post surgery ruptured achilles tendon

hey folks. thought i would do an update. had the cast off yesterday and doctor said to start weight bearing in an air boot. i have 4 wedges in and have to take one out in 2 weeks and see him in a further 2 weeks.

noticed a little bit of swelling in the foot today after walking around in the boot. it feels tender in my heel as i am walking on wedges but everything else is progressing fine i think. no pain, which i am sure is a good sign.

considering going back to the gym this weekend to do some light upper body work outs. how is everybody else going?

I have now completed 5 weeks after my operation (well tomorrow anyway)

I went back to the gym today and did a chest workout. (I do powerlifting for GB), but it was surprising at how much strength i have lost. I kept my leg up throughout the whole session so it wouldnt get knocked etc.

Tendon feels fine. It has been great to get back in the gym. I also get to take a wedge out in another week.

Getting there

quick update. full weight bearing now. dont use the crutches around the house. i take one when i go ou just in case. something i might do for the duration as it is there in case i fall. tendon is fine and wound is healing well.

1 wedge comes out on tuesday so i will be down to 3. 4 weeks left of the summer holidays for me as well.

back in the gym and feeling better each day. there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Just an update: Finally got my moon boot off on 05.08.2015 exactly 8 weeks after I initially reptured my achilles. I went for the non-surgical route. Foot/ankle/tendon have healed perfectly and already walking without a limp. Physio indicated he hasnt seen anything like this as I was able to carry out physio exercises that normally recomend at the 19-23 weeks post injury. Still wont be rushing into anything, but so relieved all is well

Hey folks. Thought i would do a quick update. i am nearly 7 weeks post op. managed to get into town today. managed a walk around, albeit slowly in this huge moon boot.

No pain at all in the achilles and was walking around FWB.

All in all it is progressing well. I shall post next (9days) when i go down to 2 wedges and i also have a doc visit that day.

 

Hi again folks,

i am now 8 weeks post op and down to 2 wedges.

Had a doctors appointment this morning and all is going well. tendon still attached and working fine. wound healing very well too.

i dont have much left to report now. other than i am FWB and going well.

my  life is nearly back to normal. just cant drive yet.

i have another appointment in a month and i am told i am out of the boot that day.

tendon feels slightly stiff when i take a wedge out but that is all normal i am sure.

feel free to post anything or ask questions

Hi, I'm 31 and ruptured my Achilles' tendon in May 2015 playing net ball. I wasn't even given the option for surgery as was told the non surgical way was just as successful

I was in a half cast for 3 days then into a moon boot at 30* for 6 weeks on crutches with no weight bearing. Between 6-11 weeks a wedge was removed

At 11 weeks post injury I got out of the boot and was fwb

15 weeks post injury I was at the park with my boys and stepped off the footpath onto the grass and the angle I placed my foot I unfortunately re ruptured.

Heard the snap and went straight to hospital where they put me in a cast again

So the whole process begins again

I'm so devastated, I have 3 young children and had just secured my dream job 4 weeks prior to the re rupture

I am 9 weeks post op :D

nothing major to report either so here are some things i wanted to know about what would i be like after 9 weeks.

i get a bit of swelling if i am onmy feet for more than an hour.

the wound has healed nicely apart from two tiny bits of scabthat are left.

i have good movement in my toes and can do very small ankle circles.

i am able to exercise the upper body well and even did a bit of training on the uninjured side and everything feels fine.

i have no painin my achilles either.

i shall return to work next week (after the 6 week hols) i guess you can return depending on your job.

i am down to my last wedge a week tomorrow. let the good times roll

well that's me for now

Hi James, I am now 4 months+ post surgery had 4 casts for 6 weeks due to pressure sore caused by initial plaster, which then ulcerated. went into moon boot, didnt get on well with it,  tried often gently exercising without boot taking a little weight bearing everyday used it at first to get around but gradually used less and less much to the delight of my physio who thought that immobilising the ankle for a long timewas a bad idea, told me to use common sense and listen to my body, if you get pain, ease off, discarded the boot after 6 weeks,calf muscle is still a little weak & scar tissue is a little tight but can walk any distance and drive with no problem, drove 220 miles to Cornwall walked around Eden project and Fowey drove back next day, I was knackered but the leg was OK. still have to have dressing on the ulcer but it is now almost gone, my take on it is, You know your own body, take care not overdo it but try to use the ankle as much as you can comfortably & gently as soon as you can after cast is removed to get as much mobility and strength back as quickly as possible, pain is the best indicator of too much, if it hurts stop, as soon as it gets uncomfortable ease back. I used a TheraBand to stretch the calf muscle when lying on the bed and sitting watching TV. Physio recommended using a small trampoline to bounce on, use both feet at first then alternate feet, I found that a great help.

Take care. I am 67 and reasonably fit and getting fitter so theres hope for all if I can do it.

further to my last, I forgot to mention that when I first started fwb my foot and ankle would swell massively, I was told this was "normal" the physio told me to wear diabetic socks with no elastic which helped greatly to reduce the amount of swelling, i also mainly around the house walk barefooted which also stops the swelling