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.
Hi Reasonformoving,
Here is a link to a few different protocols and boots. However, you are SO CLOSE, so please do not force it. You do not want to re-rupture! For now, check out this link on different protocols you can check out and more:
http://achillesblog.com/pgat2013/2013/09/18/post-op-protocols-weeks-1-6-plus-1-20-week-protocolconcept-4-12-week-exercises-norms-no-op/
My goal was to be at 0 Plantar Flexion and Be FWB by 6 weeks, which I just completed. However, I am also home-bound and do not have to walk around a lot and put pressure on it. You may have to do a combo-thing - PWB, FWB, etc. back and fourth.
Lastly, and more importantly, I am no expert, but am sure Norm, Killygirl and others will chime in with great advice and tips.
Good luck,
Ron
It’ll get easier and less frustrating as time goes by. Being on crutches and not being able to carry anything and having to rely on people for just about everything drove me nuts. Try to stay positive about it though, as the mental game seems to be a huge part of the battle.
Those IWalk’s look pretty cool, I went the old fashioned way, with crutches, but seriously thought about that or a scooter. Woulda been nice to do things on my own just a little sooner.
Hope you’re able to convince your doctor to get on a better program. I’m at 5 months and just started jogging and I think my doctor was a little conservative to some of the aggressive plans (see normofthenorth’s page and the UWO protocol if you haven’t)
Hope you heal well, were all here for support when you need it.
if your doctor is conservative I don’t even know the word for mine……
Seriously though I didn’t get in a boot till almost 5 weeks post op- I’m PWB at almost 6 weeks post op now and finally starting to feel like I’m not risking things by putting weight on the foot,
Thanks everyone for commenting, very much appreciated!