Baby steps
November 25th, 2009
It’s been seven weeks and four days since I partially ruptured my left Achilles tendon, and it feels like a it’s been seven years. I was put into an Air Cast 2 weeks ago and rapidly began to push my boundaries…in particular I thought I appropriate to take a quick trip to NYC and attempt to cross Brooklyn Bridge on foot….It was not my greatest hour, I mean not the greatest 2.5 hours of my life but the views were iconic and I couldn’t have asked for better company.
I’m safely back in the UK and struggling to walk back and forth to University, which is about 15mins from my home so I’m wondering if I’ve done more damage and I’m really hoping its not the case and I just need rest.
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I’m just over a week behind you and not even in a boot yet Emma but it seems to me that a 15-min walk in an Air Cast boot seven weeks after an ATR is pretty ambitious… no wonder you’re struggling a little.
Were you injured over in the US, by the way?
Hi Kevin,
It was a partial rupture so they didn’t need to operate (was yours a full rupture?)which would explain how i managed to get into a boot so rapidly (I may have also gritted my teeth a little through the examination as i need to heal quickly).
I ruptured it in the UK(luckily) playing Netball, the NHS have been awesome and fixed me up really quickly, and it’s been a lot less stressful then dealing with travel insurance companies(I have previous experience).
Just been looking at your blog and I’m horrified to find I need to be in two shoes before I start physio! this is defo going to put a spanner in the works.
Hi Emma,
I’ve also partially ruptured my achilles and I’ve just had 4 weeks in a Vacoped boot (after 3 weeks in a cast). I’ve just been to the physio and I’ve now got motion settings on the boot and the physio has given me rubber bands to do resistance training. She reckons I’m 4 weeks away from shoes. So it sounds like it varies with the programme and the physio as to how fast you progress into doing physio exercises.
Emma,
Yes, a full rupture though I’ve also gone down the non-surgical route. To be honest, I was under the impression that you could start some kind of physio work when you’re in a boot. Obviously not much, but some gentle massage, stretching, that kind of thing. Depends what you’re told though. I definitely won’t be defying any orders!
Hey Emma, I have a full rupture and am being treated through the NHS equivalent in Australia. My surgeon has recommended that I start physio at 6 weeks post-op, after I come out of the boot. My sister is a very experienced physio, though, and said that this very conservative approach is often found in the public system (lack of money/physio staff) and only serves to delay recovery. So I am starting today with a private physio, although I am still only touch weight bearing. Just a suggestion, but it’s pretty unlikely there is any particular reason you can’t begin, especiallly as you are walking on it etc!!
Good luck!!
Ruth
Hi all,
Thanks for the insight! I tried to contact my doctor today and ask his advice, but the hospital cant seem to direct me to his medical team so I’m going to try again tomorrow. I think the my recovery plan seems very conservative for a partial rupture( 5 weeks in a cast and a planned 8 weeks in a boot - NO PHYSIO!), I’m really worried about this as I’m meant to be moving to another country for 7months in January and at this rate it’s looking unrealistic.
I’m really keen to see what the doctor has to say.