univofpittbull’s AchillesBlog

Congrats on your PT session.
Just be extra careful, I was @ 13weeks, complete ROM, no pain, swelling minimal, progressing nicely and was doing exercises similar to what you just described and had a re-rupture.

Univpitbull, can u tell me where u were at around the 8 week mark? I am at 8 weeks today and just started some active stretching, strengthening with theraband, etc. I can’t imagine being able to do all the things u mentioned in a month. I am also testing the FWB while walking. All going well so far. Thx!

We all might as well tattoo careful across our foreheads. I have had plenty of moments during this process where I’ve said “OOOkay. Not gonna be trying that again for a while.”

Unclebuck - at 8 weeks I had just went to 2 shoes. Therapy wise i was pretty much doing what you said. Therabands, some stability, exercises and stretching. I was giving myself massages everyday also. I think it really helps break down some of the scar tissue so you can regain flexibiity faster.

Man I wondered where you ran off to. Congrats to you and your wife. My wedding day is Oct 15, hoping I will be able to do some dancing by then. Tell me more about the pressure change on the plane. Did it get stiff, sore, throb or what??? We will be flying to Mexico for our honeymoon so I will be in a jet for quite a while as well. Glad your doing good man.

Hey Nick,

I hope everythings still progressing well on your end. I had two 3 hour plane rides to make it to Costa Rica from NY. My AT and the surrounding muscles began to ache and stiffen big time on the plane. I was constantly trying to rub it out and roll my ankle so it’d loosen but it didn’t really feel better until a bit after we landed. It wasn’t like painful but it was super annoying. I think the way you have to sit in a plane seat didn’t help much either.

12 weeks sounds very much like the ATR equivalent to busted bones 6 week marker ….. steady as she blows …. done 3 weeks so far …. that 25% of my sentence? lol

Hey! Well, I am going on 15 weeks. Tendon feels strong, but when I do any pushing off (while walking, and also on the down phase of the heel raise) I feel a stabbing pain in the tendon, just at and above the surgical site. Saw the Dr. yesterday and he didn’t seem concerned. I am still walking with a limp because it hurts to push off. Any ideas????? I just hope things are wacky in there. There is still some redness and tenderness (topical mainly), but I am wondering if there is a suture issue going on in there. Help if you can….STUART???????

I meant “I hope things are NOT wacky in there” sheesh….

Hi there unclebuck. I had a problem with the push off for weeks but its improving slowly, about 3 weeks further on. Not sure whats going on with the sutures but to let you know Stuart has gone off to the mountains to build his dream house and I don’t think he has access to the site at the mo.

Hi Unclebuck. Would hazard an uneducated guess that the problem is scar tissue.

Have a word with your physio. Assuming you are having physio.

He/she should be doing a deep tissue massage, and scar mobilization, which should break down the scar tissue and stimulate the growth of collagen (healthy tendon)

I suspect the pain you are having, is when force is put through the tendon as you push off, the scar tissue is irritating areas in contact with it.

It will get better as the scar tissue breaks down. But your physio may need to help.

I am talking about the scar tissue on the tendon not on any incision, if you went the surgical route.

jonboy, yes I went the surgical route. Thanks for the reply…so, am I supposed to just bear with the pain of a massage? It is very tender to the touch. I can’t imagine it being massaged. However, it could very well feel great to get it done. My physio has NOT mentioned anything about massage. Actually, all he did was provide me with a protocol packet and sent me home. He said there isn’t really a need for me to be doing the rehab anywhere else but home. He gave me some therabands, and that is about it. So, perhaps I need to find a new physio? Thanks again for your help…

Unclebuck, I have had two physios. One an NHS “jack of all trades” the other a specialist sports physio. First thing each of them did was a deep tissue massage. The first physio session was at about the same stage you are at 12 to 15 weeks.

No one had been near my achilles even my consultant handled me with kid gloves.

So when the physio said what she was going to do, if I was able, I would have run for the door.

Sorry to report, it does not feel great. It hurts like hell, but on every occasion, after she did it, the achilles felt easier, and walking was easier.

I am not a physio, but what it felt like she was doing was getting the thumbs deep into either side of the achilles, especially where the scar was, and manipulating. She would then tug the tendon laterally each way left and right.

Later, she would push the ball of the foot forward, so stretching the achilles, before doing the massage.

Wouldnt argue that the rehab is best done at home, however your physio needs to go over each exercise, and ideally you need to do a few sets of each exercise with him present, so both you and he knows that you are doing them correctly. And, perhaps, more importantly, to establish your limits.

Here is a link you may find useful:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/10954-need-internal-scar-tissue/