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At 18 months after surgery

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nate99100
nate99100

Hi, I'm hoping to get some feedback from others on their recovery, particularly folks who had a full tear and surgery.

I had surgery in January 2017.  I'm not as active as I would like to be and I know I'm definitely more tentative when exercising.  I'm 46 and getting back into shape after 24 months from the initial rupture.

I still have significant swelling each day around my heel.  The swelling can limit what I wear for footwear.  The outside of my left foot still tingles from the nerve damage attributed to the surgery.

When it is badly swollen, my limp is more apparent.  I am not wearing regular cut shoes/sneakers as it rubs against my heel and aggravates the area.  I typically wear boots like Blundstones or sandals, clogs, etc.

I have not seen a foot specialist and my family doctor just wrote me a script for orthotic shoes.

Over my time, I have dealt with an orthopedic surgeon, physiotherapy, massage therapy and my family physician.

I have an office job and a standing station that has helped somewhat.  I am wondering if others have experience the issues with swelling that I have this far into my recovery and what they learned from their experience?

Thanks.

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • paul24391
    paul24391 nate99100

    Posted

    Hi, 3 months from surgery , my ankle was swelling a lot, my medic advised me medi elastic ankle support, using it and it really helped a lot with swelling. choose the right size, it comperesses and avoids swelling issues..
  • paul24391
    paul24391 nate99100

    Posted

    By the way, there is a rice rule, rest , ice, compress, elevate..those should help..
    • nate99100
      nate99100 paul24391

      Posted

      Thanks, Paul.

      I wear clinical grade compression socks at times and they help somewhat.  In the summer months with the heat, I wear sandals as much as possible.  I think sitting at my desk is the biggest culprit for swelling.  I have to make a point of getting out for a walk more frequently and elevate my foot while seated.

  • Kevious
    Kevious nate99100

    Posted

    I didn’t have surgery but ruptured my left Achilles in Nov ‘16, rerupture in May ‘17.  My left calf is still much smaller than my right, although no sign of swelling. About a month ago I joined a gym to try and do some cross training. I try not to think to much about my injury otherwise it starts to ache! Good luck with your recovery, it’s hard to know (for me) if my Achilles is basically fixed and I have issues in my head. Hope you sort out your swelling issues. 
    • breeze61
      breeze61 Kevious

      Posted

      Hi Kevious,

      sorry to read about your re rupture, its what we all fear. Would you mind telling how you re ruptered

      so that we can avoid what the reason was.

    • Kevious
      Kevious breeze61

      Posted

      I think the real reason was scar tissue and just being unlucky. Non surgery recovery rate (from my research) is about 80% (against 90% for those who have surgery) so 1 in 5 of us will just be unlucky. I couldn’t shake off a limp, my foot would go red/purple in colour when I stood up and I could feel a lump on my Achilles which I tried to massage out. But one day I was putting the rubbish out when my small dog ran past chasing a cat she saw, she didn’t listen to my calls so I was a bit fed up, I took 4 frustrated steps and heard a tearing/crackling sound from my foot, no pain though, and I fell to the path. Scar tissue is fragile, so I believe the dog did me a favour in the end, infact I wish I had reruptured earlier because my second recovery was much better through all the stages. 
    • breeze61
      breeze61 Kevious

      Posted

      Kevious, 

      Thanks for answering my question and glad its better the second time round. Did you recover quicker the second time. I start my 8th week in boot next week and will have one wedge then. My doc wants me in the boot for another 4 weeks which seems a long time but said I might be healing long.

      Dogs have a habit of doing rash things our daughters dog goes for bicicle wheels.

      tony

  • candice73586
    candice73586 nate99100

    Posted

    I had surgery about mid year 2017 and I too have swelling around my ankle.  I had a total rupture.  There is a noticable difference between my calves, the back of my ankle near my surgery is deformed.  I can walk but after a lot of walking I start limping. I too cannot wear certain shoes as the back part of the shoe is too tight over the back of my ankle area.  I am just now able to stand on my toes but even then it is very very brief and I don’t do it because of fear of re-rupturing.  The surgeon stated that my Achilles was not like a young person (I am 48) but rather like an older person as it was very brittle.  He said that he would not be able to do surgery again on it and if it reruptures that I would need a cadaver tendon.  When I find a pair of shoes that is comfortable, I buy every color....lol.  Best of luck on the rest of your recovery.
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