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So many achilles questions!

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Canuckie1123
Canuckie1123

Hello! My name is Amanda and I'm about 8 months into my recovery from a total achilles explosion as I like to call it. A little history, I've been an athlete for the last 25 years of my 30 years on earth, from rec sports to playing on three varsity teams at the collegiate level. So I've done a tremendous amount of physical activity. Of all the things I have broke, pulled, or damaged on my body, I never had even the slightest bit of pain in my achilles. Then this summer playing rec softball, I was running to first base and halfway there it exploded on me. I laid in the hospital for 5 days before I was finally sewn back together. I am now as I mentioned roughly 8 months later, and am curious about the amount of pain I still feel, as well as the amount of obvious scar tissue that I can still feel in there. I spent time every single day since I was released from my cast prison massaging and manually trying to break up the scar tissue myself, but still feel like there is SO MUCH in there. Does anyone know if this is normal? I am also just now able to almost complete a one legged calf raise, which I'm not sure if I should have been able to do that months ago. Its such a strange injury but definitely one of my most traumatic. Any help, advice, or similar stories shared would be appreciated!

Cheers

1 like, 67 replies

67 Replies

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  • jacinta03552
    jacinta03552 Canuckie1123

    Posted

    Hi Amanda,

    I am speaking with the experience of doing this on both legs!  One 15 years ago with a complete rupture and this one a partial rupture.  I had surgery first time and conservative treatment this time.    There is more scar tissue with surgery based on my experience.   You are right, it is a traumatic injury, one of the worst.  You do not mention that you did any physhiotherapy other than what you did yourself.   I would say to you that physio. is vitally important as no matter what you do at home, it's not quite as intensive as that administered by a professional.  I had a lot of scar tissue following my surgery.   Ultrasound worked for me in breaking down the tissue and deep massage which was excruciating.  The calf muscle on my left leg never fully recovered, my left leg became much skinnier than the other despite a return to sport.  Now with my right leg being injured it is even skinnier than the left one!   I assume you have a good rehab programme that you are following as it is very important.

    • Canuckie1123
      Canuckie1123 jacinta03552

      Posted

      Both legs! That is insane to even imagine. Did you have any tendonitis or anything before either injury? Yes I have been to physio and basically just check in every few weeks for new exercises then do the routine at home. Helps on the cost of visits haha. Ya when I try do the deep massage myself it actually turns my stomach sometimes. This many years later do you still have noticable scar tissue you can feel on your surgery leg? It's funny how you mentioned how skinny your calf muscle got. I alway have very muscular, I guess bigger legs, and after I got both casts off my left calf muscle had actually atrophied to the size of my forearm. It looked like an alien. Also, what sports were you able to return to? I'm a volleyball player at heart, and I'm quite scared even at the thought of trying to jump...
    • jacinta03552
      jacinta03552 Canuckie1123

      Posted

      Sorry have been off forum so long & never replied... I eventually returned to running but avoided basketball until lo and behold 10 yrs later whilst on a coaching course pop!! Other leg!

      I'm afraid recovery this time is not going so well im now 20 weeks in have had 2 lots of 8 weeks in cast because of tendonosis. It's a nightmare can't walk v well physio helps but tonight I'm icing and leg v inflamed on tendon and also on ligaments opposite side. I know I have to be patient due to the long length of immobility but it's frustrating. Has anyone else experienced a lengthy recovery?

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud jacinta03552

      Posted

      Confirm your experience with the calf muscle; I cant toe stand yet (20 weeks conservative treatment) and walking is a bit limpy still. I got exercises and training from the physio, but no massage / ultrasound. Gym is slowly getting the strength back
  • odette06380
    odette06380 Canuckie1123

    Posted

    Hi Amanda, 8 months and 2 weeks in, I am back at work and most days standing all day,swelling is now non existant.However I had a full tear , not diagnosed for 4 weeks and no surgery, but I have had injury pilates and physio at the hospital.

    I still cannot stand on tiptoes on bad leg alone, and my walking is not great still very limpy,also had pain this week from front tendons and side of foot. I have been told 18 months -2 years for full recovery. I just want to walk properly and not feel disabled,I have improved tremendously but it's a slow one.

    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud odette06380

      Posted

      Managed 6 mile ramble through the woods and fields on an inspiring sunny cold winters day.. really enjoyed it! No tendon problems but leg and calf and general fitness still needs a lot of work.. was tired out at the end but i made it :-)

       

    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 odette06380

      Posted

      Odette is sounds utter mad your 8 months in and not walking around normally without a limp. if you remember are previous converstation about me also being mis diagnosed i am walking around fine now 9 months down the line. Maybe the fact i had surgery has a massive part in this i dont no. it just seems 8 months down the line you are still struggling. All the best in your recovery.
    • Canuckie1123
      Canuckie1123 Jordidude01

      Posted

      I agree, that is terrible to still not being able to walk properly. I am 8 months also and i walk fine, can even jog, I just seem to have a lot of discomfort. Also, not sure if anyone else who underwent surgery experienced this, but I sustained quite a bit of nerve damage. The whole outside of my foot is still numb and sensations are a mess going up past my ankle.
    • odette06380
      odette06380 Jordidude01

      Posted

      I still think ther are 2 factors here, one is my age 56 and secondly 4 weeks with no treatment, I was told that allowing it to heal naturally also takes more time, my leg is also qiute thin, I can almost stand on tiptoes on one leg but it feels like my ankle is encased in a rubber glove! I'm really starting to step it up now,iam going to New York in april which will be walk, walk ,walk. thanks for your good wishes Jordi and same to you.
    • vickie45492
      vickie45492 Canuckie1123

      Posted

      Question anyone I guess about 20 yrs ago I jump about a foot down on the floor landed on my ankle foot turn in so landed side ways I think thats how I would say it. Anyhow never broke anything but tore everything was in three different casts finally air cast , pt for 3 months. But didnt really have problems. About 4-6 weeks ago I started have pain and problems walking and I did go see my dr till a week ago well she sent me to a foot dr . I have a torn Achilles iam in a walking boor and crutches for two weeks then if that doesnt work she wants to do the blood injection thing ? Is that a good idea ? And I am not taking anything for pain and its so so painful . Help anyone ???
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 Canuckie1123

      Posted

      I can walk fine now, jogging i have been told not to because of my one physio session. I dont feel any numbness or any sensations in my ankle.
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 odette06380

      Posted

      Its got to be with the naturally healing. Because my full rupture was not noticed when i was to A&E and was walking around for 6 weeks ( i think, thinking back) my was unable to heal naturally it surgery was the only route for me. My ankle feels tight its alot better than it was a couple weeks ago already so physio seems to be doing the job.

      Thank you

    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 vickie45492

      Posted

      Sorry Vickie, i have never heard of this before regarding an Achilles problem. If may be worth creating a new forum and title it well so people who may have had this issue before can assist you. All the best
    • Canuckie1123
      Canuckie1123 vickie45492

      Posted

      Well I understand why you have to be in a boot if you were diagnosed with a tear, but what is the blood injection thing?? I've never heard of that one!
    • vickie45492
      vickie45492 Canuckie1123

      Posted

      I had never heatd of it either. Its new I guess and its called autologous bloid injection. They draw your own bloid and inject it in and around the tendon in hopes that works to heal it. I go back monday. Its been two weeks in the boot and crutches and theres know difference beside killing my back and hip now. But I dont know if I should do the injection.
    • vickie45492
      vickie45492

      Posted

      Or just do surgery to fix it. How long is the recovery from surgery. And how ling before I can walk on it
    • tim50stroud
      tim50stroud vickie45492

      Posted

      I've read about the blood injection thing but it doesnt seem to be used very widely in Uk. I had nitro glycerine patches (honest!) when I had tendonitis to try and increase the blood circulation in the tendon area to try and speed up healing but it didnt seem to to do much. I was back walking after 3 months (conservative treatment from a partial rupture) but its still swolen and numb round the heel and the calf and leg muscles are still really weak. 5 months now and just gone back to a different physio and a got a load more exercises to strengthen the muscles. Tendon is fine now, its all the restof me that aches. It takes time :-(

       

    • vickie45492
      vickie45492 tim50stroud

      Posted

      The thing is I tore amd sprained this foot bad twenty yrs ago. And have had problems with the achilles off and on. But now its not wanting to heal . I was wondering if surgery would be the better way to go.
    • Canuckie1123
      Canuckie1123 tim50stroud

      Posted

      Wow nitro glycerine patches, blood injections, I don't even know if we have those options in Canada haha. I started taking ginger root on my own because of it's many health benefits, and one of the main ones being increased blood circulation. My bad tendon at 8 months is still easily twice the size of the good one. I don't know if it's scar tissue but it's quite thick!
    • Jordidude01
      Jordidude01 vickie45492

      Posted

      Vickie everyone is different. i was walking about fine after around 4 months. i have heard some people are not walking intill 9 months.  
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