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Achilles tendon rupture

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margaret_81513
margaret_81513

I ruptured my Achilles tendon on my left foot which I was placed straight away with a plaster cast then after a few weeks put in a boot with wedges which were taken out one at a time over a period of time. Eventually the tendon knitted back together and had physio. I was getting a feeling like my left leg wasn't in sync with my right one when walking. After a period of 3 years of not getting anywhere with my Dr, I eventually saw another Dr who got me an appt to see a foot specialist at the hospital. On my description he said I will need to operate to cut the Achilles tendon shorter and do an fhl transfer. I agreed to the operation but asked him not to do the fhl transfer as it was already feeling loose under my foot and I was concerned this could make things worse. After the operation he told me he did the fhl transfer. 6 months later and with a lot of physio my Achilles tendon feels much better but when walking my foot feels like it is dragging behind my other one worse than before. Has anyone else had this experience? Also i still cant heel raise on that leg. What has made the difference with anyone that can now do heel raises?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 margaret_81513

    Posted

    I'm 10 months post op and I still have weakness.  I can do very small heel lifts.  I have been told it may take up to 18 months for all of the strength to come back.  Make sure you are also strengthening your calf muscle as well. I'm running but my speed is not back because of strength to push off.

    • margaret_81513
      margaret_81513 karen_04673

      Posted

      Hi Karen has the physio said to you that it is the calf muscle that over a period of time will give you the push off again?
  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 margaret_81513

    Posted

    Yes, because that where the power comes from, the achilles is just the support.  My surgery involved not only the repair (I did not rupture mine, I just had years of stress on it, scar tissue, pain) but he also cut the calf muscle in order to lengthen it to take some of the pressure off of the achilles.  
    • margaret_81513
      margaret_81513 karen_04673

      Posted

      Thanks for that as my physio has discharged me and I have been left with this loose feeling because of the not being able to push up when walking. So I will have to up my game on the calf muscle exercises. What ones were you given? Has your physio discharged you? By the way do you have this feeling when you ate walking?
  • karen_04673
    karen_04673 margaret_81513

    Posted

    I limped for several months but I no longer feel weakness when walking and don't limp.  I am no longer in physio but am still building strength.  I was assigned to do lunges to the front and lunges to each side to help with the push off motion, I also did balance on a bosu ball and squats.  Slow walking on the treadmill really emphasizing on the heel toe walk pattern.  Heel lifts and stretching as well.

    • margaret_81513
      margaret_81513 karen_04673

      Posted

      Thanks Karen that has really helped me to understand and to do those exercises and hopefully get rid of the looseness in walking as it has been really depressing me thstbis might have to live with it but hopefully now it will get stronger. Speedy recovery.
    • karen_04673
      karen_04673 margaret_81513

      Posted

      I completely understand the depression issue.  I am a marathon runner and working my way back.  There were some really tough days but now I look back and can't believe how far I've come.  I probably won't run like I used to, but I'm at least out there and getting the exercise I enjoy so much.  Patience...patience is key.

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