1. Community
  2. Injury and accidents
  3. Tendon Problems

post surgery ruptured achilles tendon

Posted , 42 users are following.

james00723
james00723

Thought i would start a new discussion. Tore my right achilles nearly 3 weeks ago now. Had the operation about 10 days after rupture. I am in my late twenties and it came as a bit of a shock if im honest. I go to the gym regularly and exercise with weights frequently.

Anyway, had the op and im in no pain and have no swelling. I was expecting a lot of pain but nothing. The most discomfort i have is when i have to get up to use my crutches, as after about 15 mins being stood up i can feel the calf start to swell a bit. I am told i am in this cast for another week and then they will change the angle of my foot for another cast. Looking forward to getting back to driving and the gym. Feel free to post your own stage of progress and any tips smile

3 likes, 128 replies

128 Replies

Prev Next
  • dejst7
    dejst7 james00723

    Posted

    Hello!

    I'm a 39 year old female. Fairly active been dancing competitevely and semi professionally for years.  I was working out doing boot camp...jumping down very high steps and felt the unfortunate pop in my ankle and I knew exactly what it was.  I felt no pain whatsoever but couldn't walk.  Went to the ER right away and was diagnosed.  This was Monday, May 9, 2016.  I had surgery 17 days after on Thursday, May 26, 2016.  I had the minimal invasive technique done that supposedly has a faster healing rate. He said his average healing rate for patients is 4 months from surgery.  I know I was shocked!  I will imagine it will be more like 4-6 months for me. I'm in a cast now, been laying in bed and using the I-Walk 2.0 to get around. My first post op is tomorrow morning Monday, June 5, 2016, about 10 days after surgery.  Wish me luck!

    • brian28249
      brian28249 dejst7

      Posted

      Hi there, just tore mine yesterday with surgery in 10 days. Going to check out the iwalk2.0 how do you like it?

      Thanks,

      Brian

    • zaza05
      zaza05 dejst7

      Posted

      Hello,

      I'm going for my first post op in a couple of days and I'm also removing my stitches don't know what to expect. I tore my tendon 24 September 2016 had my op 4 October 2016 I'm 27. My foot is no longer swollen and no more pain. Please inform me of what to expect from here on wards.

  • kris65506
    kris65506 james00723

    Posted

    Hope your first post op went well. The first few weeks are by far the slowest.

    Like you, I had a long time from full rupture to surgery (16 days). I am 46 and ruptured mine playing squash. I am now almost 5 weeks post op and can't believe how much easier I'm moving around. I had three wedges taken out boot last week and now PWB with crutches and often FWB without for short spells at home. 

    I know that these blogs have been a great source of help for me so hopefully I can add some of my journey that may give hope in what can seem a long road.

    After 2 weeks in plaster and then 4 in the boot, I am now sleeping without the it - life is so much better smile I've also been driving an automatic car throughout with no problem - lucky that it was my left achilles!

    Also started back at the gym this week with easy cycling (boot on) and upper body workouts. Nothing heavy, but great to get my heart rate up again.

    I am heading for my first PT consultation tomorrow and hoping they recommend beginning with treatment - NHS suggested waiting a further 3 weeks.

    It's a long journey, but hitting each milestone is amazing. You will get there.

    Onwards and upwards...

    • mark92983
      mark92983 kris65506

      Posted

      Hi,

      just wondering how you were doing with your progress?

  • brian28249
    brian28249 james00723

    Posted

    Hi james00723 just completely tore my Achilles yesterday while hiking. I'm a bigger guy who used to run quite a bit but started developing problems while run I g. I always wondered when it would go band it finally did. So it will be 13 days before my surgery. I was encouraged to see that yours was 10 days after. My concern is that the tendon recess and is harder to repair in that time. Also, how long was it before you could be active 100 percent. I'm wondering about ski season in Devecmber. Also, is it stronger now or do you still feel limitations?

    Thanks so much!

    • brian28249
      brian28249 mark92983

      Posted

      Hi Mark, so it has been 2 weeks tomorrow from my surgery and when they went in for Achilles they also had to put in implant for heel as part of bone broke off too. It was really painful for the first 5 days then got better. Was doing well and then slipped and put injured foot out to break fall. Hurt really bad, doc said it was fine and then did the same thing again yesterday. Went in today and doc put me in boot and took off splint or half cast with ace bandage. Stiches are out and I start PT next Thursday. I will be in boot for 4-6 weeks from today. I'm hoping to be skiing by Christmas...5 months from surgery. Thanks for checking ing...any thoughts?

  • mark92983
    mark92983 james00723

    Posted

    Hi,

    i just wondered how you progressed with things? I saw your a powerlifter too, have you got back to training fully? I train in Martial arts (Brazilian jiujitsu, Boxing etc) and I cross train in powerlifting/strongman for conditioning, also work in a gym. I ruptured my Achilles 6 weeks ago, had the operation and I went into the boot yesterday. Looking for some light at the end of the tunnel and advice. Hope to hear from you, thanks. I'm in Scotland the hospital and staff have been great.

  • kris65506
    kris65506 james00723

    Posted

    Hi Guys. That's me now ten weeks post op tomorrow for my full rupture and the boot already seems like a distant memory smile

    Here's a quick update that should give you plenty of hope that good times are not far away...

    As soon as the boot came off, I started back at the gym every weekday for 45 mins a session. I mix it up with a day on machines/weights, then a day in the pool (swimming a few lengths, walking and doing two footed calf raises in the water). Also added some cycling in this week at the lowest resistence.

    Walking okay, up and down stairs, but still have a bit of a limp. I could walk without limp, but just strains the whole area too much and increases swelling.

    Also started physio on Monday. I'm going for 20 mins every day and getting unltrasound, massge and manipulation which feel great.

    Life is already much, much better. I'll post more later with any tips and advice that might help...

    Cheers

    Kris

    • mark92983
      mark92983 kris65506

      Posted

      Hi,

      well done with your recovery, it's good to hear,, I want to keep active like your doing. I'm 6 weeks on after operation and looking for all the advice I can get.

    • kris65506
      kris65506 mark92983

      Posted

      Hi Mark

      I presume you're in the boot just now and probably for another two weeks?

      From week 4 - 6, I took mine off anytime I was sitting down throughout the day and let me leg and foot breathe. Also did lot's of gentle movements when it was off to gain more range. From 6 weeks stage, I also took it off in bed and had no problems. Just popped it back on anytime I had to be on my feet.

      When the boots off, it's important to make sure you gently massage the wound, achilles and calf muscle with a good oil - a few times each day.

      As I knew the boot was coming off after 6 weeks (8 post op), I spent the last week with it off during the day in my office. Leg raised on desk while I worked, but wallked slowly around the room every hour in my bare feet. I'm sure this really helped when the boot hit the hospital bin (happy moment) and I walked out and back to my car (automatic) in two shoes for the first time in two months. 

      My ankle still swells up throughout the day and I ice it in the evening when watching TV.

      All in all, I'm starting to feel pretty normal, considering how I was only a month ago, so keep your chin up - it's not a pleasant injury, but normal life will soon return smile

      Cheers

      Kris

  • karlee
    karlee james00723

    Posted

    Just had surgery on my Achilles 2 weeks ago. I was put in a cast right after the surgery and yesterday got changed into a walking boot. My surgeon told me I am to take the boot off when sleeping, showering and just sitting down. Yesterday my first day with the boot I slept with it on just loosened a bit because I was nervous about moving around when I slept. Today I took the boot off to check on the cut and I had noticed a little bump near where the stitching is. I have hardly walked around and pretty much been in bed so I don't think there is anything I could have done differently to prevent this bump from happening. I am worried because it was a bump like this I first saw that made me go to the hospital in the first place, resulting in a torn Achilles. Has anyone noticed any bumps or anything like this following surgery?

    • kris65506
      kris65506 karlee

      Posted

      Hi Karlee

      Pretty normal to have lumps and bumps following surgery. There's been a lot of trauma down there. I'm now 12 weeks post op and it looks nothing like my normal achilles. Great to hear you have a forward thinking surgeon who advised taking the boot off whenever possible. I'm sure this has helped me loads to be active again so early in recovery. Just be VERY, VERY careful in the shower. Good luck with the recovery and I really don't think you shoudl have any concerns over the lumps/bumps - could be that way for a long time.

    • karlee
      karlee kris65506

      Posted

      thank you. I went to get an ultrasound anyways just to be sure and turns out it's just a scar tissue or build up because I have another incision on my ankle right near where they did surgery because I had cut my ankle a few weeks earlier on some

      glass. Just wondering about the swelling now.. it's been 2 weeks and my ankle is still very swollen, does anyone know how long the swelling typically lasts for? thanks again for all your answers

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.