Still in pain after Achilles surgery
Posted , 44 users are following.
I had Achilles reconstruction surgery back on December 20, 2016. I'm still in pain almost 5 months later.
I'll give a little history. I started having heel pain in January 2016. Doctor told me I had tendonitis. I started with physical therapy and it unfortunately did not help. I wore a boot for 6 weeks (actually ended up being 3 months cause the Dr. told me to keep wearing it) and that didn't help either. Dr. referred me to another Dr. who does tenex procedure. I had that on August 8. While I was in therapy I ended up tearing my tendon. The Dr. referred me to a surgeon and that's when I decided on the surgery.
I was feeling great after the surgery (other than the pain that came along with it) I had my foot in a bandaged cast for 2 weeks. On New Year's Day I ended up losing my footing on crutches after a shower ( I only used crutches for showers, I had a scooter) and ended up landing on my foot and falling. I called the nurse the following day and she asked questions and said it didn't sound like I did damage. I was sore for a few days and then it seemed ok. I got my stitches out and was put in a plaster cast for 4 weeks. Most of the issue was swelling and soreness. After my cast came off I was put in a boot and told to do PT right away. I didn't get an appointment for almost 2 weeks later. I did non weight bearing exercises for a couple of weeks. My foot was so swollen I couldn't fit in my sneaker. I also couldn't walk without the use of crutches. When I could finally fit my foot in my sneaker I started weight bearing exercises and started walking without crutches about 2 weeks later. I did 8 weeks of therapy and the pain just kept getting worse. I have pain in my heel and I have pain in the tendon. It feels as it did before I had the surgery. I went back to my part time job over a month ago and went back to my full time job 2 weeks ago. Both jobs I'm on my feet. By the end of the day my foot is so swollen and bruised and I get sharp pains in my heel and in the tendon. I've been working shorter shifts and it still doesn't help. I put inserts in my shoes for heel and arch support and it helped at first withi not as much pain but I'm back to the bad pain. I've been in tears it hurts so badly. The Dr said to come back in 3 months if I'm still in pain when I went to my 3 month appointment. I'm just curious if anyone else has similar pains and symptoms. I was told I would have swelling for up to a year but I wasn't told I'd have sharp pains. I'm hoping I didn't tear it again.
0 likes, 99 replies
t54707 cindy74895
Posted
i tore my Achillies tendon January 3, 2019 & surgery January 21st. I have severe pain at night, especially on the outside of the ankle area, intense burning with electrical shooting pains and numbs my feet and toes. plus my incision wont heal, its still open, wound care doctor says its superficial but its open and in pain. This pain is ridiculous!
elaine57981 t54707
Posted
Are you wearing a night boot? It's hard to sleep with but it pulls the tendon and helps the pain.
t54707 elaine57981
Posted
hello,
i apologize i didn't receive a notification from the page about your reply.
no, because my incision was completely open and unable to use that particular boot. i believe now that it has closed it would be a good idea to stretch the muscle in the calf to alleviate that constricture.
thank you!
Alicia0524 cindy74895
Posted
HI Cindy74894
I've read all the replies and I'm going through the exact same thing, I had my surgery on September 26, 2019 I had achilles tendon rupture and bone spur, and as of today I'm still having pain in the area, lots of swelling and limping around I'm still using a cane, cant fit any of my shoes, I thought it was me, happy I decided to do research and came upon this site, I did pt for 6 weeks, I also did my stretches at home and I still cannot bend my toes up or down, I have pain in my little toe have difficulty walking up and down the stairs. thinking of getting a second opinion after reading all of the replies because my doctor is telling me the same exact thing , i’m living on ibuprofen 600 mg in order to get through my day .
patrick61581 cindy74895
Posted
Start taking vitamin K2 and it will help with bone spurs actually it’ll get rid of them I wish I would’ve known this before three years ago I had surgery and it’s still not 100% probably about 70 I live on prayer I know God is still in control
kate11739 patrick61581
Posted
I had Achilles reconstruction on 4/29/19. I'm almost finished with PT, though I still cannot complete a single foot toe raise on my affected side. I have never felt better, and my calf and Achilles are in a good spot right now. My question is for the days with lingering discomfort, has anyone tried a TENS unit? If so, where are you placing the electrodes? Directly on the Achilles? To the side of it? Thank you.
barb04956 kate11739
Posted
This would be a good question to ask your physical therapist. You may also still need more PT if you are still working on doing a heel raise. Most patients are able to do a heel raise by 6 mo after surgery. The only lingering discomfort I've had has come from the scar thickening/hardening up ( I am a year and 8 months post-surgery). When this happens I soak my foot and use a pumice stone on it. Helps quite a bit. I also sometimes will use BioFreeze on the heel, which helps with any achiness I might experience when the weather changes.
Slhopper barb04956
Posted
I completely tore my tendon in half and was able to do toe and heel raises after 3 weeks ( if not earlier ) of PT. if you still can't do it then their is still a rupture in your tendon. I say you need another MRI. I am sure you are not fully connected. if you brought this up to your doctor and he hasn't done one then I would deffinently get rid of him and find another one.
Slhopper
Posted
also mind you I was in a cast for 6 weeks so it was after the 6 weeks I started the PT.
sue69115 cindy74895
Posted
Hello My name is Sue and I had Surgery August 8th 2019 I'm a nurse and had a work related accident involving my feet. The left foot had to have achilles tendon repair and bone spur removed. I also had another bone spur and the plantar fachitis cut and my gastrocnemius tendon. I have tried 4 doctors and numerous research until i read your story. Your case has the most similarity.
Since surgery I have had electrical shock , mixed with a charlie horse this happens 20-50 times a day. It's been 8 weeks since surgery and I'm not healed there is a deep fire pain constantly and i can't step on the heel at all. The Gastrocnemius area has a bad adhesion. I think I might be allegic to the Titanium because I have a bad rash on my arms legs and belly also. PLEASE HELP
t54707 sue69115
Posted
hi Sue,
Its highly possible that you may have tunneling from any of the areas that were touched/fixed. The burning and shock pains are for me a combination of the infection and nerve damage to the Seral nerve. I still have all of this going on plus my calf muscle is now contracted making the ankle stiff. i have had to use gabepentin to relieve the nerve pain and electrical shocks. cipro for the infection.
joanne45339 t54707
Posted
Hello, I had surgery July 8th, repair, lengthening, removal of bone spur and shaved down the heel bone. I did everything as I was supposed to, and I am really struggling with the pain. I have a nerve disease in my left leg and foot, so i need to get this one better! My pain goes up a little past the calf incision. I have lots of swelling also. I am not to return until March, but I think I'm going to call sooner. In September the toe next to the big toe got infected and I noticed then the increase in pain in the whole foot. I was given a course of antibiotics and my foot felt a little better. I wish the best for all.
paula65979 cindy74895
Posted
I had insertional achilles tendonitis with bone spur and had surgery July 1st 2019. 8 months later and im still in extreme pain, cant wear shoes, pain wakes me during night. Ive been seeing a physio but they cant treat it as its too painful to touch and keep putting me back in the walking boot. ive had sooo much time off work as keep having to rest it to try and calm the swellling down and help with pain. ive had blood tests to rule out infection, xray to check that the metal anchors havent moved or cracked the bone and results all normal. At my wits end, so depressed and all the surgeon says is it takes time.
susan44774 paula65979
Posted
I'm so sad for your plight. My surgeon just told me same thing. Minimum 6 months
The P.A told me 1 year after he left room. took about a year of misdiagnosis, boot,PT,$$$ to get to surgery by 4th opinion. zi hope you are doing better by now and are healthy during this pandemic.
mary24536 cindy74895
Posted
I will be two years Feb.2nd, still in awful pain ,,cannot any right shoes, even runners are a problem ,have to take sleeping tablets to try and sleep,I now think my leg will never be right.