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Torn Achillies tendon

Posted , 6 users are following.

dawn148
dawn148

My partner tore his achillies tendon at the end of September.  Was put in cast to begin with, now in a boot.  He keeps taking it off as the boot really hurts his heel.  I'm getting angry because I don't know if he is doing more damage or not.  He hasn't even been seen by doctor yet to say if they are going to operatre or not.  Can anybody advise? please

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Geebz14
    Geebz14 dawn148

    Posted

    Hi Dawn! I did my Achilles at the very end of August and I was instructed not to take off my boot under any circumstances until my first physio sessionas in the boot my foot was set at a particular angle to allow the tendon to set.

    My first physio session was after 5 weeks at which point they changed my sock and was given a very basic exercise to do twice a day to start stretching out the tendon but these were very slight movements.

    8 weeks in now and still not allowed to put weight on the foot without my boot on but have had 4 wedges taken out and my first appointment with the doctor is this coming Friday.

    I have also had hyperbaric chamber treatment which has helped speed up my recovery by around 3 weeks and I still don't expect to be out of the boot until mid/end November.

    Remind your partner that this is a very serious injury and will take a full year to recover!

    I have been told no football/hockey for a minimum 12 months and no cycling/swimming until the new year. The broken leg would have heeled quicker!

    If he keeps taking off his boot he could lengthen the healing process.

  • Geebz14
    Geebz14 dawn148

    Posted

    Sorry forgot to mention my first few weeks my heel and calf were in a lot of pain down to the fact the tendon holds those two together so it will be sore. If he is worried and it's bad pain go see his local GP :-)
  • dawn148
    dawn148

    Posted

    Thank you for that.  I want him to go to hospital and ask them what she should be doing.  I can't see he is doing himself any favours at all.  No work until after xmas, and being self employed isn't good.
    • Geebz14
      Geebz14 dawn148

      Posted

      Worst part I found is no-one really understands how serious the injury is so hard to find someone to talk to about it and that's how I ended up on here :-)

      I went up to A&E with the pain and they told me to go to GP!

      He needs to come to terms with the fact it is a long slow recovery and he can't rush it! If you do have a hyperbaric chamber nearby get him booked in!

  • dawn148
    dawn148

    Posted

    Thank you. Our hospital has been absolutely useless so far. Hospital app booked for 3 November, which is the quickest app they could give him.  I will investigate the hyperbaric chamber.  
    • Geebz14
      Geebz14 dawn148

      Posted

      Well I went in on 28th August and was put in a boot with next appointment 30th November so ours aren't great either! Make sure he does self referral for physio also to speed things up.

      I'm lucky that I live on the Isle of Man so we have a hyperbaric down the road due to us staging the TT races so it's used a lot !

  • Swampiesue
    Swampiesue dawn148

    Posted

    Hi, I was told I can take my boot off for sleeping, sitting, bathing and showering.. My heel hurts when I am walking in the boot for any length of time... 
    • Swampiesue
      Swampiesue

      Posted

      I have had surgery though...
    • dawn148
      dawn148 Swampiesue

      Posted

      Thank you.  We are still waiting to see if he is having surgery or not.  
  • stephen15408
    stephen15408 dawn148

    Posted

    Dawn. Your partner should not take the boot off for risk of injury.  The achilles takes a full 12 weeks to heal after rupture if the non operation route is being taken. I was in a boot for 8 weeks with reducing heel wedges each week after 4 weeks. The heel does hurt when weight bearing in the boot, but it is important not to move the achilles in the healing period. I was out of the boot after 8 weeks but still took it easy for a further 4 weeks until the 12 week period.  A friend of mine re-ruptured his achilles after 12 weeks, so it is important to be careful. I was walking with a slight limp after 3 months and now after 5 months I am walking with no limp,  can walk 4-5 miles.  Only issue is heel pain which is associated with Plantar Fisctitus, which is a related achilles issue with the tendons at the bottom of your foot.  it is getting better but this is a bad injury and your partner should be referred to the fracture clinic at your local hospital for the recovery process.

     

    • dawn148
      dawn148 stephen15408

      Posted

      Thank you Stephen.  I have sent this to my partner to read.  He takes boot off because he heel hurts so much.  Accident happened end of September and we still haven't had a doctor tell us if they are operating or not.  Being self employed he is getting rather frustrated being at home.

       

    • stephen15408
      stephen15408 dawn148

      Posted

      Most NHS now prefer non operation treatment, it takes a little longer but far less risk involved (& cost!!). The achilles does heal naturally, but there is a small risk of rerupture down to non op route, especially if care is not taken during recovery period. Try to demand a ultrasound scan to determine the size of the rupture gap, this should help with a non op or op decision. If the gap is big..4 cm or more, then an operation maybe the best route. If the gap is less, then natural healing is fine. The road to recovery is long and tedious but recovery does accelerate once out if the boot. Pass on my best wishes to your partner
  • SethRollins
    SethRollins dawn148

    Posted

    Hi, I also tore my Achilles tendon at the end of September so I am in a similar situation to your partner. I was also placed in a cast then a boot a week later so currently three weeks with the boot. I’ve had the boot off once a week for a short period of time just for a bit of ‘maintenance’ on my leg.

    For me and your partner it have been 4 weeks since the rupture, the foot placed at an angle in the cast/boot will mean the tendon is well into the healing process so I’m assuming surgery won’t be required. In terms of the appointment on the 3rd November, I wouldn’t worry about that either, mine is on the 4th November, I was told by the consultant we will see you in 4 weeks and that was that.

    • dawn148
      dawn148 SethRollins

      Posted

      Ah wow, thank you.  That is reasuring.  I'll let you know how we get on.  Thank you again for that.
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