Information sought about recovering from an archillles tendon rapture.

[kiamaian]

I am a 62 year old male and I have actively played sport all my life.

On the 10th March 06 I raptured an achilles tendon whilst playing tennis. I am rather astonished at the severity of the injury as at the time I merely took a simple step backwards when I felt a blow on the back of the leg and I collapsed. A week prior to the incident I had come home from tennis with a sore achilles tendon after running strongly to chase a number of drop shots. The soreness settled after a few days and I had no further warning of an impending failure.

The surgeon who examined me recommended surgery on the basis that it has a better success rate and faster recovery. I had surgery the day after the incident and had a fresh caste applied two weeks later after the stitches were removed.

I have almost no pain in the three weeks since surgery and I have carefully followed the instructions I was given to have the leg elevated as much as possible and not to put any weight on the leg.

I imagined that after six weeks the caste would be removed and life would resume as normal. However, from reading posts on this forum and other forums it appears it is not that simple. I want to be able to drive my car again as soon as possible and get back to kayaking.

I would be interested in hearing about the recovery progress of other people who have had this injury. I have been read many accounts written by people like myself with fresh injuries but there aren't many articles from people who have completed or nearly completed the recovery process.

[Unregistered]

Hi I Am 42 Years Old And I Ruptured My Achilles 24/04/05 While Playing Soccer, And Operated On The Next Day,my Recovery Was Slowed By A Blood Clot And A Year Afer Injury Still Do Not Have Full Movement In Ankle, But Resumed Running On Treadmill About 4 Mths Ago And On Road About 3 Months Ago. The Biggest Thing About This Injury Is Not The Physical Recovery But More Mental, Because I Found The Injury Very Traumatic And Painful ,the Thought Of Doing More Damage While Running Is Alway On My Mind. As Badluck Would Have It I Am Currently Taking A Spell From Training As My Other Achilles Has Tendonitis ,hope All Goes Well Cheers

[inc123]

I ruptured mine falling off the kitchen counter (stupid) while painting that one spot, I just couldn't reach with the step ladder. I think it was the prolonged teetering that did it... Had surgery the following morning. 8 weeks in a cast/boot with no weight bearing at all (in a "boot") & one more month with increasing weight bearing. Had a minor infection related to an allergy to the internal stitiches, Vicryl. Itched like hell. So glad I wasn't in a real cast!
Ok, I cheated a little wiht the weight bearing. Then I pushed the limits so extremes. I even used my mini-tiller with the boot on. Oh, the boots are washable.
After the cast/boot came off, I was off to the best & toughest physical terrorist (she races bicycles). I went to PT 2x/wk (about 2-3 hrs a time) for 10+ weeks. Then relegated to the gym/wellness center.
I am now 7 months post-op. I still limp except on rare occassions or if I am walking very, very slowly & carefully. I am a long way from my goal of one-footed toe raises. However, I can do most everthing with the help of Aleve/naprosyn. Today I cycled 6+ miles & I am begining to be able to go up small hills (paved roads). I have just learned to use real cycling shoes with spd clips. Clipping in lets me practice one-footed, hopefully to strengthen the bad leg. I must admit it is sore now after todays ride. Prior to the accident, I could ride 25 miles though slowly & once made it 41 miles. I plan to ride 50 miles by the time I'm 50 (47 now).
I have found that the Cybex calf machine is the hardest thing I have tried at the gym or PT. The leg press isn't so bad. I also do one-footed push-offs on the treadmill set with some incline. I like the Bosc or stability/wobble disc too. And I still do the scar massages.
My scar is still ugly (maybe 6 inches) though I have tried various scar creducing creams. I'm told it will fade & other AT survivors have reported that it took at least a year to quit limping & one guy could race bicycles at 1.5 yrs. So there is hope. I hope.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who found any particulat therapies, exercises, etc helpful. 47yo F Huntsville, AL USA

[anigee]

I'm an elite soccer player and i am fully recovered after 4 months of hard rehab.. hard as in the work i put in, not the pain. The pain was minimal, but you must do your exercises and start cardio early for a maximal recovery.