johanna’s AchillesBlog

First day of summer

First a bit about myself; I am female, 40, fit and active (daily yoga, running 3 times a week). My job has me on my feet most of the time (I am a letterpress printer). Until now I never had any injuries.

I ruptured my AT playing badminton on the first day of summer  (should have rather gone to a solstice yoga class). Even though I heard the pop and felt as if somebody hit me with the racket, I convinced myself that it was just a twisted ankle and hopped around on it for 5 days. I did elevate and ice the foot whenever possible but of course it was bruised and swollen.

So 5 days later I finally went to the ER to have it looked at. After 2 nurses, one x-ray technician, and one doctor looked at it and advised me it was not a broken ankle I had to mention achilles tendon. In came another doctor who performed the Thompson test and confirmed that it was a ruptured AT (he could not say whether it was fully or partially torn however). He also made sure to tell me that the recovery for such an injury is VERY long.

I was put in a splint cast, given the name of an orthopedic surgeon and asked to call him first thing on monday morning.

That night was the first time I had to take aspirin since the ATR as I woke up with what felt like a foot on fire. I figured this must be a good sign as the AT is healing but loosened the splint cast a bit.