2 years 1 month update

Posted on September 14th, 2010 by raoul

Life is definitely back to normal, but it sure has been a long way to go. I had a partial tear in my right achilles 2 1/2 years ago, then a complete tear 4 months later because of bad luck and a slippery pavement. Today my achilles sets no real limitations in everyday life. I still get some odd sensations in my right achilles tendon sometimes and cannot run as often and as much as before, but intensive cycling (even trail cycling) and skiing give no symptoms. Something I would like to share with those of you who feel progress is slow, is my experience that I still have progress, more than two years after the injury. At the moment I am recovering after having had arthroscopy for a meniscus tear, but that’s really nothing compared to the achilles injury. There is hope!

Best wishes Raoul

2 Comments »

1 year post op - second ATR

Posted on August 13th, 2009 by raoul

It’s been a long journey demanding more patience than I though I had… I ruptured my right achilles for the first time in April 2008, then reruptured one year ago. To all of you I will say - keep up your mood and have patience - it gets better but it sure may take a long time! I’ve had recurring pain at the point of insertion of the achilles into the heel bone since I underwent surgery, although the rupture was 4-5 cm above. During this summer - especially the last 3-4 weeks - progress has been remarkable and the pain now is almost gone. I am not really sure what has happened.
I have taken small steps and listened to my body, which I did not do after the first operation. I had an acute back pain 1 1/2 month ago and consulted a chiropractor. He examined my ankle and said it was a stiffness there that put strain on the achilles tendon. He meant that the back pain was a result of this. Since then I’ve had four treatment sessions. The back pain is gone and the achilles feels a lot better - life begins to smile again!!!! Good luck to all of you!

Best wishes from Raoul

6 Comments »

Second ATR -15 weeks post op.

Posted on November 24th, 2008 by raoul

Hi everyone!

I underwent AT surgery in April 2008 after having tried almost every conservative treatment to get rid of longstanding achilles tendonitis. During surgery it showed up that my AT was partially ruptured. The surgeon repaired the tendon. I did not get a cast or boot, but was told to wait for 4 weeks to put partial weight on my right foot. 

On August 11th - a rainy day almost 4 1/2 month after initial surgery - I slipped and had a total rupture of the tendon. I was admitted to surgery two days later, and the AT was once again sewed together. I was put in a cast for 2 weeks, and after that I was in a boot for 6 weeks. My experience from the first recovery period was that I pushed too hard and I therefore decided to be more patient his time. After getting out of the boot my foot was stiff, swollen and quite blue. I started moving my toes and doing some light exercices without putting any weight on. My aim was too improve flexibility and stimulate blood circulation. 13 weeks after the operation I carefully began to put partial weight on my right foot. I waited for 24 hours to observe the reaction, just to be sure that I did not provoke pain or morning stiffness. During the last two weeks I’ve used quite a lot effort to find a balance between activity and rest. I’m now 15 weeks post op. I still walk with both crutches most of the time, but I can now walk without crutches for short periods during the day. Though I’m not able to walk more than a few steps before I have to rest and elevate the foot, I make progress. My experience is that ATR is an injury that surely demands PATIENCE!!!! It’s hard - especially if you are used to being physically active. Best wishes to all of you! Be patient and take care!

Raoul

2 Comments »

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  • jonathan31 | September 20th, 2010 | 4:29 pm

    wow.. always wondered what the picture could look like this much time post-op. You always hear that the tendon will never be the same, but never specifically how. I’m amazed running is still an issue at 2 years. My jaw dropped. I see healthy runners all the time and think how wonderful it must be to have perfectly strong tendons… and then think if those days are done for me. At the same time I can’t deny that long distance running and I aren’t much friends despite a few years of attempted courtship. At 4 months post-op, I’m just looking forward to using the cross trainer again at high intensity intervals and burning off some of this “sitting around the house” fat I’ve put on!

  • Richard | September 14th, 2010 | 1:07 pm

    Hello again Raoul,

    Well done, it’s a long road isn’t it !!

    Richard

  • raoul | September 17th, 2009 | 1:55 pm

    Hi Robert!

    Usually I feel no pain or discomfort standing on the tips of my toes except from after exercising. I certainly can feel a knot like you describe at the point of rupture though. When I touch and massage the tendon after exercise I feel sore at this point of the tendon. Earlier in the recovery process I often experienced stiffness and tightness, but ROM exercices and massage of the tendon has really helped. Now I experience tightness only when I take the first steps in the morning and sometimes after exercise. As I understand it’s normal that the tendon becomes thicker and anatomically different after rupture and surgery. As long as this doesn’t affect function or lead to discomfort or pain I wouldn’t worry so much about it.

    Good luck
    Raoul

  • robert | September 14th, 2009 | 6:26 pm

    Raoul,

    If you are full standing on the tips of your toes without shoes and just leaning for support, do you feel any dimpling or some other squeezing sensation at the tendon point of rupture/suture? Does it feel like a hard knot now or in the past few months?

    I have this sensation currently and am not sure what to make of it. I have talked to the orthopedist. I am afraid it is the (tight) suturing that has created a knot-like sensation. I look forward to your feedback.

    Robert

  • raoul | August 18th, 2009 | 2:05 pm

    Hello Richard!
    Sorry to hear that you ruptured your tendon due to the cortisone injection you were given. The only good about it seems to be that surgery cured your tendinitis, although it must have been a long and frustrating way of healing. Doctors and physiotherapists that I have talked with have been as critical to cortisone treatment as your friend, and information on the internet also says that this is a risky treatment for achilles tendon injuries.

    Best wishes
    Raoul

  • Richard | August 18th, 2009 | 9:20 am

    Hello Raoul,

    I too had a cortisone injection in an effort to rid myself of tendinitis - 3 months later full rupture !!. A physio friend of mine went bananas when he heard what I’d done, his view was that giving the injection was bordering on malpractice !

    However rupturing does seem to have cured the tendinitis (rather an extreme cure I know)
    Also the surgeon made a comment that he could, if I had been referred earlier, operated on me prior to the rupture to cure the inflammation. This would have meant a shorter recovery time and an intact ATR.

    It amazes me that the medical authorities know the dangers of cortisone but continue to use it. The danger comes when it’s put into weight bearing tendons - underlining the stories one hears about cortisone working very effectively on shoulders,elbows and wrists.

    All the best
    Richard

  • raoul | August 17th, 2009 | 9:25 am

    Hi Tommo!
    I’ve been a runner and before my first surgery I had achilles tendonitis for 5 years. I tried almost everything to get rid of it - RICE, lowering of training intensity/ freqency, alternative activities like biking and swimming, eccentric calf muscle exercises, laser treatment, ESWT (shockwave treatment) and - here’s the point - cortisone injections. What I believe is that the cortisone weakened the tendon even more than the tendonitis itself - in fact, the surgeon that did the first operation told me that the tendon looked almost like spaghetti. I will never ever have cortisone again!

    Best wishes from Raoul

  • Tommo | August 17th, 2009 | 7:08 am

    Good on you Raoul!

    How did you do your second ATR 4 months after the first? Usually the tendon is pretty strong by then?

    Tommo

  • Sanfrantourguide | November 26th, 2008 | 5:10 pm

    Dear Raoul,

    I’m glad you’re posting this second rupture, as a warning for all of us eager-beaver types. WE must all be careful, careful, careful, to avoid a re-rupture, at least the first 6 months, so far as I understand the healing process at the cellular level. Perhaps doctors should stress this more, rather than having us crow with triumph every time we do something athletic and impressive a short time after recovery. I am also at the five-month recovery period, and I do NOT take for granted that I am out of the clear. No jerky movements, no dancing, no running, just walking.

    Mary

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