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9 Weeks Post Achilles Tendon Surgery Question

Posted , 5 users are following.

chris90457
chris90457

I had a complete tendon rupture and surgical repair. Foot was cast at 90 degree angle so I haven't had to do stretching. I am now in a boot, 9 weeks post operation. I will have the boot on another two weeks at least. I have been walking with crutches for two weeks. Have been having a lot of pain in my foot, almost like the whole bottom of my foot is bruised and for the past few days I am now having pain in my heel, close to the tendon repair and it tends to shoot up the tendon. Is this normal when you first star walking with crutches. The dr was hoping to get me in a shoe in two weeks before t I have yet to be able to walk more than 20 steps without crutches and I wouldn't call it walking, more like hobbling.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Heck630
    Heck630 chris90457

    Posted

    6 months post rupture here. I was started on therapy at 3 weeks after surgery and out of boot and driving at 6 weeks. I guess every surgery is different just like every surgeon performs it differently. Pain and swelling common more so swelling than pain but mostly was heel and told this is plantar fascitis which is common. 
    • chris90457
      chris90457 Heck630

      Posted

      Wow, that's so fast. Gives me hope. I am just so impatient and since I had a blood clot I was set back a few weeks. I haven't started physical therapy yet so I get really nervous about every pain. My dr gave me exercises to do at home until I come back for the next visit. Was just curious if others experienced this type of pain when starting to put weight on it again. The pain in the back of the heel worries me the most but it is south of the repair so I don't know what it means. Maybe it is just the incision healing or scar tissue breaking up?

    • Heck630
      Heck630 chris90457

      Posted

      Therapy helps the scar tissue but heel pain is kind of common as I dealt with it when first walking. Some of it may be swelling though so ice as much as you can especially since you're just starting to get back on your feet. Sports and the mental hurdle is next for me. So goodluck and push it no pain no gain so long as you don't reinjure.

  • Rob9700
    Rob9700 chris90457

    Posted

    Hey Chris,

    Sorry to hear about your injury and discomfort. I had a similar experience towards the last council le weeks in the boot. Felt like I was walking on a marble, and I did have some "Shooters" (shots of pain that were pretty intense but ably lasted a couple seconds). Both subsided slowly over time.

    Don't know why I had that marble sensation exactly. My physical therapist suggested that after the foot was immobilized for nearly three months, the little muscles, ten tons, and ligaments in the foot were easily irritated. As for the shooters, the nerve that provides sensation to that part of the foot also gets irritated and sometimes spasms as it recovers resulting in shooters, especially near the surgical area.

    If your case is similar to mine, you will find that these both subside with time. Walking seems help accelerate the healing, ironically.

    I had to get some different shoes, too. The heel and Achilles area of the surgical foot remained swollen for several months after I got out of the boot. My heel was thicker and my shoes did not fit properly anymore. Even now, 7 months post op, I have some numbness, rarely shooters, but wear my shoes a half size larger than before the surgery.

    Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

    • chris90457
      chris90457 Rob9700

      Posted

      Thanks for the well wishes. Given the blood clot and pain, my main goal is to just stay positive. The progress is slow. I am off the scooter which is an achievement but crutches are a torture all their own and these new pain sensations are nerve wrecking. I know I will be walking again but it can't get here soon enough. Reading the post in these forums really helps.

  • linda61391
    linda61391 chris90457

    Posted

    Hi Chris, Sorry to hear that it's early days But I had mine done last August end I get that shooting pain up from the bottom of the heal I am fineding it a reall struggle the gym is so knocking I wonder if it's just me as I always feel So tired on one crutch can't go with out it as I would fall right now I had. Big opp on that foot as well ,, hope you feel better soon Linda 😀

  • anna77590
    anna77590 chris90457

    Posted

    Hi everyone.. New to this sorry! Im 5 weeks post achilles complete rupture reconstructive surgery tomorrow! Just coming out my cast all being well going into a boot (possibly another cast!) and im terrified! Because my tendon went whilst I was crossing the road I'm scared its going to go again or my other one will go too.. It went so easily before!! How do get past that fear? Any tips gratefully received! Had issues for 4 years previous tendinitis etc. I also have early oeasteoarthritis due to hypermobility and fybromyalgia. Lost nearly all AT due to degenerative and scarred tendon so had 2 tendon grafts.. Plates.. Pins etc. Made s good job lol! I am on crutches and now they are causing issues of their own! Can't begin to imagine putting my foot down again! Missing walking the dogs and gym (and even vacuuming!!) so much!! Still supposed to be elevated 20 hrs a day.. Going stir crazy!! Hard to explain to people how it feels physically and mentally that haven't been there! Any advice and warnings of what's to come would be great. TIA. Best wishes to all of you.

    Anna

    • Rob9700
      Rob9700 anna77590

      Posted

      Hello,Anna,

      You certainly have nothing to be sorry about!  WE are sorry that you have sustained this injury. Yes, the fear is hard to get through. My best advice, for what it is worth, is spend some time talking to the doc and--maybe more importantly--to your physical therapist.

      As for crutches, I found that the "conventional" crutches are really tough--irritate the side fo the chest, had inside fo the arm; almost unbearable after a few days.  Lots of folks here (including me) found a knee scooter to be really helpful for getting around. Mine had a basket so I could actually take something (laundry or beer, for example) from one room to the other.

      I also found some crutchescalled mobilegs; you can find them online and see the videos. AWESOME!  Much more ergonomic than conventional, the hand position is more neutral and natural, and the part that stabilizes it between the side of the upper torso and the upper arm is on a swivel!  Last I looked, they were about $135 USD, but worth every penny.

      You are not alone in coping with fear and anxiety about reinjury or recovery. I think most of us have felt that to some degree at some point in the process. Turns out that tendon rupture is a pretty serious injury that cannot be taken lightly.  Hope you can find both comfort and relief, and I wish you a smooth medical procedure as well as speedy and complete recovery. Take care.  

    • anna77590
      anna77590 Rob9700

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your answer and all the very useful information.. It is gratefully received and I will look into the aids you have recommended. I do need to speak to Dr again I think.. Just to put my mind at ease!

      Thanks again

      Anna

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