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Achilles Tendon - Surgical Route. My story.

Posted , 11 users are following.

Jordidude01
Jordidude01

Achilles Tendon - Surgical Route.

I ruptured my Achilles Tendon in May 2014 playing football.

I went to my GP after one week since football injury not realizing the damage I had actually done.

I was unable to lift of my tip toes which started to worry me and prompt me to call the GP.

During my GP Visit I was told to go to A&E right away, I was told by the nurse at Hospital I had a sprained ankle, this was the 1st week of June 2014. I asked for a scan but he declined.

I went to my GP the 1st week of July to see why my "sprained ankle" was feeling worse and painful. My GP did the Thompson test and explain something was seriously wrong and may be a Rupture in my Achilles Tendon and booked me in for an MRI scan at Warwick Hospital.

MRI Scan was booked in for a week later, (Mid July). MRI Scan showed full rupture between heel and calf muscle.

After Warwick Hospital decided to not contact me for a week I called in and they lost my paper work, then they lost more paper work after I returned forms. It was so bad I complained to the NHS.

Late August 2014 I was put into surgery for a date in September which I was unable to attend due to a Holiday I booked back in January 2014.

Surgery re-scheduled for 20th October 2014. Since operation I had been in a hard cast for 2 weeks, I was then in a fiberglass cast for a further 2 weeks.

I had the cast removed on the 19th November 2014 (4 weeks + 3 days)

I am now in an open boot that supports me as I can walk in this freely without crutches as i can fill with air pressure to support me. I am also able to take off during the night to sleep which is a massive bonus.

I will be taking this boot off on the 7th of January 2014 (7 weeks in total)

I have read and spoke to many people who have been on the same path to recovery as me. It seems many people have been given physio to do whilst in the boot and also they haven’t had the hard cast or open boot on for as long as me.

I am 24 years old I would think being younger than most people I should be the one having the boot on for a lot less time not the other way round as it seems.

I also wrote his so everyone who is going through the recovery of a Achillies Tendon (Surgery repair) can see what i have been through.

1 like, 80 replies

80 Replies

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  • mary_70540
    mary_70540 Jordidude01

    Posted

    When you had your hard cast on was your foot in pointed position I'm dreading having a cast like that ever again
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 mary_70540

      Posted

      Hi Mary, yes i was in a cast that pointed down so my tendon was able to heal at the least streched point. When i came out of the cast i was then placed in the boot that "re-streched" my tendon back to normal.
  • Jordidude01
    Jordidude01

    Posted

    Hello everyone,

    This could be my last post to conclude my recovery process. It has been a very tough 10 Months in recovery, especially the first 7 months. But today on my final checkup I have been given the all clear!

    Physio has been brilliant and my strength is almost back to normal, flexibility 100%.

    My one on one physio classes have now come to an end, but i have enrolled in the "lower limb" class for the next 4-5 weeks, Physiotherapist said if I would like to get back into running and sports in general this will be useful for me as it was not mandatory.

    The Doctor however has said I don’t need this classes and I’m good to go and start running, but must take it very easy so my leg gets used to it again, but I will take the advice of the physiotherapist.

    Due to not being diagnosed correctly I asked what the chances to getting a re-rupture would be, he told me 1% but taking into consideration of miss-diagnosed, it may be slightly higher but he assured me my leg is strong and in good condition.

    I said I still feel slight pain every now and then, he assured me this is normal and could continue for the next 12-18 months.

    I would like to thank every single person who has spoken to me on this forum and other forums through the tough and low times, reading other peoples advice and stories has gotten me through this. So once again big thanks to everyone.

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud Jordidude01

      Posted

      Thats great news!.... I suppose a re-rupture is always possible, even in the best regulated regimes; its a choice we all need to make; how much to not do things we enjoy in case something happens. Its good to be able to base it on some sort of probability though. 

      7 months here, and no pain, good movement but still hampered by a weak calf.... we WILL get there :-)

      I've recomended this site to my sister, who's recovering from a hip replacement, and she too is most impressed with the support and advice from complete lovely strangers!

    • janet01868
      janet01868 Jordidude01

      Posted

      Hi Jordidude I had reconstruction and tenon replacement back in November 6 weeks cast 7 weeks boot., rubbish NHS physio, I'm walking baldly using 1 crutch and now I have pain in the knee on the same leg making progress even worse, do you know if this a common problem? I'm please you are nearly there, have followed your progress on this forum.  Janet

       

    • Mason44
      Mason44 janet01868

      Posted

      Hi janet

      I had tendon transplant in november too and have been walking unaided since end of jan slight limp if I walk too fast and can hurt a bit if walk for too long other than that my scar has a dull pain most of the time but only the small part right on my ankle where there not much skin . Both physio and consultant were surprised I didnt have crutch but as no one told me to keep them I gave them back ! My doctor said it takes 12-18 months to get fully back to normal so might be worth trying to see ur consultant again for some reassurance and to check its all going the right way for you

      Good luck kate

    • janet01868
      janet01868 Mason44

      Posted

      Thanks for that Kate, I'm seeing a different NHS physio on Wed. so i'll see what she says, I'm really stiff around my ankles despite all the stretching I'm doing, just the knee that's worrying me now!!

       

  • Jordidude01
    Jordidude01

    Posted

    I just cant keep away it seems helping other people in my situation, but it is me that needs advice!

    I went for my first run on Monday since last January and I ran about 1.1/2 miles. When I finished and started cooling down I realized my ankles were sore, hurting and felt a "deep ach" hard to explain.

    my question to everyone is how was everyone else when they got back into running, did they feel pain or suffer a relapse I just don’t want to start the recovery process again by doing some damage, I decided to stop the running and going for long walks instead and building my leg muscle up in the gym. I will get on the phone to the doctor but I am curious to how everyone else has got on.

    • Mason44
      Mason44 Jordidude01

      Posted

      Hi havent ran yet but physio wants me to try before end of may! She said 3 months after out of moonboot should be enough she has suggested walk run walk etc and build it up so im interested too in other runners ideas I have a dull ache in back part of my ankle that still hurts and when I saw consaultant he seemed to think some pain was normal and it would take 12-18 months to be fully healed hope someone has a answer for u maybe phone ur phsyio for advice good luck
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 Mason44

      Posted

      Hi Mason, i waited to reply as i wanted to speak to my physiotherpist  in the lower limb class today. I told her of my run and pain i had in my ankles. She said your muscles and tendons are like in a state of shock by how much i tried to run. She had 1 mile is more than enough but this time instead of running the full mile, i shoud walk 2 mins/ run 30 sec, then after my muscles feel stronger, walk 1:30 / run 1 mile and so on. i need to take baby steps then hopefully in a months time i should be running a full mile with no problem.
    • Mason44
      Mason44 Jordidude01

      Posted

      Hi

      Def gunna do the walk run or should I say jog after all this time !! Hope it works for you I am not going to try till may to give leg longer to mend by then u should be running non stop :-) if u get time do keep me posted

      Good luck kate

  • Jordidude01
    Jordidude01

    Posted

    18th May 2015.

    So it’s been awhile since I last made a post, I get a lot of direct messages to see how I am getting on.

    Since having surgery in October 2014, I am getting my fitness back to normal. I stopped running all together as I was getting a burning sensations in both my ankles and just don’t understand why. I have started biking now and playing 5 aside football (as keeper) really enjoying my football again. It’s as a goalie in a 5 aside which I really enjoy, don’t feel ready to get back in midfield of yet.

    I do wish to do more but I have exams coming up, so not yet renewed my gym membership hopefully after July.

    Calf muscle is stronger than ever. Tendon is massive compared to my "good" ankle which has got me slighty worried really. I do hope this doesn't mean my good ankle is getting smaller and may snap? Anyone else experienced this?

    My ankle joint is stiff and every now and then I do feel a little pain, my doctor told me this was expected for the next 12-18 months.

    All in all my life is getting back on track.

    Hope everyone is well.

    • janet01868
      janet01868 Jordidude01

      Posted

      Great news you are getting back to fitness, Iamhaving a lot of problems with knee pain after walking without the boot, I'm 6 months down the line from Op. They think it may be arthiritis!! My ankles are still stiff and calf muscle not anywhere near full strength, doesn't help as my knee is hindering my walking!!

      Janet

       

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud janet01868

      Posted

      I've found the weak calf muscle the biggest issue in getting back to normal; it throws everything out of balance and I've been getting aching back, knees and and everything except tendon pain! Physio warned me it could take ages, and need to exercise legs in general at the gym
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 janet01868

      Posted

      Sorry Janet, i thought i replied yesterday i must of not pressed "reply"

      I never expierance knee pain, very well could be athiritis or from walking funny with the boot its done some damage to your knee? I would get this checked out asap or speak to your physiotherapist.

      My ankle is still stiff today, i never notice this when i walk more when i run. I am hoping this eventually goes away.

      Good luck, hopefully you get your knee sorted asap.

    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 tim50stroud

      Posted

      I agree tim, since i have had my strengh back in my leg all the little niggles and problems have more of less gone away.
    • mary_70540
      mary_70540 Jordidude01

      Posted

      I was actually starting to worry because Im getting a lot of hip pain ,but I'm thinking its most properly due to the fact I haven't weight bared for a long time my injury happened 19 months ago ,I'm hoping as my leg gets stronger the rest of me will follow,..fingers crossed
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