After being on this site for a while, I’ve finally decided it was time to start a blog. So far my recovery has been fairly uneventful but I am now into my 5th week of physical therapy and it looks like I’ll soon be out of my boot and into 2 shoes. I got the feeling that once that happens things will get more interesting.
On my last PT session the therapist has had me walk in a straight line in 2 shoes on a tile floor. While I am happy with this, I know I’ve got a lot more challenges including such things as walking up stairs, pivoting on my foot, walking on uneven ground and dodging my 2 German shepherds as they try to bolt past me to beat each other out the door or down the stairs. My ultimate goal is to once again be able to squat 300 lbs. and run. In future posts I’ll try to document some of the specific things I am doing in PT and my progress.
The last PT session included work on the leg press machine and calf raises at a low weight. In addition to walking in a straight line, I also had to walk sideways for a couple hundred feet. There was also some work on a kind of a teeter-totter device and some step work. The therapist also had me walking backwards on a treadmill.
At home I am allowed to walk in 2 shoes and one crutch. So far I have been very careful and methodical in walking but today I just said the hell with it and with eyes forward proceeded at my normal brisk pace (with the one crutch). And what do you know? My foot was still attached and had no pain in the tendon. 
I’m finding that building confidence is just as important as building strength and skill.
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May 19th, 2012 at 7:07 pm - Edit
Sounds like you’ve got as many obstacles as our house. I’m a fast mover who is always going back for things - I’m going to have to watch out for sudden changes in direction! Glad you’re making such good progress! :). Can’t wait to start PT in a couple of weeks. When are stairs safe?
May 19th, 2012 at 8:16 pm - Edit
Kimjax,
The dogs have a few bones that they love to scatter about on the tile floors. I’m pretty vigilant about moving those out of the way.
I don’t know when I will start working on stairs. I’ll probably talk to my therapist about it next week.
May 20th, 2012 at 11:54 am - Edit
Stairs can be pretty safe (once the time comes, usually = 2 shoes) as long as you modify your technique to protect the AT-and-calf. You want to put MORE of your foot than normal on the step while climbing stairs, and LESS than normal while going down. On the way down, letting your foot roll over the “nose” of the step substitutes beautifully for missing dorsiflection and strength. Some people keep leading with their recovering foot, but there should be no need.
May 20th, 2012 at 2:01 pm - Edit
Pets can be a challenge. I have 2 cats that like to run out from under the furniture right in front of me and a dog that follows me everywhere. How many weeks has it been since your surgery? I’m looking forward to reading your posts about PT, since I I’m going it alone. Good luck reaching your goals!
May 20th, 2012 at 8:46 pm - Edit
Jennifer: Despite their nature, the dogs have been treating me with some respect through this. Nice to know all that AKC obedience competition training may have actually had a benefit. I went non surgical and my rupture was about 13 weeks ago.
BTW You are certainly one of the nicest persons here and didn’t deserve the kind of abuse leveled at you earlier today.
May 21st, 2012 at 2:59 am - Edit
Hi all
Thank you Norm and Claudia for your previous contact.
I am disappointed with recent progress. I try to explain below hoping it will help others understand their progress.
Complete AT Rupture - Non-op
Week 9 was full weight bearing with boot, I felt good.
Weeks 10 -12 Progress seemed rapid walking well with boot fitted.
Weeks 12-16 Started Physio. Lots of muscle wastage, lots of swelling, foot a strange red/purple colour.
Walking in normal shoes with obvious limp. Could not raise myself onto toes. Foot felt very “flat”.
Worked hard on physio and exercise.
Visited hospital, consultant told me the tendon was connected, swelling and colour was not a problem, I had just a 5% chance of re-rupture and to go away and exercise it.
But ——–
Week 18 - Very disappointed with progress. Worked very hard with exercise. Can walk 4 miles, ride bike and played 10 holes of golf! Lots of stretching and strengthening routines. Surely I would stop limping soon and this swelling would reduce.
Week 20 - Getting very frustrated (and worried) with this!!!
At the end of every day my ankle always remains swollen, it is painful and hot, Foot is still the worrying red/.purple colour.
I sit on an evening with foot raised high. In bed it is raised on pillows through the night to try reduce the swelling. Next day swelling has reduced, by evening after being on my feet all day it is very swollen again.
Current progress appears zero. I am still unable to raise any weight onto my toes as my foot just collapses. I am at times unable to walk far due to the pain. I think it may be the swelling that tightens everything up and restricts motion. I have an appointment to see my G.P in a couple of days.
I am unable to hurry, such as across the road when a car is approaching! I have no push or spring in my step whatsoever.
I do hope this limp, weakness and swelling disappear and that this is not permanent.
Have/are others experiencing similar problems?
Any advise please? It will be greatly appreciated.
May 21st, 2012 at 7:32 am - Edit
Harry-
I wouldn’t worry too much about the discoloration. My foot went through a daily kaleidoscope of colors for a long long time, much longer than I expected. I also had swelling for a very long time- a function of how hard I pushed it; and it sounds like you’re pushing it pretty hard. I still (at close to 9 months) will get some swelling at times - today after a hard weekend of cycling and hiking it’s a little swollen. “Hot” might be cause for concern; could be a sign of infection.
My advice would be to work on building strength with lighter (less than your bodyweight) resistance, and higher repetitions. Get to a gym, and find calf exercises you CAN do… start with light enough weight that you can do 15 or 20 reps, through a fairly full range of motion. It will probably be a depressingly light weight- but you’ve got to start somewhere. Just trying to do a heel raise is (I think) too much; and until you’ve re-trained the muscle, is going to be an exercise - so to speak - in frustration. The other thing I found was helpful was to work on heel raises in the pool; the buoyancy allowed me to adjust resistance via water depth - I started neck high.
Some of what you’re describing would lead me to worry you may have healed long. However, with the swelling, heat, and soreness… I think you’ve probably got something else going on.
Good luck-
May 21st, 2012 at 11:04 am - Edit
Harry H: My doctor said it would take 6 months to a year to get back to 80-95% of previous calf strength. The calf muscle is a tough one to exercise and using various calf raise machines (at an appropriate level of weight as ryanb pointed out) is a good way to do it.
As far as your progress goes, walking 4 miles and playing 10 holes of golf at 18 weeks sounds good to me. I wish I’d be able to play 10 holes of golf by 18 weeks especially considering that I didn’t play golf before my rupture. LOL
Regarding the swelling. have you tried compression socks? Everything below the knee was very swollen when I got out of my cast at 4 weeks. I put on some medium pressure (15-20 mm Hg) socks and the swelling was gone in 3 days. The doctor said I could stop wearing them in 3 weeks but just as a precaution, I’ve worn them ever since.
May 21st, 2012 at 11:20 am - Edit
I started out using an ankle loop/cuff, and a low cable. At this point - just starting out - I was working with maybe 30lbs of resistance.
http://achillesblog.com/ryanb/2011/10/26/cable-calf-press-video/