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Achilles rupture close to the calf - any advice?

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chris13067
chris13067

Hi all. I ruptured my achilles tendon on 16th December (playing squash) and was expecting to undergo surgery but the consultant has advised against it due to the close proximity to the calf muscle, says it would be like stitching cooked spaghetti. I had a half-cast for the first week and since have had a "boot" which is still non weight bearing at the moment. The position of my rupture weems to be quite rare and I haven't seen anyone recalling details of a similar injury. I am booked for my next appointment on 11th Jan when I should start the partial weight bearing/wedge removal process. I have heard I may get a better blood supply to this part of the don't know tendon which is encouraging but I don't know if that will result in a shorter recovery period? The worst part for me so far is not being active and not being able to drive, it's my right leg and I drive an manual. I can't bear the thought of relying on lifts for another 10 weeks! If anyone else has suffered a "higher" rupture and has any experiences to share it would be much appreciated.biggrin

Oh, I'm 53 by the way but was very active prior to the injury, running and cycling/mountain biking especially. I'd only just started playing squash again a couple of weeks before the injury after a 5 year lay off.  I used to play quite a lot and never suffered any injuries.

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  • joanna987654321
    joanna987654321 chris13067

    Posted

    Hiya just reading about your rupture and was just wondering if you had suffered a tear to your muscle when you ruptured your Achilles ?

    I mention this because I broke mine on the day after my 40th birthday, apparently life really does go downhill smile great present, can't even boast that I was doing anything athletic at the time as I was just running up a couple of concrete steps when I felt like I had been shot in the ankle. I can remember looking around to see if I had tripped over a chain link fence or something, such a bizarre feeling.

    I too was half plastered for a week to allow the swelling to subside and the registrar said they thought I had torn my muscle due to a bleed near the calf site. They then plastered it twice for 4 week intervals and after that, when they were happy I wore the boot with the wedges for another 2 months stretching out the tendon as it grew.

    I went to physio and they gave me exercises, ultra sound treatment (due to the AT growing back thicker) and also deep tissue massage, I then had the exercises to follow, trampoline and balance board etc the problem was I couldn't raise to a tip toe without lifting both heels, holding a wall and using my good left foot to push up. Physio said I wasn't doing enough and I was unhappy with their diagnosis so went back to my consultant.

    He sent me for an ultrasound and a nerve damage test and concluded that the muscle on the inside of my calf had unfortunately not been able to mend due to nerve damage and therefore I would not be able to raise to tip toe on that foot again. I also have a numb patch on the heel which again is due to the nerve.

    My consultant told me when I ruptured the Achilles at first that it was worse than a bone break, I would now most definitely agree, such a silly injury yet so debilitating and still 4 years on I sometimes forget I can't tip toe when trying to reach for something or nearly fall 'a over t' whilst going to run (not good when playing a game of rounders after a drink smile )

    I hope though your tip toe improves, but if you feel you are following all the physio and still find its not working then definitely ask them to check your nerves for damage as it will save you a lot of worry and time.

    Good luck !

    Joanna

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud joanna987654321

      Posted

      Ahhhhh.. I don't like the sound of that. 14 month down and I too have numbness of the heel and inability to toe stand. I've been going to a new (NHS) physio again and he's given me a slightly different set of extensions and exercises, and it does seem to be strengthening the calf, and improving my walking gait; I wouldnt mind not tip toeing on one foot, but the walking needs to be easier.. but it is slow going...

       

  • joanna987654321
    joanna987654321 chris13067

    Posted

    Oh and I forgot to mention... One the worse things is trying to get a welly boot etc on and off, due to not having the tip toe reflex it's almost impossible ! Not to mention the cramp you get in your leg whilst overextending your muscle in the calf ! Boo hop xxx
    • chris13067
      chris13067 joanna987654321

      Posted

      Hi Joanna

      Thanks for the comments and advice. I can't tip toe at the moment but do feel I'm already closer than I was a week ago. I can get onto tip toe from a seated position whilst pushing down on my knee so I think it's just a case of getting my calf working better. I don't think I tore the calf as such but the rupture was close to the calf, where the tendon is more like muscle than the lower bony part. Did you go to an NHS physio or a private one? My private guy is a sport specialist and certainly seemed to think I should regain full strength on the basis of my initial session. He even reckons I don't necessarily need to rule out playing squash again! I have been doing short sessions on my turbo trainer and can now partially tense my calf muscle, only a bit but that is enouraging, a week ago it was like a wobbly jelly! I wore wellies for the first time on sunday to cut my grass and I did have a little difficulty but did manage it!

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud chris13067

      Posted

      've been told by both physios what a nasty injury it is... and for me just a stumble walking across a field
  • joanna987654321
    joanna987654321 chris13067

    Posted

    Hope you are both doing well yes I think our ballet dancing days may be over X

    I can raise to tip toe sitting down, this is because you are using a different set of muscles and nerves with no real body weight bearing - I can also raise the heel literally an inch off the ground (though I think this is more a case of having good balance and being able to push myself forward as oppose to lifting my foot in a controlled way, just watch if you are still struggling in a month or so with little progress that you get your nerves checked - unfortunately by the time they knew what was causing mine it was too late to reverse it.

    The numbness is annoying as it causes a strange tingling sensation sometimes and a dull ache usually when trying to sleep though your brain learns to forget about it over time - if that helps smile

    Good luck and have great days !

  • richard27768
    richard27768 chris13067

    Posted

    Hi Chris - happy to answer any questions on my protocol/outcomes. My details 51yrs, 24mths from rupture, non-surgical, very high rupture mid calf -?total screaming agony as there was a big tearing of Achilles and nerve rich muscle. Into road biking and squash. Did and still do intensive work on the calf. Back doing lots of sports. Leg/muscle/push-off not the same as before and never will be. Virtually no one is. Those that never exercise hard never fully test their post rupture performance and so don't know what it is. I consider myself in the top 15% of recovery performance. 50% people 2 years out can't do 5 leg toe raises. I can easily do this ie 30-40, but my calf muscle has 80% of the strength of my right one and 75% endurance. Still Can run/sprint hard, bike 75miles, play squash for up to 40mins despite the power shortfalls. BTW I was jogging at 12 weeks and running at 16 weeks. Leg aches when I exercise - not pain. This only started after the 18mth mark - quit odd. Muscle/Achilles feels solid/fully healed so I don't fret about a future injury.
    • chris13067
      chris13067 richard27768

      Posted

      Hi Richard. Thanks for sharing your story, very interesting hearing from someone of a similar age and with similar activity levels and the same injury! According to my physio I am doing very well to be where I am by this stage. I am cycling again, just gradually building up the miles bit by bit, up to around 30-35 miles so far with only moderate hills so as not to put too much strain by having to stand whilst pedalling. I tend to do most of my calf exercises going up and down the stairs at work doing various stretches and strength work as suggested by my physio. I asked on Wednesday at my last session if I could start running and he advised against it but I do feel like I could do some jogging. So far though I've stuck rigidly to his advice. Leg toes raises are a bit of a struggle but getting easier all the time, a few weeks ago it felt like my heel was stuck to the floor with super glue! I can run up stairs two at a time using just the front third of my foot and can walk around on tip toe now and it's only 22 weeks since I ruptured. So overall I think I'm behind where you were but doing ok. I can see how I may never recover my "push off" power, my consultant told me I probably never would but the physio says it is possible if I keep doing the right things and keep pushing the boundaries bit by bit. I get an ache like you when I do strenuous activity, when I cycle I tend to get an ache at the front of my ankle which is a bit weird but if I stop for a couple of minutes and stretch a bit it seems to subside for a few miles. My achilles is still very thick compared to my good one, must be more than twice as thick but again the physio says this is normal and could take up to a couple of years to get down to more normal thickness. Anyway, thanks again for sharing your experiences!
    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud chris13067

      Posted

      Thanks for those posts; sort of comforting to know that recovery is possible! Any tips for a 66 year old, 18 months in, just about able totoe stand again. Not an athlete but walking still not quite right; both hamstrings and calf muscles seem tighter than before; much gentle stretching needed to ease walking.
    • richard27768
      richard27768 chris13067

      Posted

      Hi Chris - how are you progressing. I am 30 months on now and still getting marginal improvements.
    • chris13067
      chris13067 richard27768

      Posted

      Hi Richard

      I'm doing well thanks! I'm not doing as much exercise as before but that's sure to work rather than any limitations from my injury. I'm 11 months in now and can run and cycle with no ill effects. I feel like I've recovered some of the bounce i never thought i would buy the tendon is still very thick compared to the other one. I haven't played squash since but feel like i could. I can't tense my calf like i used to but it isn't noticeably skinny compared to the other one so overall I'm really happy with my recovery! Glad to see you still getting improvements after so long, gives me hope of an even better recovery! Thanks for the update. Chris

  • denise85776
    denise85776 chris13067

    Posted

    Hi  I managed to tear my calf muscle as well as two partial  tendon tears in two dif places and from dif directions. My injury was 26 nov 15.  I had non weight bearing cast for a month then some partial touch down weight bearing in boot due to the angle.  I am able to stand on my toes but still experience a bit of discomfort with walking any great distance.  I do though have a plate and pins in the same ankle which has had a part to play in returning mobility. Also just getting over a sore back apparently  caused through my limpy walking when i gave up the crutches a while back.    This week walking around no one would guess i had an injury :-).  physio is deffinitely the key and making sure you do the exercises.  I didnt drive for a long time and my lucky husband spent many a time sitting waiting on me at appointments.  Im glad to be back behind the wheel whilst he worried about the re-introduced shopping excusions lol.    Hope everyone is making progress.  
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