Hi fellows,
It’s now two months since the last plaster cast came out and things are getting better and better everyday. I’ve been going to PT 5 times per week and working for almost 3 hours dayly on recovery: Ultrasounds, massage, stretching, 30 minutes of stationary bike, and calf raises and walking in the swimming pool (I think exercising in the swimming pool dayly has been one of the keys in good recovering). Good news from all of this recovery work is that I’ve almost recovered 100% dorsiflexión and no significant limp is noticed when I am walking. Lack of strenght is present but the tendon seems pretty solid in this point.
In my last Doc appoinmet I asked him if it would it be ok to go back surfing in november (six months after surgery). He said no way back to the water untill I am able to run again, and he recommended to wait even a few extra months more. So I am now thinking of starting bogieboarding in november and wait until february march to come bak surfing.
Are there any surfers betwen all the injured people there? Anybody back surfing after the rupture?
Keep on recovering buddies!
16 responses so far ↓
Anyone back surfing? | surfgearcentral.com // Sep 4th 2008 at 6:02 am
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hobblit // Sep 4th 2008 at 6:50 am
I’m by no means a great surfer … with my foam board
but I’ve been told to wait at least 6 months as well.
summi // Sep 4th 2008 at 4:39 pm
G’day pipemaster
I am about 4 months post op and have been following a pretty similar recovery program to you.
I agree that swimming and exercise in the pool has been the most beneficial activity i have done so far.
I am aiming to start surfing a mal at 6 months post op which should be around November, and work my way back to my shortboard after that,
I too feel as though my tendon is pretty strong, but the muscles around my ankle and my calf are very weak, and this is what is holding me back.
I am also scared of hitting my leg on the reef/sand if i come off my board, as that kind if impact is what is likely to damage the tendon again.
I am actually feeling pretty bummed at the moment, as my friends left on their surfing trip to France/Portugal/Spain last week without me! ( I am in Australia)
Anyway, I will let you know when i get back in the water, and good luck to you. We will ride again!!
matt68 // Sep 5th 2008 at 1:49 am
I can’t wait to surf again. It sounds like it may be futher away than I thought. But it is out there. Matt
pipemaster // Sep 5th 2008 at 2:16 am
Hi folks,
seems all of us are feeling bummed and are anxious to get back into the water.
Summi I perfectly know how you feel, we had great waves in the gulf of Biscay this summer and the season stars now in september, some of my friends are in Panama right now tasting the pacific ocean tubes.
My plan for the next month is to continue recovering and exercising the tendon gradually while I follow the WCT 2 european contests. I think I will go to Hossegor and Mundaka to get some inspiration for my comeback.
I hope to start bodyboarding by mid november, and maybe try some relaxed longboarding on small waves by january. I try to get used to the idea of no ripping untill march-april (I prefer not to risk any re-rupture).
One of my bigest fears is water temperature. In our winter water often goes below 11ºC and I am fearing about the tendon getting cold in the water and giving some problems. I guess I will have to buy some really hot booties and take care about not doing long water sessions.
Anyway I am pretty positive about coming back and feel the glide once again.
Please let know about your progess and comeback into the waters.
Keep on recovering!
walshie // Sep 19th 2008 at 4:46 pm
Pipe does tubing count? I was out on the Sound last weekend for hours..took some nasty spills too, didnt even think of the AT..I prob couldve really hurt myself again but screw it it was too much fun..we had 2 tubes goin at the same time and were trying to knock the other one off..Im gonna miss summer
pipemaster // Sep 23rd 2008 at 6:54 am
Walshie,
I’ll put you on my Heroes List! Had to be great to feel the salty water on your face again.
I definitively will not surf untill next year (I’ve decide to give myself at least 10 months to get complete recovery). But I am looking forward starting bodyboarding in a few weeks. Just waiting for the next medium sized swell…
Instead of surfing, I signed myself in a local golf begginers group, I hope ATR brings my game to the next level…
Dave305 // Dec 29th 2008 at 11:54 am
Hello injured surfers,
Firstly , cheers everyone for leaving your words of wisdom>nice to hear its not all doom and gloom.
I ruptured my Achilles a couple of months ago playing football. My real passion is surfing and windsurfing. Ive been assured I can go back to these watersports after 6 months, so im raring to go in April! I can’t wait as im now the designated local crippled photographer for all my mates having fun in the waves! (luckey, as the surfs been crap for a while ,so im not missing much)
I have the same concerns about re-rupture as the pipemaster, no more -2 early morn sessions. 5mm booties will probably be beneficial. Anyone using a wedge in their boots in the water for added security? I would really appreciate a heads up on what to watch out for. Last thing I wanna do is ping it again.
Does anyone Windsurf too? Im More wary about this really!
I was so worried I wouldn’t beable to surf again I considered buying a kayak (that’s how bad my state of minds become). Like the rest of you, im going to take it easy, steer with my dick initially before moving back to full on stand up surfing.
Anyway im walking in my shoes again now, avoided a drunken Christmas re-rupture and looking forward to getting back in the water.
I guess you are all recovered and ripping it up again now (the waves that is), but leave a note if you have any further tips.
For any new comers, this injury gets better day by day (just takes along time).
Makes you more appreciative of having good health in the future!
We will all be back on it soon,
Regards, Dave. (Dorset , England)
pipemaster // Dec 30th 2008 at 4:34 am
Dave,
First of all I must tell you one thing; get out of your mind all that stupid ideas! Buying a kayak? no more surfing or windsurfing? no way buddy! You’ll be ripping next summer for sure!
I’ve been bodyboarding since october with no Ill effects. Now the injury has become sort of a mental challenge: The tendon doesn’t even bother in the mornings right now. I am able to squat, run an everything I did before I injured, but I have to convince my mind everything is ok now, and only after big warmouts I start to feel confident again, even if I don’t experience any pain or discomfort (as you do, I don’t want to re-rupture!).
I am going to france next week for 4 days of surfing. As you said I will put my silicone wedges into my booties. I hope the french beackbreaks respect my bad overall fit conditioning!
Keep working!!!
Anyway I now try to warm as much as possible
pezfuerte // Feb 11th 2009 at 3:09 pm
Hey everybody! Just found this thread of fellow surfers and wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I’m 13 weeks post op and started surfing 2 weeks ago. I started on a longboard, and the extra stability really helped out. But last weekend I finally got out on my shortboard at Black’s on a solid 6 foot day. No problemns whatsoever. I was taking it easy and pretty much just dropping in and making the sections. Didn’t want to try any turns at the top for fear of air dropping and having an impact. I would say if you’re a confident surfer and know what you can and can’t do then getting back in the water should be fine. Just take it easy and let your leg dictate how hard you push it. I’d definitely stay away from low tide because you wouldn’t want to get pitched and hit your leg on the bottom. I’ve gotten in the habit of pulling out or diving out the back if it doesn’t look like I’m going to make the section. Good luck, and go get some waves.
Danny
woody // Dec 24th 2015 at 7:44 pm
Hi Folks and happy Christmas.
Im seven weeks post no-op, in a CAM boot. I was thinking of returning to the water on a kneeboard and then maybe a flat-water SUP in the new year, about March. Will talk about this with my physio next week. Keep smiling and healing!
cantik // Dec 25th 2015 at 12:28 am
Hi everyone, I had my ATR in November and I am now three days post op. However I have been getting this almost charley horse like cramp in my whole calf with pins and needles feeling in my heel every time I get up. The pain is undescribable. It’s like 3 to 4 times stronger than a regular charley horse. It starts within 2-3 minutes of standing (on crutches) and takes 15-20 minutes to go away. Has anyone else had this happen? If so any recommendations?
woody // Jan 19th 2016 at 6:30 pm
Aloha from Australia, surfers, just to catch up, its week eleven now, Going back to work shortly.
Spent the summer snorkelling and stretching according to directions by the physio, who is great.
One flipper only.
Have just bodysurfed yesterday, taking care to land on one leg only.
Have ordered a quad kneeboard from IMHO the best shaper in the country and should be back in the waves by mid Feb.
I’ll review my position in six months re stand-up as this is a big KB and should work like a fat fish if I stand on it.
I have been trying to stand on a SUP in flat water, but currently too painful to come up from a squat at the moment - don’t want to snap again..!!
I guess its a matter of increasing strength and flexibility simultaneously, without pushing too far. Im amazed at how weak your foot gets after a few weeks of no use. I’m also just starting to be able to descend a staircase using both feet and both handrails. All these little milestones…
Anyway, thanks for listening and I hope this acts as a guide for what to expect at week eleven!
Cheers!
woody // Jan 19th 2016 at 6:34 pm
PS Walking on soft sand is still a nasty experience, cheers…
jimmymallen // Jul 21st 2016 at 7:44 pm
Hello all
New to this site. Ruptured tendon last week playing football and surgery two days ago. Obviously early days but I live for my surfing so would be nice to have rough timescale for getting back in the water. Will be long time before I shortboard again but good to see people have been bodyboarding fairly early. It’s a little surprising as I thought this would still stress the ankle even with one fin? I’ve never really body boarded but 15 years of surfing would mean I shouldn’t have much trouble making the transition , what do you guys think? Also does one fun generate enough power to get out through punchy beaches? Hard to stay positive at the moment but try to keep thinking of people in worse situation than myself to put it in context.
Any advice appreciated and good luck to you all
Peace out
Jimmy
chaiwallah // Feb 13th 2018 at 10:58 am
2 weeks since the rupture, waiting for operation on Friday.
The biggest downer is not being able to surf, how long till you all got back on a board? I figure it will probably be 6-9 months before I can even contemplate surfing again.
Luckily this old man already longboards so I as long as I can surf in 3-4 foot waves this year I will be happy
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