I hope you're feeling better by now! I would say it took about 9 months for the pain to go away. I find when I'm on my feet really long is when I feel some pain. Also depends on the weather. I hope you feel relief soon! I also felt like my pain was as bad as before the surgery but now it's not so bad. I'm also 14 months post surgery so a little farther along. Good luck to you
Hi Kathy. I also have a lump on my heel where the surgery scar is. I believe that is just scar tissue. Hang in there. My foot swelled up and hurt for a good 9 months after surgery. It probably helped that I quit one of my jobs because it hurt so bad to be on my feet all day long with two jobs. 10 months after my surgery I got a second part time job and next week I'm moving to a full time position so I'm hoping it all works out. I haven't been on my feet all day for several months so I'm hoping the pain doesn't return. But like I said, hang in there. They told me it could take a full year to completely recover. Give it a couple more months before you decide it didn't help.
I can't believe your doctor told you no therapy. Even if you have a good range of motion you still need to get the strength back in your foot and calf. I did therapy for 8 weeks and still don't have the strength back. I also walk with a limp. I'm 14 months post op and still have a weak calf. Doctor told me I won't walk right until I can lift up on my toes on both feet and lower with operated foot. I still can't do that. I still attempt it once in a while and cannot do it. Best exercise for calf muscle is heel raises. They are hard to do but supposed to be the best thing to do. I unfortunately gave it up when I went back to work and therapy stopped. Just didn't have the time. My therapist had me pick up marbles with my toes, also using one of those rubber bands flexing my foot in different directions. I wish I had the paper handy that I could give you others that I did. Oh she had me walk putting one foot right in front of the other and stepping sideways also. If I think of anything else I'll post it. Well good luck to you. I hope you feel relief soon. Try some of those exercises if you haven't already. Especially heel raises
Hi Cindy et al,
I had surgery almost 6 months ago (Achilles reinserted) and as of today I'm dealing with pain. I've been looking for quite sometime to benchmark with others in a similar situation and find out when I can expect the pain to completely go away. My Dr said that after 3 months I could start strength training since my injured leg is really weak but none a single day has passed since surgery that I'm not in pain. I take at least 15 minutes each morning doing stretching but that does not seem to make a big difference.
Based on what I have read here and other websites it can take more than 6 months in order for a patient o be "Pain free".
Hi Cindy,
Yes, I had another surgery in late January, one day short of a year since the first surgery. This time I asked my internist for the name of a top-notch surgeon and he hooked me up with an ortho surgeon who only does feet/ankles, and who travels the world teaching other ortho surgeons. This was a much more complex surgery, which involved the harvesting of another tendon and grafting it to my Achilles. After the surgery was finished, the new surgeon told my husband, "it was a real mess in there". The hardware which the first guy had used was just hanging off the tendon, and my Achilles was detached from the bone as well. No wonder I had pain!
I have been going through a long and very strict recovery regime; I still must wear a CAM boot up to my knee, and it's day 73. I go back to see the surgeon April 30 ( in 23 days )and hopefully will get cleared to start transitioning to a shoe. I must still wear the boot 24 hrs a day except to shower, and for part of my physical therapy 2x a week. I get around pretty well in it these days, but I take a cane along when I go out. I am just TIRED of dragging it around all the time!
The GOOD news is that I had no complications post-surgery, and this time I have no excess tissue at the back of my heel, and no more pain upon touching it, nor walking on it! Just a little soreness after PT, or after a long time on my feet.
Thanks for asking, I hope you are better now as well!
Hi Kathy,
You sound a lot like me after my 1st surgery for the very same thing in January 2017. After 8 months of miserable pain, swelling, and frustration, I went to my internist and asked him if he knew anyone I could see for a 2nd opinion. Naturally he did, and he advised me to go out of my hospital network, as he feels docs who know each other tend to "rubber stamp" each other's diagnoses. This wasn't an issue for me, as I am now on Medicare. I am also fortunate to live in the suburbs of a major city, which gives me access to some high-profile medical professionals and university/teaching hospitals. I had to wait 2 and a half months for an appointment, but upon meeting the new surgeon, I knew I was in a totally new league of medical care. My evaluation lasted 90 minutes, and his guess as to what was going on turned out to be dead-on correct. He sent me for a special MRI called a 3T MRI, which uses a very high-powered machine that gives incredibly clear images of soft tissue. The MRI confirmed what x-rays could not show, which was an Achilles rupture in the exact same place, the tendon separated from the ankle bone, and "foreign bodies" embedded in the build-up of scar tissue at the back of my heel. After being advised of all the possible complications that come along with a complex repair of a previous surgery ( 3X chance of infection, blood clots, necrosis of the skin requiring skin grafts, etc.) and having the very long and arduous recovery schedule explained ( going home in an Aircast boot up to my knee which must be worn 24/7 over compression wraps which must be changed by a specially trained therapist every other day, 3 weeks with my foot elevated higher than my heart for 22 hours a day...a plaster cast being applied once the sutures came out....then after that, back in the CAM boot 24/7 except to shower and for a portion of my physical therapy, which is 12 weeks minimum, through the end of April. Follow-up visits through the end of July to assess progress, and being informed that full recovery will take up to a year. Oh, and no shortcuts allowed! ...I opted to have the surgery on Jan 25 this year. I am currently 73 days post-surgery and in the countdown for getting the boot removed in another 23 days. I am pleased to say that, despite the surgeon telling my husband that "it was a mess in there", and that the surgery required a tendon transfer, removal of the hardware used by the 1st surgeon, which was just hanging off of my Achilles (the foreign bodies seen on the MRI), further scaling of the area where the original bone spur was removed, and the need to re-attach the grafted tendon to the bone, I had NO complications, and at this point, in week 11, I feel better than I have in a year and a half. No more painful "bump" at the back of my heel, no more swelling, and the 9-inch incision is completely healed, with little evidence that it existed at all. I do get some "soreness" or "achiness" in my heel after a good PT workout or a long day of being on my feet, but I ice it and put it up for relief. It's nothing compared to the pain I had before the repair, and I have no pain when I walk.
If you are still suffering, I urge you to get a 2nd opinion with the best surgeon you can find. I will never regret doing so!
Dee, please read my replies to Cindy and Kathy.
I just found this website today and my symptoms are identical to yours. April 21st will be one year since I had my surgery and I'm still in pain all the time. I went for a second opinion today and the doctor gave me three options. The first is another surgery and the second and third are shots. The first shot involves using my own bone marrow and the other shot uses my blood. I don't have any more information on these shots and the doctor will be sending me all the information in the next few days so I can research it. He did say they were experimental and not covered by insurance. I did find this article on the internet (http://www.cellr4.org/article/1100). He estimated the cost to be $2000. I was so frustrated when I left his office I made an appointment with another doctor for this Thursday. It appears the surgery you had is what my original doctor and the one today suggested but I just can't start from the beginning again.
Can you stand on the toes of your operated foot? If not, you might want to get a 2nd opinion along with a new MRI. I went a whole year after surgery in pain, walking and exercising in agony. New surgeon pegged the problem at my first evaluation, and new MRI confirmed his suspicions, that the Achilles was again pulled away from the bone, was still ruptured, and the hardware the 1st surgeon used was just hanging off the tendon. Yesterday was 3 months since the new surgery, very strict and lengthy regimen for recovery and PT, and I am on day 92 in a CAM boot. However, my heel finally feels good! I get the boot off in four days!!!! I am walking on the foot with no pain for the first time in over a year and a half. Still some ankle stiffness and gait training to do once the boot is off, but what a difference from a year ago. New surgeon said that complete recovery can take a full year after a re-do surgery, so where I am after three months thrills me!
Elaine, I totally understand your hesitation at the prospect of having another surgery. I cannot stress enough that finding the right surgeon is crucial. A re-do surgery is much more tricky because the area has already been compromised by the first surgery. If you haven't already had another MRI done, insist upon it. I am not a medical person, but if your tendon is still ruptured or separated from the bone, I have been told that the only way to fix it is through surgery. In my case, I needed a tendon transfer to shore up the Achilles the second time around. Prior to deciding, I listened carefully to all the pros and cons, asked a million questions, and although I dreaded going through another long recovery period, I made the choice to do it because with the surgery I had a 70% chance of walking without pain, compared to 100% chance of living the rest of my life in misery. Not going to lie, it's been a b***h at times, and I have frequently dreamed of what I will do to this CAM boot once I don't have to wear it anymore ( today is day 92). But the good news is that time does indeed pass, and in 4 more days I will be in two shoes once again!!! Even in the flat-footed boot, my heel feels so GOOD! Just some stiffness remaining from all this time in the boot, which my PT guy assures me will go away, and some re-training my foot to walk with a normal gait again. I am 67 years old, so not a spring chicken anymore, but I can't wait to get back to exercise with my new strong heel! Elaine, I am living proof that you CAN do it again, and I assure you that the first day you get out of bed and can walk to the bathroom without limping, you will know it was all worth it. Keep in touch, let me know what you decide. I wish you the best, whatever your decision is.
Thank you for responding. No, I can't stand on my toes. The pain is 24/7. Since my last post I've gone for a second and third opinion. It appears the tendon has thickened. The second opinion doctor wanted to do more surgery and I declined. The third doctor recommended Amniotic Tissue Injections. I think I'm going to try this before I consider surgery. My insurance will cover it so it's worth the try.
I had ruptured Achilles Tendon Jan 5. surgery Jan 19. I am still in a lot of pain as I work.
I feel your pain 
April 21st was a year that I had my surgery. Hope yours get better soon.
Hi Barb,
I can stand on toes on my injured leg with little pain, I stretch 10 minutes every morning and started doing some light running / walking. I'm indeed looking to be completely pain free but I guess patience is key here...
I had surgery on my foot 14 months ago and I’m still in pain
Hi Cindy my name is Katherine. I had Achilles Tendon surgery December 28,2018. I had a soft cast after surgery. I came home with the nerve block catheter inserted in my thigh and medicine bag which I removed after 1st day at home. My sutures were removed 2 weeks afterwards. I was placed in a hard cast for 4 weeks and on a scooter all this time. I was miserable. Vicodin made me sick so I just took motri or alieve. The pain was not bad after surgety. Then I was placed in a boot for another 6 weeks still on scooter. Cindy I started weight bearing still in boot. I was miserable in cast and boot. After awhile. I started therapy. This is where I started really hurting and has progressively gotten worst over the weeks. My incision is so tender. My ankle and heel no e is so tender. Pain is so severe I cry all the times. I have massaged my incision ankle and heel so much to ease pain. My ankle gets stiff. I think therapy injured my ankle and foot more. I can't see where it helped me at all. I have gone back to doctor several times. It's useless. The last time I told him I was having all types of pain sharp stabbing jerking burning aching at the site. I asked could it be nerve pain. He put me on neurotin It helped for awhile. Now it doesn't help. I am so disgusted. I hate I ever had the surgery. My pain is worst now than before the surgery. I walk with a limp. My foot and ankle stays swollen. I can't wear my shoes. I am so depressed. I am experiencing the same as you. I know of another lady who is having the same problems. If you find out any remedies to help. Please let me know. Katherine
I pray a lot and there are a lot of people that are Suffering more than me And I have to keep working I have wife and a son that’s homeschooled only by God keep moving on. I have some eggshell membrane organic it’s supposed to help with the tissue and bone taking it for about a week it seems to be helping and comfrey. I will pray for you
Thank you Patrick for your prayers,i am in bed since 9pm, and now nearly 11pm and the pain is intense,have put ice on for swelling and elavated.Nothing seems to work.Thank you for your kind words.
Hi!Barb,
Sounds like you found the right surgeon. I had Insertional Achilles repair and spur supposedly spur removal on March 15th of this year. This was months after other procedures that did not work. We knew initially that I had a bone spur on my heel at t ht e inseetion poibt of my Achilles but an NRI was not ordered until late January of this year. It was at this time the partial tear was found. So, i opted for surgery since nothinf else prior seemed to help. After surgery, for the 1st time in a year and a half i was pain free. I started out with a soft cast for 1 week, then bandage over incision site followed by an ace bandage, still NWB. This continued for 6 weeks, at which time, the stitches were finally removed. I was then told to wear a special boot during the day to promote stretching of the tendon and an another boot when i was up on crutches to start WB. All was going good until a week later, when I lost my footing and all my weight was placed on my surgery foot. It immediately swelled and bruised. It was late in the day so i went to my doctor the following day. He did not seem overly concerned and told me to continue as i was before. I did not order an mri or ultra sound to see if i possibly re-ruputred the tendon. He did squeeze and push on the tendon a and said it still deels intact. I have had nothing but pain and bruising since with almost no relief no matter what i do or don't do. I am afraid to wear the boot that stretches the tendon for fear of reputuring it more if i did rereputure it. And when i wear the walking boot and try to weight bear the pain is almost unbearable. I think i need a second opinion but my husband thinks i should wait to go back to my doctor which will be this Thursday to see what he says. Also, i have been on antibiotics since the day of the surgery of which some i have read can cause the tendon to tear. I realize this is going to be a long process but i just think something is not right. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry, for all the misspelled words. I hate auto-spell.
Hi Amy,
As I read your post, a few thoughts ran through my mind: 1) why were the sutures in for 6 weeks? 2) why have you been on antibiotics for 2 months? 3) how long has it been since you re-injured the heel? and 4) are you getting any physical therapy? It also sounds like initially your foot was not very well protected against injury; a dressing and ace bandage leave the heel very susceptible to being re-injured.
If it has been more than a couple of weeks since your injury and it has not gotten better, I would ask for another MRI to see if there is new damage to the tendon. I regret not thinking of doing that during the year after my first surgery, but in hindsight, I believe the surgeon should have thought of that as well. He couldn't feel through the skin that the tendon was re-ruptured or that the hardware he had placed inside had dislodged. He took xrays, but that only showed bone. He had me exercising more and more, saying that I had to strengthen the heel, and I was in agony the entire time.
I would go to the doc on Thursday and report the pain has not improved. See what he says. If you are not completely satisfied by what you hear, ask your primary doctor for names of top foot & ankle ortho docs in your area. Check them out yourself online ( look for educational credentials, what procedures they perform, fellowships, publications, accomplishments, etc). Do not be surprised if you have to wait some time for an appointment. ( I waited 11 weeks for my initial consult with the second surgeon).
Then be sure to get your xrays, MRI, and surgical report from the first doctor; you are entitled to copies of all of them upon request, and no reputable surgeon will be offended by your getting a second opinion. If the first doc says he will have the records faxed, be sure to confirm the 2nd doc has them before you go for your consultation.
If you don't have a good feel with the 2nd doc, go for another opinion. As I said before, for me the key was finding the right surgeon.
Later this week, it will be 4 months since my 2nd surgery. I spent 14 weeks in an Aircast boot. I
have been in PT for 12 weeks and I now do almost 2 hours there twice a week. When I switched to a shoe 3 weeks ago, I was able to slip right back into my regular size. I am walking again for exercise, working in my garden, and am back at my Tai Chi class. I get in an average of 10,000-12,000 steps a day on my Fitbit. I experience a little ankle swelling and achiness by day's end, but a couple ibuprofen tablets and good night's sleep take care of it. I am still working on flexibility in my ankle for going down stairs normally, and gait training to get my foot pointing straight forward again as I walk, but I walk without pain now. I've been warned that it's still possible to re-rupture the tendon as it continues to heal, so I don't over-do anything. I have follow-up visits with the surgeon until the 6-month post-surgical point.
Wishing you all good luck! Let me know what you decide to do.