just ruptured my Achilles tendon
Posted , 9 users are following.
I ruptured my Achilles tendon on 1.2.16 while on vacation in fl. I live in ga. after some quick research we drove home yesterday on the 4th. And have an appointment with an
Orth. Dr. on the 7th....
I am 63 and was in excellent shape. Was trying a new sport (pickle ball)
and was more worried about my knee than anything. After about 1 hr
felt great then I thought someone hit me from behind with a baseball bat.
When I turned around and there was no one there I was actually quite surprised.
After doing some research it seems a lot of new
studies shows that non surgical is just as effective as surgical as long
as you have the proper PT. Will be interested in what the Ortho. Dr, says.
He was highly recommended by the PT I used before who told be he is
the best foot and ankle dr. in Atlanta and that he has done a lot of research in this area. He is a Emory dr. will see.
any way right after I hurt my leg went immediately to Clinic and they said
to call an ortho. immediately which meant Monday since I got hurt on a
sat. was real depressing. Looks like a long road ahead. Will read up on
Some of the posts and see if I can get anymore good info.
0 likes, 49 replies
karren14 steve150
Posted
I called the doctor and her responce was this is going to hurt. Ice and elevate. It's very frustrating.
Keep me posted on your progress.
steve150
Posted
He did some test and he said it looked good.
will go to PT monday to do different range of motion exercies. Only exercise so far is PWB up to 50 maybe 75% of weight at most. Do not see the Dr. for 6 more weeks so there is no way I will drive at 8 weeks. After the 10 week appt. he will
have me start doing harder weight exercieses with the PT if everything looks ok.
When I look around the web seems most people are doing a lot more than I am
at this point but it is hard to say.
Will be interesting to see what the PT says monday.
Still no pain at all and just a very little swelling so I am lucky in that regard.
tim50stroud steve150
Posted
steve150
Posted
Today had my first PT meeting . The Dr. recommended I go the beginning of week 6 but the protocol he has said week 2 so I decided on my own to make an appointment and go.
The PT was well aware of the Protocol that I was given and had great success with it.
Basically he gave me 5 different range of motion exercise and 3 non achilles exercises that would keep me in shape.
He said at this point I should have better range of motion than I do. If I followed the protocol I would, but the Dr. said see him week 6. Sure glad I went on week 4.
I will do the exercise and if there are no problems will see the PT in 2 weeks to start strength. The ROM exercises are done 3 times a day.
He also assured me that I could put 75% - 100% weight (with boot on) I should not have any problems
He also did the Thompson test which shows very little movement. Not sure when it is suppose to benormal but 4 days ago the Dr. did the Thompson test with same results and said Achilles was healing as it should.
The PT has worked with surgical and non surgical patients (most are surgical)
And in his opinion the negative about non surgical was the weakness of the calf strength.
So the next 2 weeks will be ROM and greater flexibility.
tim50stroud steve150
Posted
steve150
Posted
range of motion exercises. My protocol has pretty much been the same as
Brady Browne who did some great videos on his Achilles rupture in 2012.
My strength has a long long way to go. Never had great calf strength so that is going to take a lot of work.
On a positive note we took out one heel lift today and felt completely normal
when I walked. No pain and no tightness. Later in the day it did get sore. The PT said I can put the extra heal lift in when needed as the idea is to have it completely out by the end of the week. I go back to PT next week.
karren14 steve150
Posted
Sounds like things are going well for you. I went to the doctor last friday and she thinks everything looks great. She wants me to go into 2 shoes this friday. Once again I haven't stared PT but I have been doing it on my own. Very slowly....
I;m just confused because she said no heel lifts just put on your shoes and go. Are we supoosed to put full weight down right away? I know it will be hard and very slow I just want to make sure I don't re-ruture.
Any suggestions?
steve150 karren14
Posted
My Dr. will make the decision when I can get rid of the boot but he
will get most of his info. From my PT
I also felt a lot better after going to my first PT appointment.
good luck! I really feel for you. Let me know how it goes
steve150 karren14
Posted
yes it is very slow.
I go to Dr. this thrs. which will be 10 weeks prob. get the boot off
PT says my calf is extremely weak! I do at least double of what he gives me and might of over done it yesterday. real stiff this morning
Hope you are doing ok. I know there are a lot worse things that can
happend but achellies ruptures su$%!
karren14 steve150
Posted
Things are going pretty good. I have been in two shoes for 2 weeks. I'm walking everywhere and haven't had the boot on for 2 weeks. That is very nice. My calf is very weak so I walk with a limp. My goal is to try to walk without a limp and regain some strength in my calf.
I go back to the doctor on Friday the 18th. I'm hopeful I will start PT at that point.
At the end of the day my foot is definitley swollen but really not very sore.
I'm going on a cruise in April so hopefully I will be walking better by then.
It's absolutley the worst injury I've ever experienced. And, I think I won't be back on the pickleball court anytime soon!!
erika28705 steve150
Posted
I opted to have surgery as I was 23 at the time. I was told that if I wanted to get back to the caliber of play I was at, surgery was a better option. I have met 3 others who have ruptured theirs. Two did not have surgery and move fine and are playing pickleball as well the other did have surgery and is playing at a very high level now.
Its a really sucky injury and which ever way you go, just listen to what the Dr. And the PT says and you should be fine. Best of luck, if you have questions, Ill do the best to answer them from my experience.
-Erika
erika28705 steve150
Posted
I opted to have surgery as I was 23 at the time. I was told that if I wanted to get back to the caliber of play I was at, surgery was a better option. I have met 3 others who have ruptured theirs. Two did not have surgery and move fine and are playing pickleball as well the other did have surgery and is playing at a very high level now.
Its a really sucky injury and which ever way you go, just listen to what the Dr. And the PT says and you should be fine. Best of luck, if you have questions, Ill do the best to answer them from my experience.
-Erika
steve150 erika28705
Posted
At first I said never again (was my 1st time!) but maybe down the road, we'll see.
Been doing everything the PT told me to do and a little more
I think I get the boot off 3.17.16 at 10 weeks. I have been walking
a few miles a day for the last 2 weeks so hoping all will go ok when
the boot comes off.
steve150
Posted
Yesterday the PT had me get out of the boot for the first time and stand. Then he had me alternate the weight between my left and right (the bad one) foot. Was amazed how stiff it felt esp. since my ROM seemed to be where I thought it should be. When I stood the bad foot felt like it was numb or like a tinkling feeling. Reminded me of the first time I tried to do ROM and how much more difficult it was than I was expecting. I also felt that desperate feeling of not getting anywhere that I had a lot the 1st 6 weeks of this ordeal.
Today felt a lot better but still so much more to go. Amazing how weak my calf is.
Have yet to miss a day doing the PT so hopefully it will start to pay off. It is easy
To see how people can still have issues way after their injury.
Been great weather here so I been doing about 1-2 miles walking and a lot of biking on the indoor bike.
brettman steve150
Posted
Congrats on your smooth recovery thus far.
steve150 brettman
Posted
best 2 blogs/videos I found were
brady browne
evan
google them with "achellis rupture" they both have a numer of videos
as they go thru this.
they did non-operative like i did. Not sure how and if the surgical differs
Mine is exactly the same as brady brownes where Evans is a little more aggresive.
My PT stressed that the worst time for re rupture is 10 to 26 weeks
(after the boot comes off)
PT seems to be the key. Very slow process but you have to keep at it.
Good luck and keep us informed
brettman steve150
Posted
I actually just finished watching Brady Browne's video series. He was playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the time, which is the CFL team for the City I live in - Winnipeg. Go figure.
I am in a half cast now and will be getting my boot on Monday - 1 week today. I am leaning toward non surgical as well and believe it is the preferred option around here. Will keep you posted.