Week 10 post-op in the books
Even though my tear and surgery feel like a distant memory, it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 weeks already. My doc’s aggressive recovery program has worked like a charm - I’ve been weightbearing since week 2 and boot-less since week 4 - and haven’t had so much as a close call with my Achilles (even with a now-walking 11 month old and her assortment of booby traps around the house). I can do 2-footed heel raises and am thisclose to being able to support my body weight on just my injured Achilles.
Taking a step back, I can’t believe how far I’ve come in such a short time. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt as helpless as I did during those first 2 NWB weeks post-op, but here I am 8 weeks later where if you didn’t know I tore my Achilles, you wouldn’t be able to tell just by looking at me.
I’m not sure what I would’ve done without the wealth of information and positivity on this site in the days and weeks right after my rupture, so if you’re reading this having just joined the “club”, hang in there because there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Even though I’m nowhere close to returning to the basketball court, I’m making progress and I gotta say, it feels good!
Keep healing guys!
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Glad you’re doing well Ryan! I’m at week 18 and I see progress week by week. One week I can’t do 10 1 footed calf raises and the next week I can. Last week I couldn’t run 1/4 mile without pain (so my PT said run 30 seconds, then walk until the achilles is happy again, then run 30 seconds, … I was doing that for 1 mile) and today I tried the 1/4 mile again and had no pain in my achilles but my IT band and gluteus medius (which is weak still) had me stopping after the run so I could foam roller the side of my leg - LOL!
Hi Ryan. Great to read things are going so well. Just had my 6 week appt. I ended up doing 6 weeks NWB which was miserable to say the least. Doc has me PWB for the next 2 wks though I’ve already been walking some on my own. The interesting thing that happened to me was the doc had me pushing on his hand so he could check strength in the leg and tendon. After doing this he said that I am not going to need PT. I was a bit surprised to say the least as everything I read talks of everyone doing PT. Not sure what my point is here just wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this?
Hey softballcasualty - I would ask him why he thinks you won’t need PT?? Now, depending on who your insurance is with the PT can vary greatly. Kaiser is more of the here are the exercises, let’s review them while you’re here, now go do them on your own and come back in X weeks for the next set. But if you have questions or concerns you can email or call and get answers. Other PT is quite interactive and you visit 2-3x/week and get massages, … I, personally, think PT is a must. For starters they dial you back from overdoing it. Secondly they give you a list of things you should do with a schedule. Otherwise the tendency is to just do “whatever” which may mean a lot of nothing or to overdue it which may mean messing things up.
So - speak up for yourself and tell your doc you feel much more comfortable going to PT since you don’t want to mess things up and you do want to get back to normal strength and flexibility.
Hey softballcasualty - I completely agree with cserpent - PT is pretty crucial (especially in the early WB weeks).
Mine has been great in providing the right exercises at the right time to build up strength and flexibility, as well as the massage work that loosens up the scar tissue to help with mobility.
Thanks for the responses. I definitely have the concerns of landmarks of when I should being doing and not doing. I guess because of the strength in my leg was his thinking but i still think there should be something. I have expectations of being active again as I am only 37 yrs old and far from wanting to be inactive. His plan is for me to be walking on my next visit which is a week and a half away. I’m sure I will be but definitely dont want to over do it.
@softballcas… so how is things going? Are you walking on your own?
I am week 6 and 3 days. I’ve been in my boot since week 3 July 10. I don’t see my surgeon until next week 7. I also start therapy next week 7.
I’m hoping my surgeon will tell me some good news.
Hi all. Been a month since logging in. Things are going very well. Ended up being nwb for 6 wks. Went into pwb by using crutches tho walking in shoes. FWB at wk 8 and started pt. PT has been great. I was getting tons of swelling at first but has gotten better each day. Hardly any swelling now and tomorrow marks my 11 wks post op. Went back to work with no restrictions at wk 10 but have still been taking it easy. Limp is almost completely gone now thanks to pt. Scar was real tender at first but that has now gotten progressively better each day since pt. The atrophy is still very noticeable. Doesnt look like i have a calf muscle still but things are getting better and leg is weak but getting stronger by the day. Was told can start jogging beginning of Sept which should be roughly at 13 wks. I remember reading this site wks ago lying on the couch with my foot up thinking how bad things were. Now I sit here thinking how great things are going.