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Archilles Injury 14yr old - recovery concerns

Posted , 6 users are following.

tracy72470
tracy72470

My daughter who is 14 sliced 75% of her archilles on a screen door. She is almost a month post op now. 10 days in a half cast, 2 weeks in plaster and now 3 weeks in a boot. She is super fit and was dancing 20 hours a week at an advanced level. She is extremely frustrated at noy being able to weight bear on her foot and worried she may not be able to dance again. 

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • tim50stroud
    tim50stroud tracy72470

    Posted

    If theres one thing I've learnt about kids is they recover in an incredibly quick and effective way; I'm sure she'll be back bouncing before I am (65 yr )!

    My physiotherapist had a similar accident, and although much older has made a full recovery, although its taken her a couple of years. Very best of luck!

    • tracy72470
      tracy72470 tim50stroud

      Posted

      Thankyou, just returned from another visit to the hospital as she had numbness in her foot. They suspect the boot was too tight. Hoping she will be walking in 3-4 weeks time and then intensive physio.
  • jenny46484
    jenny46484 tracy72470

    Posted

    The worst thing in the world is the non weight bearing. I had a debridement of the Achilles done on Feb 13th from an old injury but unfortunately on 11th March managed to snap the whole repaired Achilles. So I'm 2 weeks in a cast with another 2 weeks to go total NWB then into a boot for 6 weeks. I'm living downstairs on the sofa and trying so hard to keep positive but when people tell you your being lazy, but do people know how hard it is to just get around on crutches. Your daughter bless her has the agility to get about easier so can totally understand her frustration. Tell her though if she doesn't look after it now when she goes back dancing it will be an injury waiting to happen if she isn't carwful now. Get well soon xxx
  • chris26649
    chris26649 tracy72470

    Posted

    Hello there

    Well my situation is as far from your unfortunate daughter as it can be.  I ruptured mine 'normally' playing table tennis 16 days ago.  Didn't have surgery but am in the 'moon boot'.  For my age (65) I am fairly fit in that I have played sport all my life and my jobs have all been physical.  However, from the advice I have been given by the hospital and from searching the internet and speaking to people on this forum the most common theme is to accept the fact that it will be a long time before 100% fitness and movement are regained.  Your daughter does have age and fitness on her side so the only advice I would give is not to waste that advantage and try to rush back too soon.  Very frustrating I know but she does have her whole life ahead whereas I am getting towards the other end.  Best wishes to you both

    • tracy72470
      tracy72470 chris26649

      Posted

      Hi Chris, we've been told 3 to 6 months but I think it will be longer for her to get back into pointe shoes for ballet, arcobatics and tap. I think she's keen to start physio so she can move it a bit more. I think if she had done it on the dance floor it would have been a bit easier to accept, but it was such a freak accident.
    • chris26649
      chris26649 tracy72470

      Posted

      Hi Tracy,

      I am no expert on dance (except in the 60's and 70's!) but I would assume there is a tremendous amount of pressure on the tendons particularly for ballet and acrobatics.  There is a lot of advice out there but you have to accept that the medical people are the experts and the impression I get from my limited experience in this situation is that they will try to tailor recovery advice in response to how the patient is both acting on their advice and what motivation is apparent.  My goal is to prove the doubters around me that I can both work and play sport again.  I guess your daughter's motivation is a whole lot more unlimited but I guess from what you say she will hang in there and give it her best shot.  It sure is a lot worse than recovering from a break - of which I've had a few over the years but staying focused and occupied will go a long way to achieving set goals.  Once again good luck, be patient and keep the faith

  • mary_70540
    mary_70540 tracy72470

    Posted

    She needs to do every thing the doctors and physio say ,its a very long process ,and at times drives you crazy ,she has age and fitness on her side so as long as she doesn't rush things I recon she will get back to full health ,patience at the age 14 can be hard lol ,good luck with her recovery

    • mary_70540
      mary_70540

      Posted

      Sorry Chris I didn't see your post ,I basically gave same advice lol

    • tracy72470
      tracy72470 mary_70540

      Posted

      Yes patience is very hard at 14.!! She's had almost a month off school but will go back to soon.
  • tracy72470
    tracy72470

    Posted

    Thanks everyone. The hardest part by far is the no weight bearing, but also the conflicting treatments and time frames from doctors. We've been told 3 to 6 months. She was extremely lucky to not go all the way through the archilles and they have said this will help her revovery. Has anyone else had any pain or numbness in the lower part of the heel when they went into a boot? Not the scar tissue.

    We are taking her to sydney in a few weeks as they have specialist physios and doctors for dance related injuries so hopefully we will find out a bit more. She's one tough little girl. Not sure I would handle it as well as she has.

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud tracy72470

      Posted

      Not just with this sort of injusry, but theres seldom a simple problem-solution to medical issues.. thats why I'm an engineer not a doctor; its much simpler. Just a simple partial rupture here, no operation. 7 months down the line and i still have some numbness in the heel, getting better very very slowly. Told its nerve damage which just takes time to get better. Weak calf muslcle; again told that 1 week of inactivity takes 6 weeks to recover strength so 9 weeks in the boot......
  • tracy72470
    tracy72470

    Posted

    My daughter is now 8 weeks into her recovery and walking in the boot with one crutch. She's had a half plaster cast for 2 weeks, a full cast for 2 weeks and the boot (no weight bearing) for 4 weeks. She will now have the boot for another 6 weeks and start physio, swimming and pilates. She's been told she won't be back to full dancing until the end of the year, which she's devestated about, but knows she can't rush her revovery. They are saying her archilles has knitted back together now but her brain thinks her leg is missing so she'll need to build up all the muscles again in that leg. Such a frustrating injury. Has anyone experienced pain in the top of their foot?

    Hope everyone is doing well.

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