Hi all, I joined the ATR club on February 21st whilst participating in a dance class. I had done a very thorough warmup, and was 3/4 of the way through the class when it happened. The movement I was doing was actually pretty minor - just a hop, and when I landed I thought the floor had given out on me. I felt the usual slap on the back of my leg and a loud noise. Turned around immediately to see what I had done, and the floor looked fine. Then I realised that the floor didn’t feel straight to me, so I sat down and immediatley felt my Achilles. It felt loose, so I knew what I had done. Went immediately to the hospital where it was confirmed with a Thomsen test. The surgeon on call told me I had the two options surgical or conservative, assured me that the recovery rates were the same and that my chance of re-rupture would be similar. So went the conservative option, and a cast was put on in the equine position, and was told to come back in the morning for a cast check. The cast was on in less than 2 hrs.
So, I went home and of course didn’t really sleep, and starting researching my options. What I was finding showed that if you are youngish and fit that surgery was the way to go, so when I went back in the morning for the cast check I asked to see another orthopedic surgeon. He said the same - and said that if it were him, he wouldn’t touch his Achilles with a scalpel. Well that was great, except he didn’t look so fit.. And it was through the NHS - so decided to try the private route. I was able to get an appointment with a private surgeon 1 week to the day of my injury - and he also pushed for a more conservative approach. I of course was much more fully armed with information by this stage - so I really quizzed him about his protocol and comparing to the early mobilisation treatment. He did not know of the Vacoped boot - and so I handed him a print out. He had wanted to keep me totally weight bearing and in 4 different casts over 8 weeks, but managed to convince him to let me have the boot! Success! Managed to get the boot delivered by the Monday - and was fitted within 2 hrs!
The consultant saw me again 2 weeks after the original injury. He had obviously done his reading on teh boot since then, and I was allowed to move up 5 degrees at the 2 week mark to 25 degrees, and then to 20 degrees the week afetr, as well as start PWB. He said no ROM exercises.. I may have added some as per the UWO protocol.. He also allowed me to start physio for the other leg, as well as the knee/hip on teh bad leg and core excercises. I started physio 3 weeks post injury.
My next consultant appointment was 4 weeks post injury. He had a good feel of teh tendon (confirmed reattachment at the 2 week mark btw!) and said it felt great - continuous and still minimal swelling. We moved me straight up to 10 degrees, and he said that I could move up to neutral the following week. Also that I was to try to start FWB. My physio appointment was directly after, and I told her the good news re: FWB. She then gave me some exercises to commence on my foot. She was very suprised at my ROM and also the strength in my ankle - and had to confirm a few times that I was only 4 weeks post-rupture. From the 3 week mark when she first saw it she is very pleased with the lacking of swelling, as well as the small width of the tendon - but also that it feels quite pliable. She has cautioned me on not being over confident..
I am currently 5 weeks and 5 days post injury. I am at Neutral position, and as of the weekend am FWB. My walk is not great as yet - but trying to focus on heel to toe movements in the boot, and I am sure it will improve. I have another appointment this Thursday with teh consultant, and physio again straight after. The plan is for another 2 weeks in teh boot, and then much more intensive physio. I am a little aprehensive about the whole in 2 shoes thing - but I feel like I am progressing well, and I feel very lucky in that I have really had no pain with this injury at all. Just the pain of the inconvenience… I am lucky that my day job is a desk job, and have not missed a day of work yet. Been relying on lifts to get in and out, and looking forward to when I am allowed to drive (it’s my left leg, but I have a manual car, and it is illegal to drive anyway no matter which leg in the UK witha cast/boot).
I know I have a long journey ahead, but I feel optimistic of a good recovery, with a lot of hard work and caution!