Achilles Tendon rupture
Discussion
Hi, Anyone had experience of total rupture of Achilles tendon ? I did mine 5 weeks ago, still in a boot after 5 weeks non weight bearing in plaster. Going to be another 6 weeks before I can drive a manual car, (its my left leg) luckily I have an auto so can get about a bit. The big risk seems to be a re occurrence of the injury, anyone had the same problem ?
My husband ruptured his tendon, this time last year. He spent about 8 weeks in the boot, gradually weaning off it. Not sure how they wean you off with a plaster cast, he had a plastic boot with heel lifts in which he removed one by one over the course of a few weeks His advice would be to book private physio as the NHS physio wasn't worth the time spent travelling to the appointment!
He was advised to try cycling as that strengthens the tendons, so once he could walk again he bought a bike and is now fully fit. Be prepared for a long, slow progress, it took a while for his calf muscle to return to the same size as the good leg! Re rupture was also mentioned as a symptom, but thankfully the physio and cycling has meant he has built the tendons up gradually.
You're very fortunate to be able to drive, although my husband has an automatic car he ruptured his right tendon so I became his personal taxi.
Hope you're not too fed up with the boot, and get the peg for your nose ready when you take it off! If you have any questions, I'll point my husband in the direction of this forum and I'm sure he will be happy to answer them.
He was advised to try cycling as that strengthens the tendons, so once he could walk again he bought a bike and is now fully fit. Be prepared for a long, slow progress, it took a while for his calf muscle to return to the same size as the good leg! Re rupture was also mentioned as a symptom, but thankfully the physio and cycling has meant he has built the tendons up gradually.
You're very fortunate to be able to drive, although my husband has an automatic car he ruptured his right tendon so I became his personal taxi.
Hope you're not too fed up with the boot, and get the peg for your nose ready when you take it off! If you have any questions, I'll point my husband in the direction of this forum and I'm sure he will be happy to answer them.
Edited by Whoopy on Saturday 18th February 06:26
Not going to repeat the points above as they echo my experience. Operation to re-attach it, boot for 3 months etc etc. Borrowed an auto car for 3 months and used the time to get my old MG B rebuilt.
Good physio makes all the difference. I rehabbed mine for about 4 weeks before I was safe to run on it again and still have to maintain the rehab exercises within my routine in order to strengthen the rest of the muscles and take the load off the tendon. The rehab pretty much consisted of standing on a step and doing toe raises in a negative rep style i.e. very slow down, relatively quick up, with the up movement being assisted with the other foot. As I gained strength, I started adding weight. In the gym, I used the Smith machine (the one with the fixed barbell that slides up and down) and at home, I filled a daysack up with lots of water bottles. Before too long I was using about 20kg of weight and completing 15 reps x 4 sets.
The damaged ankle is now just as strong as the other and I have no fear about it going again.
Good physio makes all the difference. I rehabbed mine for about 4 weeks before I was safe to run on it again and still have to maintain the rehab exercises within my routine in order to strengthen the rest of the muscles and take the load off the tendon. The rehab pretty much consisted of standing on a step and doing toe raises in a negative rep style i.e. very slow down, relatively quick up, with the up movement being assisted with the other foot. As I gained strength, I started adding weight. In the gym, I used the Smith machine (the one with the fixed barbell that slides up and down) and at home, I filled a daysack up with lots of water bottles. Before too long I was using about 20kg of weight and completing 15 reps x 4 sets.
The damaged ankle is now just as strong as the other and I have no fear about it going again.
Would you believe it I did it trying to lift the rear tub of my 1965 Land rover !! Was not even trying hard but apparently that's usually the case. Goes when shock loaded slightly but unexpectedly, 80% of the time it is the left one too ! Certainly went with a bang, I thought a metal bar had dropped on my leg but soon realised what had happened. Hurt a bit !! Can drive auto now but 3 months from op before can drive manual again.
Ive had this injury, ill add my 5p worth.
I did mine when i was 13 playing football, kid with Blades on hacked me double footed from behind, felt like id been shot in the back of the leg, was later diagnosed as a full rupture.
Treatment... At first it was 2 weeks total bedrest no movement etc just in a Tubigrip with lots of anti-inflammatories, then it was back to hospital for a full 8 weeks in plaster cast.
Then it was 12 weeks of physio, Towards the end light running etc... untill it ruptured again...
Another 6 weeks in plaster, followed by 6 weeks in a moonboot, lots of physio etc.
By the time id turned 15 (got fat and lost my football abilities! haha) it was ok, ached badly if i had to go any long walks or strenuous exercise.
About a year later and i forgot id even had the injury, do not feel any pain from it at all anymore, and im playing football, squash etc all the time.
In regards to driving, i would say that if its your left foot, wait alot longer than your right, alot of the action of pressing the pedal is directly done by your achillies and the accelerator is usually alot easier that the clutch/brakes (sorry to state the obvious). Trust me you dont want a recurrance like me!
Hope this helps mate
I did mine when i was 13 playing football, kid with Blades on hacked me double footed from behind, felt like id been shot in the back of the leg, was later diagnosed as a full rupture.
Treatment... At first it was 2 weeks total bedrest no movement etc just in a Tubigrip with lots of anti-inflammatories, then it was back to hospital for a full 8 weeks in plaster cast.
Then it was 12 weeks of physio, Towards the end light running etc... untill it ruptured again...
Another 6 weeks in plaster, followed by 6 weeks in a moonboot, lots of physio etc.
By the time id turned 15 (got fat and lost my football abilities! haha) it was ok, ached badly if i had to go any long walks or strenuous exercise.
About a year later and i forgot id even had the injury, do not feel any pain from it at all anymore, and im playing football, squash etc all the time.
In regards to driving, i would say that if its your left foot, wait alot longer than your right, alot of the action of pressing the pedal is directly done by your achillies and the accelerator is usually alot easier that the clutch/brakes (sorry to state the obvious). Trust me you dont want a recurrance like me!
Hope this helps mate
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