Ok - will be 2 week this thursday so I start putting a little 5% weight on it this friday. Then 2.4.16 have dr. appt. then PT pretty boring and
slow process.
Been reading alot and planning vacations
Got outside a few times last wk. but it is suppose to be high 30s today.
How did your cast problem work out?
Did you see the Dr. again? or soon? I wonder
what he is going to be looking for on our next meeting.
Does feel like a long time ago.
Hope your doing ok
Pretty much the same as you. Long and very boring days....reading a lot. I work from home so that can keep me a little busy.
I try to get out once a day just one feel "normal". I'm having a much more difficult time emotionally than I thought I would. In the past I've always been able to "power through" and with this I cant.
Mt doctor doesn't want any weight bearing until after I see him which is January 27th. I'm still reading everything I can and I fear I should be starting before that.
Any good ideas for next vacation?
Today is the last day of week 3! I started weight bearing this past week with no problems. started with about 5% and easily moved to about 25%+ by mid week. No pain at all . Dr. said to use pain as my guide so I guess that is good.
Have next appt wk. from tomorrow then I think PT . Pretty boring.
How did the Dr. appt go? Did you start any weight bearing?
Planning a cruise in June. I figure with the worst case I can still go.
Afraid to plan anything to active since I have no clue how this is going to
turn out and on what time frame I will be able to do anything.
Hope you are doing ok
Sounds great for you. I haven't been as lucky as you. I'm having swelling and throbbing in my foot. Extremely uncomfortable. I can't seem to find much about it.
What cruise are you taking? I've been a travel agent for 25 years so I've been on many cruises. If you have any questions feel free to pick my brain.
If you happen to come across anything that may help with my issues I would greatly appreciate it.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Guys
Glad everything is going well. Just wanted some advice (and reassurance hopefully)
I ruptured my achillies tendon playing tennis on Oct 4th 2015, I went for conservative treatment because I had never had surgery before so was a little scared, plus was told that it could heal naturally. Anyway, came out of the boot after 9 weeks and starting walking in normal shoes, at week 10 I was in the kitchen and suddenly it went again. I head the awful 'snap' and was devastated - espcailly as it was just before Christmas and I thought I was on the road to recovery.
Had surgery two days later (on 16th December), was back in a cast for two weeks and now in the boot. It has now been 6 weeks since surgery and I get tosleep (only) wth the boot off from tonight. Boot due to come off for good on 16th Feb (9 weeks) and then hopefully drive from 8th March (12 weeks). This week I have started to FWB with the boot and crutches
Does this timeline/progress sound ok? Its great to get feedback from someone who has recently been through it all. The re-rupture was horrible but in a way im glad because it made me get surgery, which in the long run might be best...
Jacob sorry to hear about your re rupture.
I ruptured mine 1.2.16 and have yet to start rehab. just started limited
weight bearing.
My understanding is that the PT and early weight bearing is the key to success whether you have surgery or not. If you google:
Accelerated Rehabilitation Program For Non –Operative Treatment of Achilles Tendon Ruptures1 Mark Glazebrook MSc., PhD. MD, FRCSC), Dip Sports Med
You will get a PDF of the exact protocal that I am following. From what I read this sounds like a good idea to me. Is this what you are folllowing?
Really not sure about your timeline can only show you what my doctor recommended. I still do not know if this will work as I just started week 4 today
good luck
we will prob. go on the Carnival Valor. Usually go on the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas for my birthday but they addded a lot
of rooms and last yr. it was to crowded. we like Celebrity alot but they are not in Fl. in June.
I would go see the dr. on the swelling and throbbing in your foot.
Does not sound right.
I can't understand why they added more rooms. People love that ship but adding more people is not good.
I called the doctor and her responce was this is going to hurt. Ice and elevate. It's very frustrating.
Keep me posted on your progress.
Had my 4 week exam with ortho. yesterday. He said it is healing and looks good.
He did some test and he said it looked good.
will go to PT monday to do different range of motion exercies. Only exercise so far is PWB up to 50 maybe 75% of weight at most. Do not see the Dr. for 6 more weeks so there is no way I will drive at 8 weeks. After the 10 week appt. he will
have me start doing harder weight exercieses with the PT if everything looks ok.
When I look around the web seems most people are doing a lot more than I am
at this point but it is hard to say.
Will be interesting to see what the PT says monday.
Still no pain at all and just a very little swelling so I am lucky in that regard.
Its a really variable recovery story, but I know that the more you do the exercises ther better. I don't think I pushed enough and and 16 months down with a good tendon but a weak calf muscle
recap: ruptured the achilles on 1.2.16 saw the Ortho. Dr on 1.7.2016 so I started week 5 this 3 days ago.
Today had my first PT meeting . The Dr. recommended I go the beginning of week 6 but the protocol he has said week 2 so I decided on my own to make an appointment and go.
The PT was well aware of the Protocol that I was given and had great success with it.
Basically he gave me 5 different range of motion exercise and 3 non achilles exercises that would keep me in shape.
He said at this point I should have better range of motion than I do. If I followed the protocol I would, but the Dr. said see him week 6. Sure glad I went on week 4.
I will do the exercise and if there are no problems will see the PT in 2 weeks to start strength. The ROM exercises are done 3 times a day.
He also assured me that I could put 75% - 100% weight (with boot on) I should not have any problems
He also did the Thompson test which shows very little movement. Not sure when it is suppose to benormal but 4 days ago the Dr. did the Thompson test with same results and said Achilles was healing as it should.
The PT has worked with surgical and non surgical patients (most are surgical)
And in his opinion the negative about non surgical was the weakness of the calf strength.
So the next 2 weeks will be ROM and greater flexibility.
Its that 3 times a day bit I found most difficult... but persevere.
I just started week 7 and went to PT today. We added strength to the
range of motion exercises. My protocol has pretty much been the same as
Brady Browne who did some great videos on his Achilles rupture in 2012.
My strength has a long long way to go. Never had great calf strength so that is going to take a lot of work.
On a positive note we took out one heel lift today and felt completely normal
when I walked. No pain and no tightness. Later in the day it did get sore. The PT said I can put the extra heal lift in when needed as the idea is to have it completely out by the end of the week. I go back to PT next week.
Hi Steve,
Sounds like things are going well for you. I went to the doctor last friday and she thinks everything looks great. She wants me to go into 2 shoes this friday. Once again I haven't stared PT but I have been doing it on my own. Very slowly....
I;m just confused because she said no heel lifts just put on your shoes and go. Are we supoosed to put full weight down right away? I know it will be hard and very slow I just want to make sure I don't re-ruture.
Any suggestions?
I would ask to see a PT before you go to shoes. Tell the Doctor you want to make sure you foot is flexible and strong enough. I never had a Dr. turn down a PT referral.
My Dr. will make the decision when I can get rid of the boot but he
will get most of his info. From my PT
I also felt a lot better after going to my first PT appointment.
good luck! I really feel for you. Let me know how it goes
Hey Steve, I ruptured my achilles 4-24-15, also playing pickleball!
I opted to have surgery as I was 23 at the time. I was told that if I wanted to get back to the caliber of play I was at, surgery was a better option. I have met 3 others who have ruptured theirs. Two did not have surgery and move fine and are playing pickleball as well the other did have surgery and is playing at a very high level now.
Its a really sucky injury and which ever way you go, just listen to what the Dr. And the PT says and you should be fine. Best of luck, if you have questions, Ill do the best to answer them from my experience.
-Erika
Hey Steve, I ruptured my achilles 4-24-15, also playing pickleball!
I opted to have surgery as I was 23 at the time. I was told that if I wanted to get back to the caliber of play I was at, surgery was a better option. I have met 3 others who have ruptured theirs. Two did not have surgery and move fine and are playing pickleball as well the other did have surgery and is playing at a very high level now.
Its a really sucky injury and which ever way you go, just listen to what the Dr. And the PT says and you should be fine. Best of luck, if you have questions, Ill do the best to answer them from my experience.
-Erika
Thanks - good to see people playing pickleball again after their injury.
At first I said never again (was my 1st time!) but maybe down the road, we'll see.
Been doing everything the PT told me to do and a little more
I think I get the boot off 3.17.16 at 10 weeks. I have been walking
a few miles a day for the last 2 weeks so hoping all will go ok when
the boot comes off.
9 weeks ago today I had my 1st dr. appointment. I see the ortho. A week from today and will prob. Get the boot off. I have been walking with full weight for about a month and 2 weeks with out any heals in the boot. No real problems there.
Yesterday the PT had me get out of the boot for the first time and stand. Then he had me alternate the weight between my left and right (the bad one) foot. Was amazed how stiff it felt esp. since my ROM seemed to be where I thought it should be. When I stood the bad foot felt like it was numb or like a tinkling feeling. Reminded me of the first time I tried to do ROM and how much more difficult it was than I was expecting. I also felt that desperate feeling of not getting anywhere that I had a lot the 1st 6 weeks of this ordeal.
Today felt a lot better but still so much more to go. Amazing how weak my calf is.
Have yet to miss a day doing the PT so hopefully it will start to pay off. It is easy
To see how people can still have issues way after their injury.
Been great weather here so I been doing about 1-2 miles walking and a lot of biking on the indoor bike.