reasonsformoving’s AchillesBlog

I haven’t posted in a very long time, but thought I’d give some follow-up on my case and get some feedback from others.  I ruptured my right Achilles’s tendon back in September and surgery.  Uneventful recovery and I’ve been back on two legs since November-ish.  I’m back at the gym and finally have the green light to run again.   However, I still have significant heel pain by the end of the day.  I notice this is especially the case when I’ve taken a long walk or exerted myself physically with my legs.  I’m a little worried that this may be a chronic occurrence and that running might worsen it.  I’m curious what others may have experienced.

Also, a question.  Does anyone know if the quinine in tonic water may contribute to ATR?  I know the quinolones have been linked and the two are chemically similar, but I can’t find anything definitive in the net.  My favorite drink is (I mean, used to be) G&T.  I’m an odd because I really like the taste of tonic water and often I would just have the tonic water w/o the gin.  But I’m wondering whether my consumption of quinine predisposed me to injury.  I’d appreciate any info (and cites!) that others might have.

So, I’ve been FWB for a whole week and it’s been great. I’m now able to actually do things and get around. This has been very liberating!

Now that I’m done with the first week of FWB, I’m suppose to remove one of the wedges from my aircast. I tried this earlier today and when I stood up I felt a strong stretch in my tendon. So much so, that I decided to put the extra wedge back in to be on the safe side. I didn’t have any pain, just the sensation of a strong stretch.

My question is whether the feeling of the stretch is normal. While my tendon feels very good overall, I’m downright paranoid about re-rupture. This injury has been so debilitating that I don’t want in any way to endanger my progress.

I should also mention that I decided not to use the vacocast. I ordered it, but never used it and sent it back. My thinking is that since I’m only going to be in a boot for 3 more weeks, why spend $300? Plus, when I looked at it in the package, it seemed very complicated - and the instruction booklet was pathetic. I know there are videos online, but I really don’t want to spend 3 hours trying to figure out how to put it on. Now, I have the sense that returning the vacocast is going to be difficult. The company requires that you contact them and provide all sorts of information and obtain a return authorization. This really shouldn’t be necessary for any product that is unused and returned within the first week. We’ll see how the handle the return.

The other good news from this week is that I finally was able to return to the gym.  Of course, I can only do upper body work, but that’s worlds better than sitting around on my rear end all day.  For the first time since the injury I can say that I’m really feeling optimistic.   I know that I still have a long recovery ahead of me, but being able to be on two legs is absolutely wonderful!

Well I’m at 4 weeks post-op and just came back from the doctor. Doc says that I can transition to FWB over the next few days with the boot on. I’m happy to get this anticipated change but I’m also fearful of a re-rupture.

Also the doc says I can slowly remove the wedges form my boot over the next month - one at a time. No cardio at all for at least 6 weeks, though.

So I came home and started moving around with one crutch putting more weight on my foot. Foot feels mostly good, but I can tell that it’s going to take some time. I also realized that there’s quite a height difference between the leg with my boot and my uninjured leg. This seems like a challenge and may not be as freedom producing as I originally thought.

On the note, I decided to splurge on the vascocast and the even up for the other foot. I’m hoping that it will make the transition to FWB more enjoyable or, at least, bearable.

So that’s where I am at. My hope is to be able to make it to the gym next week to do some upper body work. I’ve defiantly put on weight since all I do is sit around all day. I am back at work, but I’m sitting most of the time. One thing I am looking forward to is not needing my IWALK to go to the bathroom. That makes it quite the production!

Hi Folks. I’m aware that there’s lots of info on this site and around the internet about the surgical v. non-surgical approach to ATR. I already had surgery and I’m looking for information on different approaches post-surgery.

As best as I can tell thus far there’s wide disagreement on how long to stay in the boot, position of the wedges, and how aggressive PT should be. Most articles that I’ve read that examine these issues do so in the context of surgical v. non-surgical question. Does anyone know studies that look at what’s best for those who’ve had surgery?

The best I’m come-up with so far is the Kearney Physiotherapy 98(1):24-32, 2012 study and even that one examined the issue within the surgery v. no-surg context. That study was basically inconclusive.

I have my next meeting with the doc on Thursday. I’m thing that she’ll move in to FWB now that I’m 4 weeks post-surgery. I’d love to have some info when I see her so that I can talk about treatment for the coming weeks. Thus far she’s been pretty unenthusiastic about PT, which I find somewhat surprising. I’m certainly not afraid to be pushy, but want goof info at my hands.

Good morning folks .  Well it’s been 3 weeks since I had surgery on my right Achilles’s tendon..  I was throwing the football around in the backyard with my 4 year old son on Sept 23rd when I felt a sharp pain in my calf.  Initially I thought my son had accidentally kicked me.  But my wife, who is a doctor, examined me and low and behold, I had an Achilles tendon rupture.

I had surgery that Friday and spent the next two weeks confined to home.  This week the doctor put me in the boot with partial weight bearing a few times per day.  I’ve returned to work against the better judgment of my doctor because I own my own business and  I can’t just sit around and watch it implode because of my injury (it’s also nice to get out of the house).

Needless to say, this injury is very frustrating.  Everything takes forever to do.  I’ve also heard through the grapevine that my doctor is notoriously conservative.  She wants me in the boot for 2 months and says I can’t run for 8 months.  This coming Thursday I see her and I’m hoping that she’ll give me the green light for full weight bearing in the boot.  At least that way, I can get around without using crutches or my IWalk (anybody else using this?  I’ve found it invaluable because it allows you to use your hands).

Oh well, hope springs eternal.