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
Twice your age, not an athlete, and 5 months into conservative treatment.... but I have noticed here that theres a huge range of people's reaction to this injury; its not a straight this happens then this is the result. Medicine and surgruy are not like fixing a car. And don't forget we are mortal.. your body needs a bit of care and love if its going to serve you well for another 30 or 60 years! For me its been really frustrating how slow its taken to get back to any normal functionality; i can't understand and not had any really good explanation of why the calf muscle takes so long to get back into action again.. thats really the only thing thats holding me back as it messes with my walking. I'm going to the gym every other day, slowly working back up to my previous levels, and doing leg curls, also having physio. Patience is the word :-(
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.
Yes this is definitely the longest recovery I've experiences. Broken bones were a breeze compared to this one. I have heard that your calf will never reach 100% again, which is frustrating when you want to return to an active lifestyle. Thats great that your sticking with the gym, and physio. I found variations of calf raises to help me the most with regaining strength. Lets hope we both find the patience needed to get through this one!
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...
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.
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 :-)
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.
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.
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.
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 ???
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.
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
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
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!
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.
Or just do surgery to fix it. How long is the recovery from surgery. And how ling before I can walk on it
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 :-(
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.
Hi there.Am new to this site and am looking for some achilles advice funnily enough! Injury happened on 5th Jan. Went down non surgical route and was in plaster, toes pointing down for two weeks, non weight bearing. After two weeks,plaster was removed and admitted with a boot and three heel supports. Still non weight bearing.at four weeks was advised to proceed with weight bearing,then to remove heel support every week. I'm at that point now,first heel support to be removed next Friday. Problem is,I wasn't given much advice about how much or how little weight bearing to do.i.e., am I still to use crutches and just start to gently touch the floor or am I to be more aggressive? I'm self employed so want to be back to work asap but at the same time, need to be careful not to injure myself again. Must admit, am a bit nervous about starting to use the foot again. Any advice welcome. Thanks