Concerned about my treatment.

Hi, Mark.

I have not heard about being weight bearing in the early stages.  I'll give you my experience over the past 7 months to see how it compares to the UK.

I'm in Canada.  I tore my Achilles playing touch rugby with friends.  I'm 45, I was in pretty good shape when I had a full rupture in June 2016.  Knowing what I know now, there are a couple of things I'd do differently.

I went to one of the smaller hospitals as their ER had better wait times, but no fracture clinic.  The ER doctor did the Thomson test, told me it was a full rupture and put my foot in a cast and scheduled me to meet with an orthopod  1 week later.  No MRI, no ultrasound.  The cast the ER doctor put on was not at the right angle, the Fracture Clinic tech told me that on my visit and put a new one on at the proper angle.

I've played sports and trained for years.  Sports like basketball, tennis, kickboxing, etc. have been hard on my legs and joints.  However, I've never had anything more than some serious sprains.

I went into the walking boot after 2 weeks and went the non-surgical approach, taking the advice of the specialist.  I used crutches as much as I could and only took a few days off work, which was a mistake.  I did not have my foot elevated enough at work, at home I would put a bit of weight on my foot to get food, use the washroom, etc.  I don't think I did much damage or did much differently then most folks, but as a father of 2 young kids, it is impossible to not try to do what you can despite being limited.

I finished the walking boot regimen after 12 weeks. It never felt right afterwards, I had constant pain and could not rid myself of the limp after 2 months of physio and walking.  It was great to get back to being out and about, but I had concerns about being able to exercise as I used to.

In December, my Achilles re-ruptured going up the stairs.  I knew it as soon as it happened.  I had physio scheduled for the following morning, a quick Thomson test confirmed another tear, but to what extent...back to the Fracture Clinic.  I brought my walking boot with me and put the wedges back in and wore it for a week before seeing the orthopod again.  

His initial recommendation was back to the walking boot.  Again, no MRI or ultrasound to look at the health of my leg.  I pushed for the MRI.  I was told it could be up to a month to get it.  I said I'd wait.  I got in the next day due to a cancellation and the ends of the tendon were so far apart, the non-surgical approach could not work and there was significant scar tissue on the tendon from years of sports.  Had I had an MRI or ultrasound in June, I would have saved myself 7 months of unnecessary treatment.  But it is what it is, take the positives.

I had surgery January 17th.  I'm staying off work for several weeks, keeping my foot up as much as possible.  I won't be "semi" weight-bearing until week 5 or so.  Full weight on week 7 or 8, if I recall correctly.  Physio for months afterwards.

I have a knee scooter for getting around the house, which is much better than crutches.  I'm taking vitamin C daily to help with the healing process, along with multivitamins and drinking a lot of water.  Once I get the cast off and am back inn the boot, I'm going to continue using hot and cold water soaks to improve the circulation in my foot.  This was an excellent suggestion by my physiotherapist.

With both ruptures, I was in a cast for 2 weeks, then into the walking boot.  But you are not to be walking at all per my regimen.  Crutches and no weight on the foot whatsoever.  

If you can stay off work, I would do so.  I asked nurses and the doctors in the ortho unit what I should do because I have a hard time staying still.  Each person there said with this injury, forget about work and heal.  I can take the time off as I have sick time, long term disability insurance, etc. 

This forum has helped me get in touch with others and their experiences.

Good luck to you.

 

Hi Mark

My total rupture was 25 September. Maybe my treatment is very different as I had surgery 14 October. Then 2 weeks in cast, no weight. Followed by 4 weeks in boot with weight, the position of the foot being reduced each week with wedges. The first week in the boot putting some weight on was very painful.

6-7 weeks in cast in one position sounds an awfully long time but that may be because your Achilles has to knit itself back together, whereas mine was repaired. There's no harm in referring back to the consultant for a double check.

Either way, I wish you a good recovery. Mine is taking a looong time!

Helen

Youre usually out of your cast earlier if you go the surgery route. The tendon has to be immobilized long enough to grow back together if you don't have surgery therefore you are in a cast much longer.

Hey, Mark. Sorry to hear about your injury. Seems that there are almost as many variations of treatment as there are injuries. Lots of variation, and I believe yours is on the very conservative side of the spectrum. The nature of the injury, level of fitness, age, and activity all play a role in the treatment plan. Physical therapy is a must as soon as feasible.

If you are concerned about the pace of treatment talk to the surgeon (Not sure who the consultant is or what role they play in the treatment plan).

Lots of others at this blog seem to have had similar conservative treatment plans to yours.

Best wishes for s complete recovery. Be patient; it is a slow go with some setbacks along the way.

Yes  I have had Achilles  stretched again 2time had Tendons moved okay docter in London said it would talk just outer a year had to casts boot now in trainer with crunchers still but not in doors still feel not great nitmare 😔😢

Hi Mark,

I ruptured my achilles last week playing football. Ive been placed into a cast for two weeks, go back for check up and then provided its healing, into another cast and then into a moon boot. No weight bearing for 6 weeks.

Did you feel any pain on your leg within the first week when you had the cast on? Ive had the cast on now for 6 days now and have quite a bit of pain the last 2 days. Particularly when im moving around on the crutches, pain eases when I lay back down and elevate my leg. Did you or anyone else here have similar pain?

Thanks

B