achilles tendon nonsurgical cast postions
Posted , 7 users are following.
I ruptured my achilles tendon playing basketball. I went to a foot and ankle specialist and he put my foot in a cast. The foot was angled down about 15degrees. After 2 weeks removed that cast and put another one on repostioning my foot at about 90 degrees. Did that cast for 2 weeks. Removed that and just got my 3rd cast. He pushed the foot all the way back as much as possible, maybe 20-30degrees and put a cast on. I feel a lot of pressure and its uncomfortable. I lost sleep last night and did a ton of research and cant find anything on the cast positions during achilles tendon nonsurgical treatment. Im a little worried that its being stretched too far back with this last cast. If anyone has had nonsurgical treatment plz tell me how the cast angles were applied especially the last cast. Any help is greatly appreciated.
0 likes, 29 replies
fat_mike dalezgt500
Posted
To be honest I've not come across this protocol, it's not to say it's wrong, but I were you I would get a second opinion. I would say it's normally 30-20 degrees for the first 3-4 weeks, then working towards 90 degrees either in another cast or a boot with wedges.
2 weeks from a rupture and you're on a 90 degree cast is quite aggressive.
dalezgt500 fat_mike
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anne03248 dalezgt500
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On week 2 I was getting cramps and pain so rang the plaster room. Went back to check for blood clots then replastered, think my leg had just swollen so much! When they repositioned at 6 weeks I thought it was going to snap but it was fine just very painful. If your really in so much pain ring them. If they are concerned they will have you back in to check it.
dalezgt500 anne03248
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asha64256 dalezgt500
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I think if u are feeling the pressure u should get it checked out. Every doctor has their way of treatment. I had surgery and intially the pressure was unbelievable but i was placed in the ballerina position. Now that the cast is off 6 weeks later im trying the air boot as to say. I cant get my heel down yet feels like the repaired tendon is pulling me back to the way it was repaired. I know how frustrating the cast is but u have to hang in there. I too just wanted the thing off. Get yr leg checked out to make sure what u feeling is normal. This terrible experience is new to all of us and each one experiences different discomforts. By sharing we get to know what its about and glad i found this forum. Wishing u a speedy recovery.
dalezgt500 asha64256
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I'll call him asap and let him know (gotta wait till tuesday when he gets back from holiday weekend). I did a lot of research and he has great reviews and is in the top ranked in my area. I was concerned but i think he knows what he's doing. I dont have insurance so i never got a mri or ultrasound. I only got a xray at the e.r.....which only shows bone. Im thinking he postioned it far back because of my type of injury. Ive been doing a ton of research and after my rupture i had very little swelling or bruising. It was a gap at tendon area tho. After my 1st cast within a week i stopped using crutches and could walk on it. Its hard to walk on it now tho because of the position. If i could go back i would of tried to get a boot. Im trying to find one for sale now because im sure he will have me in one after my cast is removed.
jjktmk14 dalezgt500
Posted
My advice is ditch the cast and ask for moonboot. I have had moonboot since day one and I am just over 6 weeks. I am walking with and without boot, may not be walking at 100% but I'm walking. Been going to private and hospital physio to get things moving and they are both very impressed by my progress, to the point where the young girl Megan at the private physio is using me for her case study for uni 😜
You will find that the moonboot is a lot more comfortable and you can take off when resting and it is just a lot better for you mentally in my opinion.
You will find a lot of different opinions on here which are great as what works for one does not for the other but that just sounds like too long to be in a a cast and not having your foot moving yet.
Let us know how you get on
dalezgt500 jjktmk14
Posted
Ive been on the net for endless hours and it sounds like the boot is the way to go, im thinking i might cut the cast off myself and where a boot as soon as i can find one. I dont have insurance so that sucks bad but im thinking I'll do 1 treatment of physical therapy and then do the rest myself. If i do go that route what would u reccomend as far as the angle on the boot and when to walk with and without it?
jjktmk14 dalezgt500
Posted
I have a vacoped moonboot. It has a little key type thing that you use to reposition the degrees of angle. It is one of the best ones out there. Both the physio's I have haven't seen one yet but have heard about it so I'm teaching them all about it. Just google it to find out more about them. They ain't the cheapest. About $300 here in Austraila but an absolute gem of a boot. The air cast inset I only used the first week or so while foot was swollen but now I never use it. It has little beads inside the liner as well and just occasionally have to move them about to get to sit evenly. Let me know if you need any more help with it.
jjktmk14
Posted
It has many different degrees to adjust foot and I have moved mine every week by 5*. It is also hinged so as I started to walk the hinge bit would be able to be set to move or stay stationary. Sorry bit hard to explain but I'm sure there is video out there that will do a much better job.
I am at 0* now with the hinge set to 30* so that allows my foot to flex down but not up past 90*. That's when I wear the boot lol
Physio has said the I will be out of boot in another 2 weeks completely anyway.
Where are you located ? Maybe it might be cheaper where u live.
dalezgt500 jjktmk14
Posted
Im in michigan usa. I'll look into that. Im really debating on cutting my cast off 2morrow. I cant even sleep im in so much discomfort. The angle of my foot is well past 90° i honestly dont think it should be set back so far. And i only just began week 4... that boot sounds absolutey perfect. I looked for ones like it for sale in my area and a couple ppl have them listed. Im going to call them tomorrow afternoon .its late here. About midnight right now.
jjktmk14 dalezgt500
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Yep cut the sucker off if you can't sleep and are in that much discomfort it not good for you to be in that state. This is hard enough as it is without being like that.
Hopefully it works for you as it has for me.
dalezgt500 jjktmk14
Posted
I would cut it off right now with my dremel tool but its loud and dont want to wake everyone up so I'll just deal with it tonight. But tomorrow, its coming off. It doesnt feel right and i have to go with my gut instincts. I'll call them ppl with the boots listed and get one tomorrow as well. Thank you for sharing your expierence and i hope u a very good recovery! I dont like going against what doctors do or say but they arent always right. And he almost didnt put a cast on. He said it was looking very good, only after i said it feels very weak did he then proceed to put the cast on....i shouldve asked for the boot. If i had medical insurance i think things would have been different.
jjktmk14 dalezgt500
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Yeah I think ou know your own body too, you will feel when it's right and when it feels strong. Going with your gut is a great decision.
Hope things feel better tomorrow for you. Take some pain killers or sleeping tablets to get you through tonight. Tomorrow can't come quick enough for you.
dalezgt500
Posted
My friend had a nice aircast. I got that this morning and cut my cast off using a dremel cutting tool then the rest with sizzors. It feels so much better now! I tried to move my foot when i got the cast off. I could move it a little bit up and down but not much. I was afraid to try to move it more. It just didnt feel like i had much strength in it and i didnt want to push it too much. Im going to schedule a physical therapy session next week. I feel 100percent better with it in the aircast. Its set at a 90° angle. And i can walk on it. I just hope i did the righy thing. My guy feeling told me this is the right way to go. So we'll see how it goes...
jjktmk14 dalezgt500
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I'm sure you will feel much better now, every day you will get more movement and just a little bit every day will help. My recovery has just been with my physio since week 4 so with their help you will be fine. I bet you feel 100% now you got that cast off
dalezgt500 jjktmk14
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dalezgt500 jjktmk14
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jjktmk14 dalezgt500
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When I first took mine off too sleep I made a little fort with two small cushions pushed up under the blankets to keep the weight of the blankets of my foot and also because hubby was paronoid of hitting it in his sleep. Did that for a couple of weeks until didn't need too.