Achillies tendon rupture

I did mine playing tennis (and they say sport is good for you!).. That was 26th June 2010. I had a plaster cast on for 5 days, I was then put in a boot, this was adjusted every 2 weeks until I had the boot removed 2nd Sept. During that time I was advised not to weightbear. When the boot came off I was sent for Physio, where they gave me muscle strengthening exercises. I also went to a lower limb rehab class which was like circuit training under the supervision of a qualified Physio, this really helped me get confidence back in my ankle. Now nearly 2 years on, I still get a bit of pain in my ankle if it's been in one position for any length of time and the tendon feels very "lumpy" but I can play golf and walk for miles. Swimming and cycling are the best exercises. I wish you well, it's a very traumatic, painful injury but you will be fine.

Hi Elizabeth,

I too have sustained a total rupture to my left leg, this was on November 12th 2012. The initial snap was not painful, felt like I had been hit with great force in the back of my calf with a large paddle or cricket bat, and my leg disappeared from beneath myself. It was shortly after the snap about 5 - 10 mins that the pain began to hit, the word excruciating really does not do it justice. I was oblivious to everything and anyone except for that of the pain I was in.

I am now on week 5 since injury ~ non operative. I found myself in a fibreglass cast for just over two weeks before being transferred to an air cast, it took me about three or four days to get comfortable with the cast knowing how much to inflate each of the bladders, but now got is down to a fine art.

I had my first physio session in week 4 - this involved ultrasound to stimulate growth along with manipulation exercise to carryout twice daily. So far I have found the manipulation exercises very difficult, although my foot is now in the neutral position and all wedges have been removed, I just cant seem to be able to move my foot of my own free will, my partner however manipulates my foot smoothly from neutral to almost pointing straight down and back again, this is a little uncomfortable but does not hurt, I just wish I could do this myself.

I am keen to want to walk on my air cast but feel a massive lack of confidence in standing on my injured foot. I hope to be weight bearing within the next 2 weeks.

I still have a lot of swelling to my foot, and it is still clearly the wrong colour (due to bruising) and the blood loss bruising is still very visible to the inside of my heel (practically black measuring 45/10mm)

How does this fare with your experience and what stage of recovery are you at? How long was is before you could walk again? what physio did you go through? how psychological as opposed to physical did you find your injury?

Any info that you can share with me would be greatly appreciated, as I am in a totally unknown situation. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards

Alastair.

Hi Alastair, I'm now just over 9 months since my rupture and back playing badminton, was apprehensive about playing more psychological than physical but got back into it straight away and gaining confidence in my foot all the time. Still cautious about going for some shots but that'll come in time.

I was in a plaster cast in total for 12 (long) weeks!! then was fitted with a removable boot. Had physio after the cast came off. had to wear the boot for a further 8 weeks. After that slowly was able to weight bear with crutches. After about 4 months i was told by my surgeon to walk without the crutches, very painful at first, and took a while to put my weight on it as naturally you are afraid of it going again. I found this part of my recovery especially hard as i'd got quite nifty on the crutches and walking without was slow and painful, its all down to confidence and naturally you are cautious. I continued with physio for approx 5 months after injury but then just did my own thing as being pretty fit and sporty the exercises were easier to fit into my daily routine rather than keeping going to hospital. Had a few further meetings with my surgeon but as he was happy with my recovery he signed me off after 6 months and telling me he never wants to see me again!!!

As of now, its stiff in the morning or if i've been sat still for a long time and i still have bumpy hard tissue around the scar. My bad calf muscle is still noticably smaller than my good leg but i guess that is still going to take some time.

Been a long long process but you'll get there, keep me posted on how you're getting on

Helen

Hi Alastair, I'm now just over 9 months since my rupture and back playing badminton, was apprehensive about playing more psychological than physical but got back into it straight away and gaining confidence in my foot all the time. Still cautious about going for some shots but that'll come in time.

I was in a plaster cast in total for 12 (long) weeks!! then was fitted with a removable boot. Had physio after the cast came off. had to wear the boot for a further 8 weeks. After that slowly was able to weight bear with crutches. After about 4 months i was told by my surgeon to walk without the crutches, very painful at first, and took a while to put my weight on it as naturally you are afraid of it going again. I found this part of my recovery especially hard as i'd got quite nifty on the crutches and walking without was slow and painful, its all down to confidence and naturally you are cautious. I continued with physio for approx 5 months after injury but then just did my own thing as being pretty fit and sporty the exercises were easier to fit into my daily routine rather than keeping going to hospital. Had a few further meetings with my surgeon but as he was happy with my recovery he signed me off after 6 months and telling me he never wants to see me again!!!

As of now, its stiff in the morning or if i've been sat still for a long time and i still have bumpy hard tissue around the scar. My bad calf muscle is still noticably smaller than my good leg but i guess that is still going to take some time.

Been a long long process but you'll get there, keep me posted on how you're getting on

Helen