NY Airport escalator ruptured my Achilles tendon
most achilles tendons get ruptured during over-exertion….but I was just standing still on an escalator when mine got snapped! It was at New York Newark airport…terminal B…heading down to baggage re-claim. At the bottom, the descending step trapped my ankle and the descending corner cut through most of the tendon. Amazingly there as nobody around at the time..no witnesses….so I hobbled off and caught my flight home to the UK….March 15th 2009 . Of course, the New York airport authority doesn’t want to know…so no compensation.
I then went to a local hospital in Warwick, UK. The surgeon put my foot in a plaster…and it stayed there for 10 weeks. Then I started physiotherapy…and guess what….after 3 days, the tendon ruptured again. I went to a private hospital and I’m paying heavily for the best possible treatment cos I’m not too fond of ruptured Achilles tendons.
First step… june 11th…MRI scan. Incredibly expensive but showed a 3.5cm gap in most of the tendon.
Next step….surgery. The ends are pulled together and stitched.
Next….an Aircast Walker boot, and crutches. Not too bad…but i can’t carry a cup of tea.
No weight on the foot for the first week…very light for the second week.
August 6th update
It’s now 8 weeks since my op. I’ve had an easy time thanks to the Aircast boot, although it does get in the way, especially at bedtime. It’s been useful being able to take it off in order to shower.
My surgeon approved the healing and passed me on to a physio. No boot now, and only gentle exercises this week, slow walking for 5 minutes max between rest periods, assisted by one crutch. Swimming daily and whenever possible. Also I can now drive the car!!!
Next week the exercise intensifies to a higher level, but not too high since mine is a re-rupture and I’m an oldie!
for sale…one part-used Aircast boot!
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Wow, what a story! It makes me glad I opted for surgery right away. Two recoveries in a row, I don’t know if I could handle that! Of course, we’ll see, I start physio today so hopefully they don’t snap my tendon.
Ooof! That sounds painful.
I was treated in Warwick hospital and can confirm that if you can afford to go private it’s probably wise as they weren’t the most organised hospital in the world.
Jon
Just curious. Seems like Docs in the States go straight for surgery. As far as you know, what would it take for the UK doc to insist on the surgical approach?
I was misdiagnosed by NHS A&E and then went private - fortunately my husband had private health insurance from work which covers the whole family. Can’t believe how much it’s all costing!
I’m glad I’ve gone the surgical route straightaway despite the scar - had another friend who started the conservative route and had to have surgery afterwards as it hadn’t healed properly that way.
We don’t need any delays when it takes so long anyway.
Sorry you’ve had such a long journey, but fingers crossed things are looking up now.
I was horrified reading your story!
How did you just leave NY without seeing a doctor or reporting at the airport?!
It does not pay to be nice and not complaining…
I was treated the conservative route first too.
I do not really understand the reasoning behind that after hearing things from surgeons like “we have to do surgery fast, because the longer we wait the more the tendon shrinks back and it is hard to pull it together “??! So how does it come together by itself then?? (btw I am in Canada, and they are apparently doing a study here on conservative treatment…)
I did not have MRI nor ultrasound the first time.
I re-ruptured after 4.5 months.
The second time around the first emergency doctor said he did not think it was ruptured (it was so swollen hard?) but fortunately ordered and ultrasound that confirmed that it was re-ruptured.
So I wanted surgery then.
I am happy for you that you are on your way to recovery finally. Congrats to being a driver again!
You do just regular swimming, no physio in the water?
I would love to swim, too, as part of my physio as it is non weight bearing and I enjoyed it for a brief week before re-rupture.
My therapist suggested walking in the water (it is harder than swimming!) and later calf raises in the water, too.
Curious to hear what you are allowed to do in the water.
Good luck!
If you don’t mind I would like to ask a question as to the type of care that is provided by the NHS. We, in the States are currently embroiled in a major debate over the direction our healty care system should take. It seems the President is pushing for a system somthing akin to the British and Canadian government run systems. I feel that I was fortunate to be able to choose my docter and avail myself of whatever treatment he deemed approiate. I required a tendon transfer followed by PRP injections. So far my recovery has proceeded nicely(7 months)
I don’t know if I was subject to a NHS if I would have the same options.
So my question is directed to those of you who know firsthand. Are you happy with your healthcare system?
I guess you could say I’m nervous in the USA
hiya Bob….. the British NHS…..mmm, yes we do tend to grumble about it, and it’s not always perfect, BUT….it’s probably the best healthcare system of any country. I have private insurance and I can go anywhere, but for emergency treatment I would have no problem with a NHS hospital and I know I would get the best service available anywhere. In Britain, our standard of medical treatment is at least as good as any other country, and it’s FREE. Why the grumbling then……? OK…sometimes we have to wait for non-emergency treatment and occasionally you read about long waiting times. Sometimes the system goes wrong and procedures fail…then we grumble and sue for damages.
We Brits do tend to winge and complain about things
…it’s part of our nature.
However, our NHS is a great facility. When medical treatment is urgent, it’s available, free, regardless of your bank balance. We Brits could never equate life and death with ability to pay….after all Britain is the land of the free where we’re all equal…!!
I advise Americans to opt for a similar NHS so everyone gets treatment…not just the wealthy folks with loadsa dollars!
It looks like President Obama has the welfare of all Americans at heart…that’s unusual!
What do I think of the NHS, it is absolutely wonderful. Malc sums it up perfectly. Even though I was misdiagnosed re achilles and chose to go privately, I could have gone into my local hospital and had the same surgeon. Over here the NHS and Private system actually use the same Doctors. The reason for going private is for our own comfort and to jump queues if there are waiting times of about 6 weeks for non emergency treatments.
I would have absolutely have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending an NHS type system to you. The Christie hospital here in Manchester is one of the best in the world and anyone can be treated there.
Yes sometimes we do have to wait for non emergency treatment but you can then go private if you want to. If you collapse in the street you will be taken to hospital and treated, no questions asked.
Like Malc says, we love to complain that is what keeps us happy!! But behind the complaints we all know we have the best medical system in the world.
Annie
I’m a brit now living in the US so have experienced both systems.
As has already been pointed out the NHS is definitely great for emergency care, barring the occasional long wait in ER rooms. I’ve never had any complaints about the level of care or professionalism of the medical staff.
Chronic care is a slightly different scenario. Both I and members of my family have experienced the frustrating process of getting specialist referrals and long waits for appointments. Sometimes you really have to be the “squeaky wheel” to convince people you have a problem worth treating. In my case exzema and cataracts for my father.
I think the important thing for the US is not to believe the hype from either side and to really understand the choices before you leap.
My major concern would be cost. I believe that here in the US I’m paying roughly the same % of income in state/federal and sales taxes as in the UK (maybe a little less), but quite honestly it’s sometimes hard to see what you get for it. California is basically bankrupt and schools, roads, bridges etc… are all in trouble. I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but it seems like the UK Government may be more efficient at spending taxpayer money. (That’s a phrase I never thought I’d utter!).
So bottom line is remember that once a government program is established it’s basically impossible to kill and it’s hard to get away from the equation:
Government Healthcare = Higher Taxes
To me it seems there are many things that could be done to improve the current US system where the problem is not really the level of care(probably the best in the world), but the really distorted way that insurance companies operate leading to ever increasing costs and coverage problems.
Public healthcare is great, and it’s good to see some brits defending their NHS for once (NHS-bashing is a national sport that seems almost as popular as cricket, and just as misguided!).
I’m an Aussie who worked in England for a year in 2008 (incidentally in the NHS). While the NHS isn’t the kind of luxury hotel some people expect, it does do a very good job of providing quality healthcare to anyone who needs it.
In Australia we have a similar system, however the majority of people also have private healthcare, as the previous conservative government decided in it’s wisdom to subsidise private health insurance premiums, and force people to purchase such insurance through punitive taxation.
Both systems have their pros and cons, but overall I believe the british system does a better job for the majority of people, at a lower overall community cost.
As for the American system, you have the best facilities and care in the world, but only for those who can afford them. The lack of access to care available to the lower income American is however shameful. For most people who would find a site like Achillesblog it’s probably not an issue from a personal point of view, but do you care about you compatriot who may be less fortunate, whether through birth, ability or even effort?
Thanks to all who took the time to reply to my query about the pros and cons of the NHS.
I was looking for a first hand acessment that wasn’t shaded by a political viewpoint.
From what I can gather from the posts one actually needs a private plan tosupplement the government run program. In the long run one would end up paying twice, through taxs for the NHS and out of pocket for the private plan. Seems that it’s got to be more costly than the way we are presently constituted.
Bob,
Nobody is proposing a British-style system for the US.
Doug
Update…well, it’s now 9 months since I had my tendon repair operation. I can now walk without limping, run farly well, and I can balance on the toes and ball of my injured foot. That’s the final achievement…if you can raise your weight on the toes of your injured foot. However, I still get a bit of swelling if I sit at the table for more than an hour (like playing a bridge session) and the injury site is a bit lumpy and numb.
I reckon another 3 months should see me back to normal, making it just 12months from my operation.
As the surgeon said, the older you are, the longer it takes……ok Mr Beckham!! My advice…take it easy, a second rupture is a disaster. And despite what your foreign quack said, a second rupture is likely if you’re not careful.
The Aircast boot is brilliant…Dave, if you want mine, it’s as good as new…you can have it for free, just send the missus round to my place…all it needs is a quick rinse to get rid of the pong.
cheers, Mal
Had a similar experience of Warwick A&E - I went there a year ago having gone over on my ankle quite badly. I suspected I’d torn ankle ligaments but after an x-ray was just told to go home. 12 mths later I’ve now had ankle ligament reconstruction surgery! Am now at week 5 in plaster and will be going into an aircast walker next week. Interested in knowing how restrictive the aircast was - could you swim, drive, etc?
It seems as if there are two different people posting notes as “Emma” in rapid succession — one who’s pregnant in NYC and just had a non-athletic AT “slice” like Malc’s here, and the one above who’s recovering from ankle ligament reconstruction surgery! How conFUSing!!
Also, Mac may not be checking for new replies, a year after his last post here.
I got an Aircast walking boot for my second ATR recovery (I’ve done both sides now), this one withOUT surgery. After my first ATR, I got surgery, then a series of 3 casts, then (after PLEADING with my “conservative” surgeon) a hinged walking boot (Donjoy MC Walker). The Aircast was OK, but I much prefer a hinged boot, at least for ATR recovery.
The Aircast was bigger and clumsier. Unlike the Donjoy, it had inflatable plastic bladders (”Air”!) and came with a little squeeze-ball pump. I started up pumping them a fair amount, then let most of the air out of them for most of my 8 weeks in the boot (from “0″ to “8 weeks”, no cast this time). Partly they were hot and snug, and partly I didn’t need that much support as time went on.
The Aircast liner is washable low-density foam, held together with several Velcro attachments, and the boot itself is semi-rigid plastic with a rubber sole. I’ve never seen them advertise it as waterproof, but I’m not sure that walking into a swimming pool with it on would do it much harm. The much spiffier (and hinged) VacoCast (VacoPed in Europe) IS advertised as waterproof, and they’ve got an online video showing a guy climbing out of a pool, sitting at the edge, taking off the boot, wringing out the liner, putting it back on, and walking away! I suspect you could do about the same with the AirCast if you wanted to.
The Donjoy has more metal and mechanical stuff (the hinges), and a fabric liner, but I’m not sure water would kill it, either. Its main failure mode (and I wore mine for several MONTHS) seems to be at the Velcro straps. The straps themselves have the stiff aggressive “hook” part of the Velcro, and the surface of the fabric liner forms the “loop” part. After months of use, the “loops” gradually rip open, so the straps don’t stick as well as they used to. If I were going to continue wearing mine, I’d probably glue or sew on some real Velcro loop material, and it would be as good as new Velcro.
I did drive (and bicycle) in both boots, though (a) the Aircast this time was on my left foot, and we’ve now got an automatic car, so the Aircast boot just sat to the side, and (b) some jurisdictions make it illegal to drive in a boot. Even if it’s legal, you might be in trouble if you get into an accident while doing so — depending on your local liability vs. no-fault laws.
BTW, the scientific evidence on surgery vs. a modern non-surgical protocol — from FOUR recent studies on initial “normal” complete ATRs — is that surgery adds NO benefit in terms of re-rupture rate, strength, or ROM, despite the clear consensus among surgeons to the contrary (especially before 2007, when the first of the modern studies was published. Given what we know now, I don’t think there’s any good reason for a “normal” complete ATR patient to undergo surgery.
On the other hand, it’s not unlikely that people whose ATs (and the surrounding sheath) have been externally cut or broken by doors and escalators and chainsaws, etc. — like Mal above, and the other Emma — are different enough that surgery significantly improves their outcomes. (Re-rupture patients may also benefit from surgery. Or not.) There’s no solid evidence either way, and both groups are small enough that we may never have the statistical evidence. But the tendon sheath — normally intact after an ATR tears the tendon inside — may play a central role in successful non-surgical healing, which may not work very well without it. It sounds AT LEAST as logical as the old myths about surgery adding benefit to normal ATR recovery (which we now know are logical but totally false!).
Malc actually IS still following this blog, but he e-mailed me instead of posting! C’mon, Malc, join the fun here!
ok Norm, I’m back with on board with my latest update.
It’s now 12 months since my op to repair my cut tendon.
It’s early morning and I’m just doing my foot exercise….standing on tip-toes with knee straight and taking all my weight, trying to balance as long as possible. I may do this several times a day if I remember, but basically the ruptured Achilles tendon and associated hassle is now history. ok…occasional slight pain, stiffness, swelling, but I reckon I could do a marathon if I trained for a few months.
At 65 recovery has been long and slow, but if you follow your medical expert’s advice, you too will make a full recovery.
my advice:
1.for UK folks…don’t rely on the NHS…spend some dosh!
2.follow advice to the letter!
3. physio and exercise is vital
4. patience is essential.
Malc
hey…it’s 3 years now since the escalator at New York Newark airport cut through my achilles tendon. Thanks to good surgery and plenty of physio and exercise, I’m now over it, and back to normal.
You will recover if you take your time, and get in plenty of exercise, but please avoid the “cheap” cure…ie.plaster and crutches.
Also…watch out on escalators…don’t let your heel touch the back of the step when going down…especially at Newark airport.
just returned to this web site to answer comments. my tendon repair has gone well…I would say 99 per cent normal…but a bit stiff at times? I take great care when going downhill on escalators!
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