgicenter gave me Percoset — I did need a few of those in the first couple of days, but pain subsided by day 3 or 4 as I recall.

I did feel the claustrophobia that you mention. Others have commented as well - so a normal reaction! Elevation, deep breathing helped. I was in a splint post op for 3 weeks, then a cast for about 3-4 weeks. I did use a big ice pack that I strapped around the splint or cast. It made the leg cooler and gave me mental relief when I was feeling that clautrophobia.

I think you will get used to it, so hang in there. Good luck with pain, the first couple days are the worst, so it should only get better.

Congrats on coming home. They sure push you out of the hospital quickly! If you’re in pain, take something, I was warned it doesn’t help the healing process to suffer through pain. Ideally if you don’t need the stronger Vicodin then stick with Ibuprofen. The Ibuprofen being a NSAID helps reduce the inflammation and associated swelling. I had almost no pain after the 2nd day but the constant aching lasted for a few more days. I took an Ibuprofen every day for a week, especially at night to help with the inflammation.

hi. i am 7 days out from surgery, and i have two young kids, so here is what helped me. elevate elevate elevate. it helps with general swelling and related issues as well as the pain. take your pain meds on schedule (don’t mess with it because you are feeling better, i did, and i regretted it on day 3). really take it easy that first week, and hopefully it will get you good results…i just came back from my first post-op appointment with a boot instead of a cast (yay, appreciate the little things), and my general outllook is good: low swelling, good movement, still nwb but at least i can watch the incision with the boot, and it is not as constricting. oh, and get a knee walker (or knee racer as my kids call it). they rock (and roll). sorry, couldn’t resist. good luck with the surgery!

Rich - interesting about the time frame. i was out of town playing in a tennis tournament when i heard the pop and fell. Another player who happened to be a doctor came and checked me out but never said anything about the tendon. i think he was more concerned with a break or twist in the ankle. since i still had range of motion, just couldn’t put weight on the toes, he suggested icing it down, stay off of it for a few days and keep it elevated. When i asked about going to the ER and would they be able to do anything, he said no, just needs time. Anyway, after 9 days of hobbling on it and having it throb unmercifully on the 4 hr flight home, I went to the doctor the next day and was diagnosed. Surgery came 12 days after the rupture, but maybe delay wasn’t much of an issue - other than the whole still walking on it thing. Well, limping.

My own reaction to your idea of Legoland? People pushing! Kids running! Junk on the ground to slip on! And above all, unconscious behaviors that could lead to your getting further injured.

I am 3.5 weeks post-op, and limped with friends downtown here in San Francisco yesterday, one block total. The crush of tourists at Union Square scared me. So even if I were in a wheelchair, I would not feel secure; people are not looking, and they’re hurrying. If you should get further injured, imagine the hassles!

Mary

One other thing on the time from ATR to surgery . . .

I have read several articles on this and it seems that 7-10 days from injury is a good time because the surgeon will deal with less debridement (trimming the loose tendon fibers and slough).

After a week or so, your body will have started healing some of the frayed ends of the tendon, making it easier to stitch up the tendon. After 10 days or so, the tendon can start to curl up and make for a higher tension suture.

Anyway, that is my non-doctor interpretation of some of the articles I’ve read on the subject.

Again, good luck with your upcoming surgery.

If your surgery is anything like mine was, I wouldn’t plan anything for at least 3-5 days following surgery.

I had general anesthesia and a nerve block at the knee. I checked in for the surgery at 8:45am, had my surgery at about 9:45-10:45 and was out the door before noon. The nerve block freaked me out a litte because, not only could I not feel anything below the knee, I couldn’t move anything (wiggle my toes). It completely paralyzes the lower leg. At about 1am, I started getting the tingling sensation back in my toes and I could wiggle them, but I was so concerned about feeling and moving my toes that the pain already set in and I was too uncomfortable to sleep (strong, dull pain). I doubled up on my percocet 3.5 mg scrip and took them about every 4 hours for the first 2 days . . . very comfortable. After 2 days, the percocet was making me feel strange and I stopped taking it. I wasn’t in any pain after that. From what I understand, the general aneshesia irritates the nerves and the first day or two of pain is at least partially due to that.

I would suggest you take your pain meds shortly after you return home from

I had my surgery on the 16th and I guess I have been pretty lucky. I had some pain the evening of the day of surgery, but figured out how to manage that with Percs, elevation and ice. No pain since then and I weened myself off of the meds by day 3.

I got a contraption called a roll-about. It is 1000 times better than crutches. I have taken up residence in the family room. It’s easier than the risk of kicking my wife and I can watch the TV programs that I want.

Anyway, I Went out ot dinner with about 20 people 3 days post op and was out pretty late. I didn’t use a wheelchair, but the roll about worked great. My knee was more sore than my ankle. You just need to be careful and take your time. You can only sit on your butt for so long before you come up with innovative ways to get things done.

I don’t have a shower on my main floor and you can go up and down steps easily on your butt. You just need a helper to meet you at the top or bottom with your crutches or roll-about.

It’s amazing how every story is different. I ATR’d last
Sunday and got a boot on Monday. I had surgery on Wednesday and am back in the boo

I understand the block takes longer to come out of than the general anesthesia….so maybe in the hospital a little longer.

Sorry to say this, but by 4th day post op, I think your leg needs to be elevated. I would only plan a very short outing. Maybe delay legoland for 2 weeks?

Good luck, you will do well, and post on your surgery.

Hi my advice

Rest, lots of it, elevate as much as possible. I had local block, I used elbow crutches not underarm ones, they are far simpler to use. I borrowed a wheelchair for the first month that way you can go anywhere, and if you are going out with the family for the day it is a neccessity.

Good luck
Annie

You will not want to do anything after surgery, some people are in quite a bit of pain and require regular painkiller usage. I had little pain PostOp but your foot will swell when not elevated above your heart so you won’t want to move around. If you’re just around the house then a wheelchair might be a bit much but the first week you won’t want to move long distances on crutches, tiring, better on wheelchair. If your armpits hurt then you’re not using the crutches properly. The crutches should never poke the armpits, very sensitive blood supply going through there - I’d suggest lowering the crutches, make sure your elbow is bent - only your wrists should be sore. Good luck.

If you’re younger and have an active life go with the surgery. If your older and less active just get a cast. I don’t have any research but that’s what all the docs told me.

I posted a link to this study the other day:

http://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/8786

It seems to argue that surgeons operate out of habit and that simply using a walking boot and immediate weight bearing yields similar results.

It sounds interesting, but who knows? The one thing I think all of us agree on (and are shocked by) is the lack of a universal protocol. I understand every doctor is different and every patient is too for that matter. Still, it seems there are a WIDE variety of treatments out there.

I, by the way, had surgery went into a plaster cast for two weeks and am now in a walking boot for a month.

Good luck with your decision.

I just want to say “thank you” to everyone for the support. Looks like it is going to be a long road, so I appreciate the help. I guess my next major decision will be to have surgery or not. Does anyone have any advice for me?

You found our great site very quickly! You can document your experiences, but above all, your feelings over these weeks and months to come. They will change a lot, so it’s fantastic that you’re here from the date of the ATR itself. This record you create is not only to help the rest of us, but it helps you see your own self. When I write my posts, I try to be completely honest, because I know someone out there can relate to it. My latest post tells exactly how nonsporty I am, and therefore feeling different from others (the majority) here; yet I will not bluff and say I am a great exerciser. There must be others who know what I am saying!

It happened to me the same way. I thought someone kicked me. I knew something was wrong when it didnt blow up like a sprain. Good luck in the recovery process.

One piece of advice - be aggressive if you have to when calling to see the doctor. They book weeks in advance but the scheduler needs to understand your urgency to get in and have surgery. Most places this is not a problem!

Welcome to the club, you will get through this, and keep posting.

Welcome to our community… My injury happened exactly the same way except that I was jumping after a loose ball.

Make sure to ask the surgeon how long the part of the tendon is that is left on your heel bone. That makes a world of a difference. Mine was virtually none so they had to drill holes into my heel bone. If you are lucky then it is ‘just a few percutaneous stiches’ that you will need. Make sure to read this site and ‘grill’ your doc. This is the time to find the right one for you. You have a week to get the operation done and you don’t want someone who puts you in casts for 8-10 weeks (like my first doc did…)

Good luck!

Sorry to hear this very familiar story…basketball here too. Aside from the initial injury (I will never forget that damn pop), I think the worst part for me was the waiting and the not knowing what to expect. Once I had surgery, I was on the path to healing.

The bad news is that this injury is considered catastrophic…not in terms of pain or actual repair procedure, simply in terms of a long recovery. Now the good news: almost everyone gets back on the feet and back to normal.

I stumbled on this blog prior to my surgery and found a ton of support. It really calmed me down in knowing what to expect. Read through as many of the blogs as you can and then ask any questions you might have…that’s why most of us are here. It really is a great group.

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