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
Pomerz cindy74895
Edited
Hi All
first up thanks so much for all the shares, like most i just came across this page when looking through pain issues from my operation. I had a bone spur surgery to the back and side of my heel in late July 2019. My surgeon had said that once removed i could be up and light jogging in 16 weeks...nothing could have been further from the truth.
If im honest i wish i never had anything done. my orginal condition before surgery was a result of a full weekend of sport usually 18km over a couple of days, the consiquence was a heavy limp until Wednesday and a big lump on the heel...
i had the surgery and placed in a soft cast no weight bearing for a couple of weeks and then a shin high moon boot for what was supposed to be 6 weeks. I started hydro and light physio early and 3 months post op the surgeon looked at the heeling wound and was happy i was discharged being told it would get better much more quickly and no need for the moon boot. No such (luck the boot stayed for another few weeks as did light crutch use and a very slow walk with a limp.
over the last couple of weeks shooting pains like that mentioned ( electric shock) have increased up through the bottom of the heal super painful and no warning just quick. I can walk distances but the limp is there after a few kms i get up from a desk a5 work and hobble and this is with ongoing physio throughout. When the ankle blew up a month ago the surgeon didnt want to know just said see the GP, I did and he said as nerves were probably damaged its just part of life the swelling so get some tubey grip bandage.....
i was rather hoping nearly 7 months along to be back 8n full training for some semi professional refereeing but i cant vene jog le5 alone sprint....
Should i go back to a different GP and get a scan or just soldier on with the physio which isnt really making much difference ?
super fed up here get well soon all
barb04956 Pomerz
Edited
I'm so sorry to hear you are having such a problem. To begin with, I would leave that surgeon in the dust . Hopefully you live in or near enough to a major city with at least one teaching hospital. When my first surgery failed (Achilles tendon and bone spur that hadn't provided relief one year post-surgery), I asked my internist for a recommendation to see another surgeon for a second opinion. He told me two things: 1. I should see a surgeon who doesn't know the first surgeon ( because they tend to support each others' original findings without much question), and 2. see a surgeon who specializes in foot & ankle only. He wrote down two names, both connected to prestigious universities with med schools. He told me to go home and research both online, and choose.. The doc you choose ought to have easily accessible background and experience for anyone to review. Once you make a decision, expect to wait for your appointment, because that man or woman is going to be busy. That doc should do a full visual evaluation, including taking photos/videos of how you stand and walk . He should order not just xrays but an MRI. Mine sent me to a facility which does a specific type called a 3-T MRI. It gives a much clearer picture of what's going on inside the foot, especially in the soft tissue which is most likely what is causing you the bulging ( I had the same thing after surgery #1). I was astounded by the difference in surgeon #2's protocol post-surgery. I was Non-weight bearing for 5 weeks, and the first 3 of those weeks was spent with my foot elevated higher than my heart, minimum 22 hrs a day. Essentially, I only got up to bathe, go to the bathroom, and eat. I had to be driven to the doc's office every other day to have compression wraps changed ( and it was an hour each way) during those 3 weeks. After 5 weeks, I was allowed to slowly begin putting weight on the foot, in a boot. I wore that boot 24/7 for 3 months total. After the initial 5 weeks, I started physical therapy, and I had a total of 4 months of it, 2x a week. It was a 5 month ordeal of following doctor's orders at every step, but at the end of that time, I could walk without pain. It's been 2 years since the 2nd surgery and except for a bit of occasional tightness in the scar, I am completely back to normal. My feeling is that your best shot at success lies in the choice of surgeon, followed by strict adherance to the protocol he/she prescribes. You didn't mention if your Achilles was involved or not, but bear in mind that the surgeon will tell you that 30% of the time the surgery does not relieve your pain. I hope you wind up in the 70% like I did.
susan44774 barb04956
Posted
The thought of another surgery freaks me out. 3 months post op and after severe restriction for 8 weeks, was hoping for less pain. Ankle is super tight. calf is tiny due to 12 weeks in boot last year. Ortho told me I can drive.."hello", guess he missed the part where I said my ankle barely bends and I have no strength. Not driving. Pretty much homebound due to COVID 19. Not too bad in my state as community listens to governor, not president.
ml09249 barb04956
Posted
Reading your post, I made a phone call for a second opinion today. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he said "I'm baffled", took an x-ray, said "maybe you have chronic pain syndrome. Maybe you need a second set of eyes on it."
Tomorrow makes 5 months post-surgery--Achilles tendon debridement and repair partial removal of posterior calcaneus bone spur.
I feel like I am going backwards . I've been out of the walking boot for about a month and a half but have pain no matter what I wear on my feet. I can hardly walk more than a minute without excruciating pain at the surgery site under my heel and a chronic burning every time I take a step at the stitch site. I've been a model patient with my weekly PT and following my exercise routine. however I'm not improving and my PT is also perplexed. I am living on ibuprofen 800 mg couple times a day as well as still elevating and icing after anytime walking. I live in the city, moved here to be more active walking and bicycling, but I can't go anywhere or do anything because I know that I won't be able to walk back home. My life is still on hold and I am in tears.
Reading this blog has given me a little bit of hope and also made me more proactive with not waiting for a full year of debilitation before requesting a second opinion.
Pomerz cindy74895
Posted
Hi Cindy
Thanks for your thoughts and share of your experience i had an operation to called an INSERTIONAL ACHILLES DEBRIDEMENMT AND REPAIR ( excuse the caps it copy and pasted this way ).
I do live in a large major city and paid for the services of 'the guy' whi was supposed and may be the best. that was all well and good pre and shortly post surgery but as mentioned not wanting a bean of it after 4.5 months with huge swelling sent me over the edge with my opinion of him. Finding another who speacialises in this field will be tricky as im sure they are all aware of each other as you mention.
ill certainly see the GP and as i travel maybe ill see what there is in Adelaide in a few weeks when i get there.
Thanks so much for sharing as everyone has on here at least i know im not alone at least.
kind regards
Matt
susan44774 Pomerz
Posted
What happened Matt. Any help. I may have to go to a different ortho group. When where my insurance paid best and my pcp recommended. 1st problem 02/2019. Surgery 05/2020. I can barely walk. Hope you are doing better. ♥️ from 🇺🇸
susan44774 cindy74895
Posted
Spent 10 months doing conservative work for my Achelles small tear. Had PRP injection, 30 PT sessions, 16 weeks of CAM boot to walk. New MRI Feb 2020 showed huge Haglund's defomity and 80% of Achilles deteriorated. Got surgery 05/21/ 2020 as COVID not bad in my area. Now 3 months later and my ankle is stiffer, my pain is worse, my forefoot is numb from nerve block, and I'm doing everything. Good news is I can walk(barely) . I have no strength in my calf. using bands for resistance. PT is 40$ a pop . This fiasco has cost us a bundle and I have insurance. I see ortho in 3 months. I felt that he minimized my plight. Another ortho in same hospital group got my to the point of giand calcification and ripped tendon. Oh well, will go outside practice if not feeling better in 2 months. The pain in my heal and ankle is so bad, even at rest. Ice, elevation, otc pain meds are no help. But, I will keep up the hard work. My thoughts are with you all.
susan44774 cindy74895
Posted
Same story. Hope you are better.
JimTh cindy74895
Edited
I had a ruptured Achilles Tendon and surgery on July 17, 2020.
I had a cadaver tendon grafted on and my Podiatrist cut a 3 inch x 2 inch oval out of my heel to make space.
The healing is going slowly. Ive been in a cast for 13 weeks with probably 4 or 5 to go. He's talking about taking a skin graft from my hip to cover the "ground meat" that is slowly growing back. I am anticipating a long, painful and tedious recovery.
Best wishes to all.
Jay1977 cindy74895
Posted
Hi i lost 90% use of my achilles tendon, had surgery last week and have been resting up in bed none weight baring on crutches or wheel chair. However the pain is so excrusiating, burning sensations in my feet N toes, muscle cramps and restless night.
Jay1977 cindy74895
Edited
Hi i lost 90% use of my achilles tendon, had surgery last week and have been resting up in bed none weight baring on crutches or wheel chair. However the pain is so excrusiating, burning sensations in my feet N toes, muscle cramps and restless night.
JimTh Jay1977
Edited
Take the meds and sleep for a few days
Wally14 Jay1977
Posted
Be prepared for a long recovery. I hope you have help. Best wishes to you.
Wally14 cindy74895
Edited
i found this discussion tonight. its 3 am actually. Sleep is a rare pleasure for me these days. I ruptured all outer and inner ligaments in the ankle and tore my Achilles 3/4 off. On top of that I had a coalition and bone spurs on the heel. It was a massive surgery done on 3/10/20. COVID lockdowns went in place right after my surgery. I was out of the cast 2 weeks post-op and in a boot. My initial stages of recovery were great, but I plateaued. I have pain that feels like a nail driving into the inside of my heel and identical pain on the outside. I am on month 10 of my recovery and I have one of the beat ankle surgeons in the country. Some days my pain is a 2, Others a 9. I still use the RICE method, have recently gotten a night splint and am contemplating options. I've had a new MRI and it shows nothing "wrong", but my body appears to be rejecting the anchors albeit mildly. I was originally told that due to the massive nature of my surgery it could be 12 - 18 months to be pain free. However, I do follow ups with my OS regularly and will start back in PT soon. (I ruptured my bicep tendon while still recovering from ankle surgery) I was told today he could go in and remove the anchors, but the idea of another surgery is devastating. I was also given the option of sonic therapy, which is not covered by my insurance and could take 12 weeks to work. Has anyone had the sonic treatments, and if so, dis they help? I'm back in the boot during the day trying to get the tendonitis flare up under control and the night brace so its not as uncomfortable. I'm also icing/elevating. I will willingly admit, I've overdone more than once. I don't sit still well. Being laid up for 10 months has caused weight gain and is depressing. COVID has been my saving grace - I am able to work from home, but I miss being active and being able to walk without pain. I knew it would be awful if I had ankle surgery and procrastinated until I completely blew out the ankle. If any of you have tried the sonic therapy or have any other suggestions for relief so I can sleep it would be greatly appreciated to hear from you. When I'm busy its tolerable, but the pain is much more apparent when i am laying down, with no distractions and trying to sleep. Oh, by the way, narcotics don't work on me for pain relief. We knew that going into this, but have attempted several pain meds anyhow - no relief from any of them.. My primary pain reliever is ice. Secondary is Advil. I've had to do the entire recovery solo because I don't have family where I live. Today's date 2/10/21
michael79012 cindy74895
Posted
I had achilles bone surgery around 2017, and have been in miserable pain since, numbness on bottom and sides of right foot, painful ankle, limited time on feet. The Dr., John Moor in Sarasota, Fl. convinced me to let him do it because I had a successful tennis surgery outcome with him previously. It turned out this was not his specialty, he should have referred me. Podiatrists have nothing to offer other than orthotics, that do very little. If anyone is contemplating a similiar procedure, be very careful who you allow near you. Some of them are greedy, and have no interest in you after they are paid.