WoundedWhale’s AchillesBlog

Ten days after the surgery and I visited the doc to have the staples removed.  Pain not as much as anticipated but still had a bit of uneasiness with the whole thing.  First time I was able to see the incision and it was longer than I thought it would be.  About 5-6 inches. 

So what is next for this adventure?  I went over the protocol with the doc and I will have my next visit in four weeks and then will PT.  At that time I will then begin to wean off the crutches as well.  From now until then I will be able to shower begin foot flexion and after two weeks get into the pool, albeit carefully.  Weeks 6-10 I will be doing PT and strengthening my leg again.  After week 10 I will then wean off the boot. 

Pain levels have been manageable and only the issues of leaving my foot elevated too long.  Putting the boot on for the first time today took some time with everything being so stiff.  Now the muscle atrophy and the weight of the boot is taking it’s toll.  Overall, I am happy at the doctors work and what I am doing.  As I begin to get confidence back I will ask the doctor and PT to push me back to 100%.  That is all for now and thanks for reading.

On May 19th I went out to play a few games of volleyball.  What happened thirty minutes into the games has changed my life for the next year at least.  Initially, when I heard the pop I thought it was my Plantaris Tendon as I ruptured the one on my right leg two years ago.  The pain was similar, the sound and even the type of activity was all eerily similar.  I therefore took it upon myself to render a diagnosis.  I applied ice for a few hours and then found my boot from the Plantaris and put it on.  I figured about two weeks would suffice and then I would be slowly beginning my walking as I did previous. 

After two weeks I removed the boot and felt the weakness in my calf and the inability to push off on my foot.  I thought it was just responding at a different pace than before.  I continued to walk on it, mow the grass, even completely clean out the garage of shelves and redo how everything is placed.  That is when I noticed the swelling.  Continued swelling, I had my cankle.  I decided to make an appt at the ortho.  I went in and could I have been more wrong, ruptured Achilles.  To confirm I did all the standard stuff including the MRI.  Yep a full rupture and had recessed to a spacing of 2.6 inches. 

Which brings me to this past Friday, Jun 29th, my surgery was completed.  For the most part there seems to be no complications, I will be in a splint for two weeks with dorsal flexion then back into the boot for approximately 10 weeks.  At this point the pain is tolerable.  I have noticed that when I leave my foot elevated I get a huge spike in pain around the heel.  I can quickly alleviate it by lowering the heel to the floor for a few minutes.  I am trying to rest as much as possible the first few days.  I have a very supportive wife and two fantastic kids.  I did get a set of Mobilegs crutches that pretty comfortable and not so ancient on the technology.  When I have to get a boot does anyone have a comparison over Aircast v VacoCast?  Being I am going to be in it for 10 weeks in summer I want it to be comfortable.  Also, my doc only carries the Aircast. 

Anyway this is my first post and with continue to update as I go through this new challenge in my life.  Things I am missing right now….cycling (esp with Tour de France on), carrying my kids and being mobile.