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Achilles Rupture from start to finish

Posted , 2 users are following.

neil64709
neil64709

Hi All,

Ruptured my Achilles playing tennis on March 7th. Otherwise I am in pretty good shape and am 53 years old. I do question my sanity from time to time.... 

Was hoping it was a partial tear, but I showed no sign of recovery after 3 days. Off to the ankle specialist, who did'nt even need an xray or MRI to determine damage. Complete rupture, surgery scheduled for 16th May at 7.30 pm. They say I will leave hospital by about 12pm same day. Thats good because a hospital brings as much fun as the dentist and the cemetary.

I must say that 5 days after the accident, I don't have much pain or swelling in my leg. It's a little uncomfortable but not sore. After the consultation, when I knew I was heading for surgery, I got crutches straight away. Get used to them early, and get your confidence, before you really need them.

I think that I'll awake from the OP with a cast on my foot that will come off in 2 weeks. Then I'll get an OPED boot for 4 weeks, where the angle of the achilles is increased every week. Hopefully they start minor physio at this time as well.

There seems to be an advanced recovery/physio process here (in South Africa), so I'll keep everyone posted as I go.

I plan on doing a lot of water aerobics after 6 or 7 weeks.

Good luck to everyone,

Neil.

 

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 neil64709

    Posted

    Good luck with your surgery!

    Karen

    • neil64709
      neil64709 karen_04673

      Posted

      Hi Karen,

      Thanks for your reply.

      Surgery done this morning.

      Admission at 6.30am, and on the slab (operating table) at 7.30am.

      Lights out quickly, and woke in post op theatre, at about 9am.

      Felt very good, a little drowsy. On the pain scale maybe 2 out of 10,

      with no sore/scratchy pos op throat.

      Was there for 25 minutes, then back to General ward.

      I had asked the doc pre op if the physio could see me early,

      either late morning or early afternoon, rather than late afternoon.

      Physio popped in at 10.30 or so.

      Went through about 6 exercises for me to do while in backslab.

      Wanted to check I could get around on my crutches, putting no weight on left leg.

      Got off the bed, went to pee and came back no problem.

      Didn't wash my hands 😳

      She said I was good to go and could be discharged.

      filled out yge papers and got my medicines at the dispensary.

      XARELTO 14 tabs 10mg

      CELEBRe 10 tabs Epping

      SYNALEVE 30 tabs which seems like overkill.

      If I have one huge tip here. If you are going to need crutches post op,

      get them well before the op and get used to them.

      It really helps to be comfortable on them, and the confidence you get from early practice takes a lot of tension out later.

      Day at home, foot up on 4 big pillows.

      No weight on it at all. 5.36pm now and still minimal pain.

      I asked the doc to take a pic of the incision, and I'll post it when I find my other phone.

  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 neil64709

    Posted

    You seem to be doing very well!  I was groggy for most of the day.  It will be interesting to compare your experiences with recovery in South Africa and here in the U.S.  My script was only for hydrocodone which I took for a couple of days and then went to ibuprophen.  Two weeks in a 1/2 fiberglass cast, followed by walking boot but weight on foot for about two weeks.  Take care!
    • neil64709
      neil64709 karen_04673

      Posted

      Second day , no pain, I took the blood thiner with breakfast. Left the pian killer and off the menu, sitting at computer with leg up on desk with pillow. feel fine, just wish I could be more proactive in the healing process.
  • neil64709
    neil64709

    Posted

    So almost two weeks in soft cast thankfully coming to an end. See do on 30th May for upgrade into boot for 4 weeks.

    Just two things I have found.

    Toes and foot feels really heavy after being on crutches for a few minutes.

    Keep waking in middle of night with burning foot. After elevating foot and lying on back, this burning goes away.

    Been a pretty long 2 weeks but something's I picked up.

    Try and have your big meal of the day in the early or mid afternoon.

    You feel much better in the evening's.

    If you can, plan a few things before your op. A nice book or two, some dvd's ,

    and get some easy meals in the house. These 1st 2 weeks will try your patience !

  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 neil64709

    Posted

    I watched a lot of Netflix and recorded programs those first two weeks!

    Karen

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