2 years…

Posted on May 18th, 2014 by toble74

Hi all,

It has been two years since my injury. Time really flies…

I just wanted to give an update on where i am as I found it useful (and motivating) during my rehab reading posts from others that were ahead of me in my recovery.

The very good news is that after two years I am playing sports again. A couple of months ago, I rode the Tour of Flanders (135kms), few weeks ago I ran a Tough Mudder in London and next week i am running a half marathon.

I started to run and exercise a lot last summer, around 15 months after surgery and this winter I trained a lot too, 4 or 5 times a week or even more

I have to say that I still have the AT rupture always in my mind, so every time I go for a run, I am thinking of it, will it hold? Should I run the hill or just walk just in case? Am I pushing too hard? Oh it hurts, should I stop? etc.

My calves are now 34 cm and 37 cm, so still very unbalanced, although 6 weeks after surgery they were 28 and 35

I decided not to play football or other “risky sports” any more. I do not want to take chances of another AT rupture

Well, to all of you in different stages of the recovery, keep it up. I still recommend being on the super safe side for 2 months after surgery and then exercise as much as you can, always following your doctor’s advice, of course. But never stop the rehab or exercising. It is a very long recovery but eventually we all get there

Best of luck

Antonio

11 Comments »

Seven months. Some humble pieces of advice…

Posted on December 22nd, 2012 by toble74

I cannot believe it has been seven months already…

I stopped PT three weeks ago. They had been super helpful but at that point I did not need them any more, the marginal benefit was way smaller than the big hassle of going to PT twice a week after work. I am doing the exercises by my own in the gym. I also started running again like a month ago. Only in the treadmill so far, it is too cold outside… I am building up distance and speed. Each day, I try to go longer and faster but I always stop as soon as I feel any stress or pain. Now I can run up to a mile at 12 min/mile. It is not remarkable but honestly, it feels great! I have set my new goal of running the NYC marathon in 2014, that will keep me motivated next year. I also walk a lot, 10-15 miles a week

It is probably time to make a summary of the best advice I could give to someone who is starting the rehab process.

1- Rupturing the Achilles sucks but it is worthless to get upset or sad, just move on and set goals all the time and try to keep positive. Set realistic goals, btw, and always according to your doctor or PT advice. The first weeks are the worst ones but it only gets better after that.

2- Each Achilles rupture and each person are different, so  set your own timeline, do not worry if you are going faster or slower than other folks here. In the long run a couple of weeks more or less of rehab do not make a different but a re-rupture really does, so avoid any risk, especially during the first couple of months.

3- Be super cautious for the first 8-12 weeks until the risk of re rupture is low. There is not too much you can do those weeks but there is a big risk of re rupture if you do silly things

4- Do rehab every single day, whatever you feel like, strength, flexibility, mobility or all of them, but do something every day.

5- Keep doing the exercises until you feel 100%, it is easy to give up once you start walking well again. Please do not do that. Hang on there until you get 100% back, which should take a year

6- Do not be happy with a 85% recovery. Many doctors say you can only recover 85% of your previous strength. Do not believe that, we can get back to 100%.

This was the second time I ruptured my Achilles. The first one was when I was 17 in an unfortunate accident. At that time I did not do the proper rehab and I paid it 20 years later with another rupture. This time I am going to make sure that I get more than 100% that I was before this second rupture

Have a very Happy Holidays

All the best

Antonio, from NYC

2 Comments »

Back in 2 shoes

Posted on August 12th, 2012 by toble74

Last weekend I started to walk on my shoes again. It was nine weeks and few days after surgery. Since week eight I had started doing short walks without the boot near my apartment but I did not feel confident enough to take the subway in the city without the boot. Btw, I had gotten very fast with the boot. I could walk almost as fast as anyone here.

So last weekend I decided it was about time to park the boot for good. At the beginning it was frustrating because I had to walk very slow and it hurt a lot. The tendon itself did not hurt, it was everything else, hip, ankle and plant of the foot especially. However few days later things became normal and pain was minimal. Now, after eight days on my shoes I only feel some pain in the inner side of the ankle, kind of a tendinitis, but even this is going away fast. Today I went for a long walk in Central Park. I may have walked 3 miles and I got tired but felt very well.

I have also been in the gym 4 or 5 days a week for the last three weeks , besides going to PT twice a week and this definitively helps a lot. My next goal is to bike again outside. I have been doing static bike for 3 weeks and I feel I can go outside soon. Maybe next weekend? will see

After almost 10 weeks since surgery I feel I am getting back to normal and at least I can get around in the City. I also feel that the worst is over (I cross my fingers).

Achilles friends, keep it up!

4 Comments »

6 days and 4 days. FWB, it feels great!

Posted on July 15th, 2012 by toble74

Yesterday I started FWB and it feels great. My doctor told me last week that I was able to start FWB as soon as I wanted (It was 5 weeks and 3 days after surgery), but after reading comments and blogs (and feeling afraid) I decided to wait a little bit more. During the week, I gradually put more and more weight on my foot and took few steps without crutches.

Finally, yesterday was the day. I left the crutches at home. As a celebration, I walked to Central Park and sat in a bench for a while. I felt great.

I was afraid that after the first FWB day, my tendon would swollen, but it looks fine, no pain, no swollen.

Next goal is walking on my shoes again, but not before two more weeks. I cannot wait…

1 Comment »

Second follow up with Orthopedics. Good news

Posted on July 7th, 2012 by toble74

Yesterday I had my second follow up with my orthopedics, 5 days and 3 days after surgery. It ’s all good news, the tendon is healing well and I can start FWB on Monday, 6 weeks after the operation. She suggested using a cane for the first few days, but I do not have one nor I want to buy one for few days.

I feel excited  for finally being able to start FWB  but I have to confess that at the same time I feel  frighten, thinking how my achilles will feel.

My doctor also gave me a prescription for the PT, increasing the level of my exercises. She also told me that I can start biking in the static bike with almost no resistance and I will be able to swim as soon as the wound is totally healed.

All good news, finally! I feel way more optimistic now that I can start doing something proactively to recover instead of just waiting and waiting

10 Comments »

My first five weeks

Posted on July 3rd, 2012 by toble74

Hi all,

I have been reading blogs in this site for few weeks and it has been very helpful, so I would like to start telling my own recovery process. In this post I am going to describe my first weeks after the injury. At the beginning I read blogs in order to see other´s recovery timings in order to understand what I was going to go through, so I am going to leave mine, in case it can help others. I am 37 and I live in New York now and was very active before my injury. I partially tore my achilles 20 years ago, when I was 17, in a bike accident and unfortunately my achilles never heal well. My left calf was always weaker and thinner than my right one

Day 0: May 19th,2012: Injury day. Running the Brooklyn half marathon I felt my achilles popped on mile 9. Although I knew something was wrong I did not want to reckon it so I walked to the finish line. It took me 2 hours and three stops in medical services to walk/hop the last 4 miles (not the best decision…)

Day 1 after ATR: When I woke up my achilles and ankle were swollen and bruised and I was in pain. I went to the ER (it was a Sunday) and I got a cast and crutches and they told me to visit the orthopedics asap

Day 2 after ATR: First visit to the orthopedics in  Mt. Sinai hospital (I can only say the best about my doctor, 10 out of 10). She told me that the achilles was torn and I might need surgery and she needed to get an MRI to confirm. I was still neglecting the fact that I needed surgery…

Day 4 after ATR: MRI

Day 6 after ATR: Second visit to the orthopedics: The MRI confirmed an almost full achilles rupture. I needed surgery and I told the doctor to have it asap so we scheduled it for Tuesday May 29th

Day 10 after ATR: Surgery, everything went well. I was back at home around 6 pm. I slept well. I had painkillers for 2 days and antibiotics for 5 days after surgery. Painkillers made me feel very sleepy so I stopped taking them after 2 days. I did not feel pain at all

First 10 days after surgery: I stayed at home all the time. My parents came to help me out for 6 weeks and took care of the logistics besides supporting me all the time. They have made my recovery way easier. They have been great and I am very thankful to have had them this time. My colleagues at my company have been also great, allowing me to work from home some days and taking over some of my projects during my first weeks of recovery

10 days after surgery: First visit to the orthopedics after surgery. Stitches removed, everything fine. Cast removed and I start using my boot with a heel lift of 2″ aprox

2 weeks after surgery: I went back to the office

4th week after surgery: I started PWB (~25%), I reduced the heel lift to 1.5″ and I also started PT. By hopping on my right foot, my right calf  got very sore and painful, like if I had pulled a muscle. Do not hop on your right foot, use the crutches!

5th week after surgery: I increased PWB to 50%

These first weeks have been hard, it is difficult and frustrating to realize how your life have changed in a moment. I was running triathlons and half marathons and now my short term goal is just to be able to walk again

Well, I will keep posting my progress. Thank you to all the bloggers for sharing your experience and advice. It has been very helpful. I wish a quick recovery to all of you

Antonio

No Comments »

  • Achillesblog - Updated Posts

    • Check out AchillesBlog.com T-shirts.

    •   

      ATR Marathon Page

  • Recent Comments

  • normofthenorth | June 2nd, 2014 | 1:40 am

    My autocorrect hates your name tord, sorry! I’ve added it to the dictionary now…

  • normofthenorth | June 2nd, 2014 | 1:39 am

    Listen Ford, great traction is great for peak performance, but it also puts peak strain on a few body parts, definitively including the AT.

  • tord | June 1st, 2014 | 6:43 pm

    @Norm:

    Interesting regarding traction and the ATR. I tore mine while playing five-a-side indoor. Rubbery surface and outdoor trainers. Very high traction.

    I used to blame my ATR on the fact that I had almost ten years of inactivity before taking up running again. My PT disagreed, blaming it 90% on my choice of shoes and surface, and 10% on genetics.

  • toble74 | May 23rd, 2014 | 5:21 pm

    Texasflier,
    You are so young, mate. You will be able to play action sports again if you want to.
    Look, Beckham for instance played competitive soccer after his ATR in his thirties.
    Confidence returns with some time, you are just on the earliest stages of the recovery
    Best of luck

    Antonio

  • normofthenorth | May 22nd, 2014 | 1:23 pm

    As you recover and get into 2 shoes, uneven ground (or deep sand) will indeed be scary, though as much for other leg-&-foot parts as for your AT. And you won’t be spiking or blocking for a while either!

  • texasflyer | May 22nd, 2014 | 1:11 pm

    Interesting. I’m something of a beach volleyball fan and know her and her husband played for my local MLB baseball team. I just play on occasion with friends, nothing serious and usually with beer.

    But that does makes some sense. That certainly basketball and indoor volleyball can and is worse. I would just think beach volleyball could provide some of the similar pitfalls. Of course, I’m just 5 weeks! So everything sounds/seems scary to me at the moment.

    The thought of quickly, explosively jumping up for a spike or a block, from a stationary position in uneven sand just seems like s recipe for disaster!

  • normofthenorth | May 22nd, 2014 | 12:58 pm

    Misty May-Treanor’s story is that she was a dominant player on the pro beach volleyball circuit for years, super fast, fit, great vertical, EXPLOSIVE. If doing those moves could tear an AT and she was vulnerable, you’d think…

    Then, after most of those years of killer pro ball and Olympic Gold Medal, she’s invites to Dancing With the Stars. Boogying in rehearsal, in squeaky gym shoes on a clean high-traction floor, she tears an AT.

    For some people, that’s a mysterious “You never know” story. But for this ATR “expert” who plays competitive court and beach volleyball and has torn both ATs in squeaky shoes on the court, it makes perfect sense. Indeed, we’ve had quite a few people here who’ve had ATRs dancing, and NONE from beach volleyball. I also know several ATR court vball players (and bball and badminton etc. etc.) but NO ATR beach ball players so far. The traction is the key. Great traction let’s us apply much higher tension to our ATs than sand. Beach vball is super brutal in lots of ways - esp 2-on-2 - but not ATR-scary, IMO.

  • texasflyer | May 22nd, 2014 | 11:53 am

    Norm, I would argue that beach volleyball is indeed, at least off the top of my head. You are exploding out of a stance quite often and also have a lack of level, supportive ground.

    Is her story simply that she came back from ATR and is a world-class beach volleyball player again?

  • normofthenorth | May 22nd, 2014 | 2:07 am

    TF, beach volleyball is NOT an ATR-risky sport (unlike court volleyball and the others you list). Check out Misty May-Treanor’s story!

  • texasflyer | May 21st, 2014 | 5:29 pm

    Hey there, thanks for the update! I’m getting all worried about small details in 5 weeks post-op, but am now realizing that things do even out at 6 months and beyond.

    At 31, I’m fully prepared to give up the action sports too as I tore mine playing football/soccer. So that, in addition to basketball, tennis and beach volleyball will likely be no more. Though tennis would be the most difficult to give up.

    I enjoy the triathlon activities as well, so I will just concentrate on those and be content.

    Good luck, I hope and will certainly try to return to half-marathons and long-distance biking as you have. Cheers.

  • normofthenorth | May 19th, 2014 | 12:44 pm

    If you tear the other one running, you won’t be able to kick yourself, but you’ll hit yourself with a crutch! ;-) Seriously, it sounds great, except for the nagging worries about “that” leg.

  • maggie | December 29th, 2012 | 7:04 pm

    Antonio, love the tips and I couldn’t agree more with #1. Congrats on the 12 min/mile and Good luck in 2014!

  • kkirk | December 23rd, 2012 | 1:17 am

    Good advice Antonio, I’m about 10 weeks and second the importance of daily rehab, although Ive on been doing my ROM exercises and Therabands during the last two days of Christmas vacation. I would like to add to your list to.

    1. Trust your body and what it tells you. You will know if your doing too much too fast

    2. In the beginning it’s vital to have a good support structure Nd get plenty of rest during the initial healing process

    3. Set reasonable goals. I have always done better wit a clear and precise goal to push towards.

    4. Listen to your doctor(s), PT, And other. DO your Research!

    5. Be positive.

    Happy Holidays

  • toble74 | August 13th, 2012 | 10:18 pm

    Thanks all,
    To Andrew,
    I have learned here that we all have different recoveries. I think that during the first couple of months we all have to be in the safer side, never pushing to hard.
    For the first week in the gym I wore my boot, so I worked out with the boot all the time, doing legs, hips, and also upper body, with light weights
    After a week I felt safe and started to work out without the boot.
    Regardless the intensity of the workout, it feels great to be doing exercise again. I have been doing static bike with very light resistance and I am increasing it day after day.
    Good luck!

  • Skutr | August 13th, 2012 | 6:32 am

    Thats fantastic! It’s a great feeling when you start to get your life back.

  • andrew1971 | August 13th, 2012 | 6:24 am

    Great news Toble, your slightly ahead of me in shoes and miles ahead in terms of cycling etc at the gym - I am just about to give it a go…any advice for those first few times at the gym?

    Congratulations on reaching that milestone and happy healing.

  • pauls | August 12th, 2012 | 8:49 pm

    Fantastic, keep it going! I am just over 6 weeks I walked bare foot round the house a bit today, with crutches still and load bearing as much as I dared, no pain in my ATR just in my knee! Got to get used to walking again!!!!

  • kimjax | July 15th, 2012 | 1:36 pm

    Woohoo!! Feels great doesn’t it? Congrats on making this big milestone - having your hands free is wonderful!!. I practiced walking in shoes about 20 feet each day so it wasn’t a big jump when I went to them.

  • Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery | July 10th, 2012 | 1:48 am

    Thanks Andrew for sharing your experience. It’s been great to be here and liked reading the blog.

  • andrew1971 | July 8th, 2012 | 1:42 pm

    It all makes sense and I am no expert just posting what I read and my source but why isn’t everyone in a boot at 5days and told to be FWB?

    The whole AT rupture - as a mechanical engineer, it blows my mind as it creates for more questions than I will ever gain the answers to, yet my thirst for more knowledge grows with every discovery :)

    Listen to your specialist and belive in the feedback your body provides :)

  • starshep | July 8th, 2012 | 12:42 pm

    Andrew:
    At 4-6 weeks the scar tissue has has generally filled in the gap between the 2 tendon ends. The tendon has very little strength at that point and the risk of re rupture is high.

    8-12 weeks is the period when there is sufficient strength for most people to be back to 2 shoes. At 16 weeks my ortho surgeon said that about the only thing at that point that would cause a re rupture is a fall or a strong cutting move. The tendon continues to gain strength peaking at about 6-12 months after repair.

    In any case, the sutures are primarily for holding the 2 ends together and do not add much if anything to the strength of the tendon.

  • andrew1971 | July 8th, 2012 | 12:36 pm

    So just to be clear - the tissue repair of the rupture takes 6-8 weeks - THIS IS NOT a green light for any of us to be doing cartwheels, star jumps and squat thrusts at this time :)

    the way I interpreted it was that it just means that your tendons are biologically ready for rehabilitation… up until that point, so I assumed that for mobilised patients with surgical repairs, there’s more dependance on the strength of the sutures holding the torn ligaments together as the accelerated rehab in early weeks continues.

  • andrew1971 | July 8th, 2012 | 12:29 pm

    http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Achilles-Tendon-Rupture.htm

    {QUOTE}

    What is the outlook for a ruptured Achilles tendon?

    Generally, the outlook is good. However, the tendon does take time to heal, usually about six to eight weeks. More time will be needed after this to allow the muscles to regain their normal strength after being in a plaster or brace…….. and the time taken to return to sport is between 4 and 12 months.

    {End Of QUOTE}

  • Toble74 | July 8th, 2012 | 10:20 am

    Good question, normofthenorth. It ‘d be great to have a reliable statistic about reruptures.
    Just in case, we should all keep in the safe side. I am still so scared about rerupturing it…

  • Toble74 | July 8th, 2012 | 10:04 am

    Thank you for your message, Andrew
    I did not know about the 6-8 weeks. I will take it easy for another two weeks, just in case.
    It is adifficult balance between pushing in the rehab but also keeping safe, isn’t it?
    Antonio

  • normofthenorth | July 8th, 2012 | 9:57 am

    Andrew, do you recall a source for the tendon taking 6-8 wks to repair fully? Weeks 8-12 seem to be the peak period for ATR reruptures, and I have trouble believing both of those statements are true.

  • normofthenorth | July 8th, 2012 | 9:54 am

    Andrew, do you recall a source for your “I read that physically the tendon takes 6-8 wks to repair fully on it’s own”? Weeks 8-12 seem to be the peak period for ATR reruptures, and I have trouble believing both of those statements are true.

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

  • andrew1971 | July 8th, 2012 | 5:59 am

    Great news on the speed of your mobility, take everything within your own limits and under advisement.

    I read that physically the tendon takes 6-8 wks to repair fully on it’s own so I am assuming that you will be relying heavily on the strength of the surgical repair until then.

    It’s nice to get such a milestone so early though, congrats and happy healing to you :)