Day 25 Post surgery

Posted on July 26th, 2012 by pauls

Hi All,

25 Days in and I placed my foot on the ground for the first time.

http://AchillesBlog.com/pauls/files/2012/07/25-day-scar-picture.jpg

As you can see from the picture a fair bit of swelling but the scar is looking great.

I have been told by the Dr. that I can load my foot on the ground but no walking on it as of yet and still with crutches.

Reading peoples comment and looking at others blogs, there is a minefield of information out there and if I am honest i don’t know which way to turn as far as pushing my recovery?????

I have always been one to push it and do my own thing… but I have never had surgery of any kind and or an injury like this so it is a bit of a smack in the face for me.

I will be at 4 weeks post surgery tomorrow 27th July. As all of you know that has had this it is so fustrating NOT being able to do the things we want to do especially if many of you are like me that just can’t sit still.

I even got my mate to take me to Muay Thai last night just so I could get out of the house and watch even though I couldn’t do anything. I really feel for my wife putting up with me at the moment as I am like a bear with a sore head. I am so going to send her away for the weekend once I can at least drive and be off crutches, she deserves it!!!!

At what point is anyone driving, (this is my right leg) comments appreciated!!!

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15 Responses to “Day 25 Post surgery”

  1. andrew1971, on July 26th, 2012 at 8:48 am Said:

    Feels great getting that foot on the ground don’t it?

    Flat footed at 25days…. this is the type of thing the surgeons/specialists allow after surgery, whereas no-op patients might need to beg for such luxuries :)

    I am assuming you read the link about how tendons heal? The only thing holding your tendon together right now are the stiches and low qualiity cologen, at 6wks post op the collagen will ’start’ to be replaced by the stronger permanent stuff.

    You look to be recovering really well, I keep myself aware and mindful that we need to demonstrate a really high level of restraint with this injury, if you trip or fall while ‘out the boot’ we might not have the strength or the control to prevent the tendon being ‘loaded’ potentially a re-rupture could occur and it’s back to square 1…..

    I’ve read the re-rupture ‘danger zone’ is up until anywhere between 12 and 16weeks.

    I chose to listen to your body AND your doctor (sue this site as a resource for asking questions though) - I feel certain you will be ahead of the curve in recovery……patience, this injury certainly taught me patience :)

    Back to driving date varies, it’s anywhere between 8-12 weeks, importantly - you need to be able control the accelerator and have enough strength to perform an emergency stop (hard brakiing to avoid a collision) without blowing your tendon… I practised this in my car without the engine running for a good 30mins or so before I felt happy/confident that I could react to avoid an accident without injuring myself.

  2. andrew1971, on July 26th, 2012 at 8:50 am Said:

    EDIT: I’ve read the re-rupture ‘danger zone’ is up until anywhere between 12 and 16weeks….. I should add there’s always a risk, this is just the peak risk period.

  3. pauls, on July 26th, 2012 at 9:04 am Said:

    Hey Andrew, Thanks for the comments. I spoke to my Dr. this morning and he will now let me sleep without my boot. Which will be great as that thing is such a pain in the butt! I seem to have struck up a good relationship with him and i feel I can ask him what I want even if I am pushing it. But hey why not I just want the answers and to heal as fast as possible!!!

    I was scared to put my foot down first time but yes it felt good to do this! I did read the link and it is very interesting. While I want to push my recovery. I am also very scared of the fact I could re-rupture if I am not careful.
    Since being on this site you start to question everything as there is so much information out there and some of it is conflicting. I find if amazing that people with full ruptures like mine can and do heal without surgery!!!!

    I feel for my wife as she is having to drive me everywhere and I feel like a kid that can’t drive! :) I

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  4. andrew1971, on July 26th, 2012 at 9:38 am Said:

    My missus can’t drive but she’s been an absolute star for coping with the house, kids and me.

    Online shopping - I’ve used it and it’s the future of grocery shopping :)

    I’ve been relying on friends and family for lifts at least once a week, which has been important to allow me continue to see my son from a previous relationship - I can’t imagine not seeing him and if this injury does provide a whole new perspective on how lucky we are.

  5. Adam, on July 26th, 2012 at 12:04 pm Said:

    Hang in there. Im at about 6.5 weeks right now but at 4 my ortho told me that i probably COULD drive it I had to be advised me not to and wait until about 8 weeks once i start getting that strenth back. The concern was an emergency stop.

    I was also told at 4 weeks I could sleep without the boot, but i feel like im the only one on this site who still chooses to sleep with it ON, i know its redicilious (i feel like its 6 more hours a day that im working on stretching the achilles as my foot relaxes without the boot on)

    Something else my doc told me at 4 weeks was takeing a few steps is not going to harm the achilles.. as you can probably tell, I didnt even try it but it was reassuring to know that it was possible.

    Hang in there and be patient!

  6. pauls, on July 26th, 2012 at 12:17 pm Said:

    Thanks Adam, it is nice to hear other people’s progress.

  7. normofthenorth, on July 28th, 2012 at 12:55 am Said:

    Andrew, where’d you get your “Flat footed at 25days…. this is the type of thing the surgeons/specialists allow after surgery, whereas no-op patients might need to beg for such luxuries”? My non-op rehab (ATR #2) was about a month FASTER than my post-op rehab (ATR #1), because my second surgeon was following the UWO protocol, and my first one was a scared rabbit who hadn’t read enough studies to know that going reasonably fast seems to DEcrease the risk of rerupture.

    If you read the huge range of schedules and protocols here, you’ll see that most of the variation is random, based on the peculiarities of each doctor. Some have read some studies, lots haven’t; some have been exposed to faster protocols with boots, some are still into slower protocols with casts; and many sub-variations and mixtures, too.

    The only surgical protocol I’ve seen that’s substantially faster than the UWO study used (with AND without surgery) is one followed by two Japanese surgeons who used a super-strong suture technique that actually provided some reasonable AT strength in the early stages of healing, rather than merely holding the torn (and trimmed) edges together to heal “otherwise naturally”. I have a link to, and commentary about, the article by those two Japanese surgeons, on my blog page. (If you can’t find it and want to, give me a shout.)

  8. blueross, on July 28th, 2012 at 8:23 am Said:

    Pauls,

    How you getting on? Sounds like you’re winning our race/ bet at the moment. I have my 4 week consultancy yesterday (just written my blog). It is definitely a marathon rather than a sprint!!!

    Ross

  9. pauls, on July 28th, 2012 at 8:51 am Said:

    At Ross,

    Doing very well, which scares me at bit on how well I feel. I have been swimming, which I hate but seems to be great so far. Especially with the 34+ degree weather here. The main aid to my recovery is the nerological muscle therapy I have been having. I have already lost 1/2 inch of muscle accross my whole leg. Trying to build this back and or just slow the loss down. I will take a look at your blog!

  10. andrew1971, on July 28th, 2012 at 11:41 am Said:

    @ Norm, I don’t think the UK is as fast as engaging in such protocols.

    By begging, to clarify, the UK non-op patients may have to discuss the protocols and barter for more progressive treatmentl rather than feel the OS is already on the UWO team so to speak :)

    Swimming - seems I should be covered in bubble wrap, walking into a wet room, traversing wet floors and getting in/out the pool itself - to me I’d just be too frightened to try it, fearing the worst on every step.

    Kudos to those that can and do get to swim early into their treatment.

    Happy healing all :)

  11. blueross, on July 28th, 2012 at 8:32 pm Said:

    Pauls,

    Thanks for your comment on my blog. I’m feeling sore, but a little more positive tonight. Can we email as you can’t private message on herr which is very frustrating?

  12. onhiatus, on July 29th, 2012 at 1:20 pm Said:

    Pauls- the scar is looking fantastic and sounds like you are recovering quickly. congrats!

    I can totally relate to the Muay Thai visit too– I took my splinted leg to Taekwondo class the day after the injury. Just feels better to be DOING something rather than just waiting. This whole recovery process is like the ultra endurance in patience event.. keep going, finish line is around the corner!

  13. pauls, on July 29th, 2012 at 2:10 pm Said:

    Thanks for the comments, I got a bit pissed off with myself yesterday as I should have been testing for my next level at Muay Thai and all I did was watch. It will be a while getting back to that level of training, but I am determined to get back as fast as possible! Patience is not my strong point! I at least should be able to get back to my Wing Chun as soon as I can start load bearing! I have been doing martial arts long enough now that I is killing me not learning and training.

  14. rogerg, on July 31st, 2012 at 8:44 am Said:

    Hi Andrew, saw my OS yesterday and since my last visit ( 7 days ago) and another scan, he has decided that my gap of only half cm will heal without surgery; this after nearly four weeks up in the air ! I arrived fitted with my new Vacoped boot which he seemed to be very impressed with. This guy is a specialist lower leg man and it was the first Vacoped he had seen; strange but true. So after 4 weeks in various casts he has decided that I can have another 3 weeks in the boot before fwb at 30 degrees; see him again 6 weeks from now when he will reduce to 15 degrees/neutral with change from wedge sole to flat sole. He insists no physio until boot is off. Insists that I sleep in boot, but says that I can drive an auto car (Left ATR RHD car)): any thoughts from anyone ?

    RogerG.

  15. pauls, on July 31st, 2012 at 8:53 am Said:

    Great that you don’t need surgery. I would have loved that option. Slower recovery in the first place as far as what the Dr. will allow. But from what I have read you should be up and running about the same time as me?
    Hope you revover well. Driving I suppose is up to you? If It was me and my left foot I would be driving, as I have an auto. No chance in my wifes manual! LOL

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  • ryanb | January 24th, 2013 | 2:25 am

    I DO think there is a preventative “therapy” to use… but if you’ve got niggles, it may be too late: strength training. Strength of connective tissue can be improved- it’s just slow to respond. I am absolutely committed to a strength training program - for the long haul - to help continue the recovery of my ATR… but even more importantly, to ensure that the “good” Achilles remains strong, and better prepared to handle the loads I might put on it.

  • normofthenorth | January 23rd, 2013 | 11:35 pm

    I wish there was some good ATR preventive therapy to use if you do get niggles, or any signs, etc. I’m not convinced there are. If it’s going to happen, I’d rather get it behind me than delay it. . .

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  • Scott | October 8th, 2012 | 12:22 pm

    I think the first time I started running again was around July 4th which was 12 weeks after surgery.

    When I started I would “run” 20 paces and walk 40, run 20 & walk 40. I alternated one day of run/walking and the next day was only walking. Every few days I added 20 paces to the run and 20 to the walk until I hit 100 paces running. After I hit 100 paces I switched to time (2 minute run - 1 minute walk) and gradually built up my endurance and strength. The best approach is a gradual increase in distance & time. Don’t worry about your speed or keeping a steady pace.

    My weekly routine is Sunday - off, Mon - morning run, evening kickboxing, Tues - morning run & evening karate, Weds - morning run, evening kickboxing, Thurs - morning run & evening karate, Fri - off, Sat - morning run & morning kickboxing.

    I’m also taking several supplements on top of a fairly healthy diet.
    Morning: Multi-vitamin, fish oil, “Lig-a-tend”, Magnesium, zinc, Vitamin C, vitamin D, 25 grams whey protein.
    Evening: Fish oil, “Lig-a-tend”, Astragalus (for immune system), magnesium, zinc, 25 grams whey protein.

    “Lig-a-tend” is a

  • eastcoastrunner | October 8th, 2012 | 8:07 am

    Pauls– I did my first run 17 weeks. (again, my surgery wasn’t ATR so may be different) I started with a walk/run ratio of 1 min walk/ 2 mins run for about 30 minutes on a flat and gentle surface for the first week (I think I did 2 runs the first week) Then I started on roads w/o hills 2-3 times a week for a couple weeks. Being a trail runner, I kept hiking in the woods and started running every smooth and flat section of trail I could find between the hiking (this is New England…most of our trails are covered in rocks and roots, so those smooth surfaces were few and far between)
    I’m in my 6th month now and I run 5x’s a week– I ran my longest run of 15 miles this weekend on trails. I still have to be careful on the really tricky sections of trail because my AT foot is still weaker. I know we are all different, but running post AT is possible…listen to what your AT is telling you and back off when it starts to bother you. (mine still hurts more AFTER a run than during it, so I use ice post run and wear my compression sock for a few hours)

  • feedthegoat | October 8th, 2012 | 4:10 am

    I ruptured in October 2011 and started running again in mid-February 2012 - this was once I knew I could walk/hike all day without any ill effects.

    From memory I think I was already up to about 12 miles sometime in March so it didn’t take long to get going again once I started. No point in rushing it though.

  • normofthenorth | October 5th, 2012 | 12:53 pm

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a rerupture after 20 weeks, maybe even 15 or 16. Of course, at 67, the memory isn’t what it used to be… :-)

  • sheena | October 3rd, 2012 | 4:56 am

    Hi Pauls,
    sounds like you’re doing incredibly well! My rehab doesn’t reccomend running for up to five months due to possible re rupture. I re ruptured at 13 weeks non op and am now 3 weeks post of with a tendon graft. I am in a boot and following UWO protocol roughly…
    FWIW my surgeon says he sees more re ruptures after surgery as people think the repair is stronger. I wouldn’t wish a re rupture on anyone, your tendon sounds bionic…Don’t forget you’re only 13 weeks hey?

  • andrew1971 | September 18th, 2012 | 5:21 pm

    crutchesintx, on September 18th, 2012 at 1:03 pm Said:

    “Awesome. Congrats! Probably feels real good to get that sign of by the doc”

    Could not agree more.

    I tried running today, my ankles not ready for that I definitely lack the ’springyness’ that comes so naturally on the strong side - I look like the peter kay description of a “dad run” ….but I can see already how confident you are, you’ll be running again in no time.

    Great milestone, great feeling, keep pushing but be mindful of the communication and feedback your body provides as you power through…don’t be afraid of rest if it aches :)

    Happy continued healing.

  • crutchesintx | September 18th, 2012 | 1:03 pm

    Awesome. Congrats! Probably feels real good to get that sign of by the doc.

  • ryanb | September 17th, 2012 | 9:56 am

    Andrew- cycling was a very important part of my rehab. I got on a spin bike starting around 4 weeks, was first riding outside at around 7 weeks, and was trail riding at 9 weeks:

    achillesblog.com/ryanb/2011/10/30/mountain-bike-video-9wks/

    I started on the pavement, using my mountain bike. Living here in Utah, it’s very hilly - the wide ratio of gears on the mountain bike allowed me to keep the pedal forces down, using higher RPM.

    From the very beginning - even at 4 weeks on the spin bike - I have always used my regular clip-in shoes.

    It was quite a while longer (months) before I was able to pedal with full force, standing up. Now (@1 year) I don’t feel limited on the bike at all- though my heel will occasionally get a little sore after really long/hard mountain bike rides.

  • pauls | September 17th, 2012 | 8:42 am

    Hi Andrew, This week was on a paved trail on my MTB with my son, we averaged 12mph so not fast but a some points go up to 22mph. the trail is pretty flat not much in the way of hills. So a great way to build up strength without too much pressure on my Achilles. The week before I rode my Road Bike only managed 4 miles as this was very hilly and hurt on the hills, so I will stick to the flat for a while to build up the muscles and work up to the hills down the road.

    I had NO pain at all even after I had finished the ride. HAPPY DAYS!

  • andrew1971 | September 17th, 2012 | 8:32 am

    Congrats Pauls :)

    As I am contemplating increasing my cycling activities, I wanted to ask a few questions which I hope you don’t mid:

    What type of bike was it, was much resistance involved?

    How did the ankle/calf perform over the duration?

  • ryanb | September 4th, 2012 | 9:33 am

    Paul- if that pain is at the crease of your ankle (on top), then it sounds similar to something I had. It turned out to be the result of pretty bad ankle pronation - arch of my foot was collapsing, allowing my ankle to collapse to the inside. I don’t know if my foot was just weak form inactivity, or if one of the functions of the Achilles is to support the ankle in this manner (I suspect the latter). In any event, while I built the strength back up, a good set of orthotics, with a lot of Arch support really helped get rid of that pain.

  • Andrew1971 | September 4th, 2012 | 5:00 am

    Nice result there Paul, congratulations.

    When I get that pain in the top of my foot I slow down and shorten my stride as it’s a pre-cursor to the limp coming back - as Starshep said, better to walk correctly and steady than incorrectly and fast (I always feel I am tempting fate by doing so), no swelling though (I assume that is a good thing).

    Nice early progress though, enjoy and happy healing :)

  • starshep | September 4th, 2012 | 1:51 am

    Pauls:
    Great to hear about the minimum swelling and lack of tendon pain. I would suggest that you concentrate more on walking without a limp than on walking speed for now. The speed will come. A limp is a nasty habit to break. My therapist always made me slow down if he detected a limp.

  • daves | September 3rd, 2012 | 7:25 pm

    Nice!! Congratulations… normalness now in sight!

  • jaxx | August 30th, 2012 | 12:48 pm

    Wow! That’s great news and I have to say I’m envious of your ’speedy’ recovery :)
    I have sharp pains down one side of my injured foot and was told it was because the other muscles and ligaments are overcompensating for the weakened Achilles but that it will get better as I build up strength. Apparently cycling is really good for that so keep going!

  • kimjax | August 30th, 2012 | 12:06 pm

    Congrats, Paul! Doesn’t it feel great to be able to get out and about after all that sitting?! My calf hurt during early cycling sessions occasionally, but now I can go to fatigue with hills, etc., at 17 weeks. Keep it up!

  • Scott | August 29th, 2012 | 8:35 pm

    Outstanding! 8 weeks is when I started “walking” again. Take it one step at time and you’ll make steady progress.

  • Andrew1971 | August 29th, 2012 | 5:20 pm

    Excellent work there Paul, 9wks and walking a mile and cycling, I walked a mile today in two half mile stints and the pain I had detailed was apparent again with a quarter mile to go, I am given to understand it’s a mobilisation thing.

    my physio said it’s not good to try and push past it, but walking up to that point where the front of the foot/ankle junction starts to ache would help loosen it up as ling as I am able to walk further each time then it’s the right thing to keep doing.

    Congrats on the progress thus far :)

  • pauls | August 29th, 2012 | 4:05 pm

    thank you Sheena I will be 9 weeks on Friday, not that I am counting :)

  • sheena | August 29th, 2012 | 3:59 pm

    At ten weeks I think you’re doing very well??

  • normofthenorth | August 22nd, 2012 | 2:19 pm

    Sounds great! I thought you were on a slowish track, but I obviously had you confused with somebody else. Don’t forget to Watch Your Step!

  • daves | August 22nd, 2012 | 10:32 am

    Good for you! Must feel great to be getting so much closer to “normal” again.

  • pauls | August 21st, 2012 | 8:08 pm

    Wow they do seem conservative? I hope you take it to the level you are comfortable with? I push it, but only until it gets sore or throbs then back off.
    I feel that you have to go it somewhat on your own. I am going to use the PT when I start to just help guide the strength training. The rest I will do myself!
    I hope you get well soon!

  • Andrew1971 | August 21st, 2012 | 6:31 pm

    Good news Pauls - I had my physio assessment today and at 12 weeks, was sent away with the basic exercises and told not to cycle (even on a stationary) for another two weeks - I get the feeling my hospital have experienced some re-ruptures in the 8-14wk range when (in their optinion) the rehab became more aggressive.

    So when they tell you these things you can’t help but feel more cautious towards pushing the boundaries in these ‘dangerzone’ weeks - I hope all continues to go well for you and I will be watching your progress with great interest :)

  • ericbabula | August 21st, 2012 | 8:58 am

    Awesome! Sounds like it was a good day for you!

    Keep up the good work, and you’ll notice big changes and improvements soon!

  • Andrew1971 | August 20th, 2012 | 4:22 pm

    Can u link me a website that has one of these neuro muscular therapy machines - I’d like to see if I can find one here in the UK.

  • pauls | August 20th, 2012 | 7:03 am

    Hi Frustrated Coach,

    The neurological machines works off DC current which is the same electrical pulses that your body uses, so in effect it doesn’t know any different where as a Tens unit is like sticking your fingers in a power outlet. Your not ment to do it and your brain can’t process that type of current.
    Alot of top athletes use this treatment for recovery and in their training program to inhance training. I damaged
    My shoulder last Christmas and using this treatment we managed to get it healed and built up 1/2inch of muscle on my deltoids in 10 treatments! It’s like doing a monster gym workout. Not going to say it doesn’t hurt, not in a nasty way just a funny tingly way. Hope this helps. If you need any more help on this let me know, as it a great way to help your recovery and more!

  • Frustrated coach | August 19th, 2012 | 11:27 pm

    What is the difference between neuro muscular therapy and tens unit? I have a tens- can it work the same?

  • Curlygirl | August 18th, 2012 | 8:42 pm

    Yipee ! that’s great progress!

    Congratulations!

  • RipTorn | August 18th, 2012 | 7:00 pm

    Get a heal pad shoe insert from your local sporting goods store. It will help some and not a bad use of about 10 bucks.

    I’ve been walking for almost a week now and jacuzzi helps and today I iced down leg to reduce swelling. That helped too.

    Welcome back to two shoes!

  • normofthenorth | August 16th, 2012 | 10:29 pm

    Crocs are also very comfy when you get into 2 shoes. And ya, squishy gel inserts inside the boot. Rolling your bare foot gently over a ball (tennis, super, whatever) also seems to help de-sensitize it.

    Don’t forget to build up your other foot enough so your hips are even when you walk.

  • Curlygirl | August 16th, 2012 | 5:31 pm

    Have you tried one of those gel shoe inserts? I bought a heel gel thing .it was a thinish blue shoe insert , made my boot way more comfy under the heel area.

  • Andrew1971 | August 16th, 2012 | 5:27 pm

    Great news Pauls,

    I did exactly the same, got rid of the crutches in the house wk6 and on or around wk7 for everywhere else….but I never really walked more than about 50mtrs, the RoM setting in the boot made walking distances uncomfortable until I reached the neutral setting.

    In terms of the heel pain, I used a thin towel folded in half then in half again, this also created a washable inner for the liner that kept the boot liner clean and fresh :)

  • gntwagner | August 16th, 2012 | 5:18 pm

    I agree with RipTorn. I bought a gel insert for my heel & it did feel lots better. I also found when I’m walking, that I was not using the ball of that foot to help absorb the shock & consequently the heel was taking the brunt of the weight. Had to be more conscientious about rocking forward when I walk & using the ball of my foot more in the boot. Otherwise, it feels like the heel is bruised & trying to walk bare foot on a hard surface was painful. Another helpful exercise when I took the boot off at home was to toss a small towel on a slick floor & place my foot on it. Then I practiced toe scrunchies where you grab the towel with your toe and pull it backwards to build up the toe & promote plantar flexion. You can also practice picking up marbles, socks, or tissue with your toes if you’re around carpeted surfaces. Good luck.

  • RipTorn | August 16th, 2012 | 3:58 pm

    About the same deal. Out of cast and off with the boot in seven weeks. Today I went to local sporting goods store and bought a gel ankle insert to ease the feel of a bruised heel with thorns. A good investment for $10 bucks.

    Try it and you’ll enjoy each step even more!

  • uscgdiver | August 11th, 2012 | 3:50 pm

    Paul,

    I got started Graston 2 x’s a week in PT after I was cleared as unrestricted by the Dr. for the full range of PT modalities. It hurt like the devil and I have a hgh pain tolerance, but it really worked to keep the ankle free of sticky scar tissue. My therapists even show me how to do it on my own at home for when I was done, with the “dull” end of a butter knife.

    Each therapist had their own style, some sections of the leg hurt more than others, just do what you can bear, and if it hurts, have them just lighten up on the pressure. I will say it worked for me.

  • normofthenorth | August 9th, 2012 | 1:15 pm

    About a year ago, it seemed lots of people were getting it to break up scar tissue. It hurt a lot AND usually helped a lot, too. I don’t recall a lot of “newbies” mentioning getting it.

  • normofthenorth | August 9th, 2012 | 1:02 pm

    Ya, uscgdiver, all the modern (>2007) randomized trials (4 of ‘em) showed comparable results for non-op and surgical treatment, and they all used ONLY patients with COMPLETE ATRs! The UWO study is the newest and biggest, and the full text is here on this site — look for “Studies” on the Main Page.

    It seems logical (and most Docs believe) that non-op should work even better with partial ATRs, but I’ve never actually seen any evidence that it’s true (or false). Logically, surgery should provide a huge benefit for complete ATRs, but the evidence shows Not So Much, either none at all or relatively tiny on average, depending on how you treat the data and the statistical significances. So I’ve come to distrust logical “proofs” in this field. When your theory disagrees with the facts, it’s not smart to blame the facts!

  • starshep | August 8th, 2012 | 11:55 pm

    uscgdiver,
    In some cases, a full tear may require surgery but often it does not. I, normofthenorth and several other bloggers on this site are living proof of that. Studies done, most notably by the UWO have shown no statistical difference between recovery rates and re-rupture rates when using the latest fast recovery protocols for surgical vs. non-surgical repair. Unfortunately, the viability of non-surgical repair does not seem to be widely known. Even at my PT facility, one of the most respected in Chicago, none of the therapists had handled a non-surgical repair and I was quite a novelty.

    If you would like to know more about non-surgical repair and the UWO study, normofthenorth’s blog has a lot of information on it.

  • Scott | August 8th, 2012 | 10:15 pm

    No worries - you’ll get there. I snapped mine kickboxing and went back the day after surgery. Stay involved, be smart but push it right to the edge but no farther. That edge will continue to get farther and farther away. Try this post of mine if you need a kick: http://achillesblog.com/skutr/2012/07/04/12-wks-i-cant-and-wont-quit/

    Blessings - Skutr

  • uscgdiver | August 8th, 2012 | 9:30 pm

    Hey Paul,

    Wow, great shots of the surgery and they really did put a fork in you!! Your scar and ankle are looking really good. My leg still looks like that.

    To address your comment on not having surgery, I only had a partial tear. With a full teat they have to go in an re-attach so the tendon will mend, and pull your gastrocnemius and soleus muscles back down. With my Achilles still attached, the Dr. just took all the pressure off it it and it realigned and began healing on it’s own…ah the amazing body.

    Don’t push too much, listen to your body and try and follow the Dr.’s and PT protocols and the time will go by faster than you anticipate.