achilles rupture/ no surgery healing

[Jomoj]

anyone still out there in conservative land?

I got sick of waiting for an NHS PT appointment so I booked a private sessionsand it was well worth it. Got a serious wrangling of the leg and tendon and some guidance on how to start weight bearing properly. The physio wasn't too impressed with the way the treatment was handled but was very positive about non-surgical results generally. She said in switzerland (where she was from) they prefer a more active conservative approach over surgery which was interesting.

Anyway, I feel a load better after treatment and have booked in some more sessions for the next few weeks. Fingers crossed it keeps improving.

[wild3]

Hey what happened to all my conservative friends. Is there any body out there. As Pink Floyd would say!! Maybe your all working hard on the rehab. I now I am forsure. My advice to all beginning to walk again is roll the foot,roll the foot. Heel then roll right over to the toe. Has anyone out there tried swimming, water walking and running.
Life has been ok. Stay positive all.
Wild3

[Jomoj]

I'm still here!
3 weeks out of the cast now and feeling some improvement both in flexibility and stability. I can't say I have a whole load of strength but I can carry all my weight on one foot without any pain or major discomfort. The big thing at the moment is to get more range of flexibility as at the moment I can't really bring my foot up past 90 degrees without it feeling really tight and despite constant assurances from my physio(s) it still makes me really nervous of a re-rupture. I'm seeing 2 physios, one private and one on the national health service and both have said 'you are not going to snap your tendon but the only way you're going to recover is by overcoming that fear'. Incidentally, the private physio is pro conservative treatment over surgery but thinks that my regime was a bit too conservative and consequently I've got a lot of work to do to get the motion back.

So I'm still using crutches to carry my weight as the foot goes underneath and behind me but am definitely noticing benefits of the stretching and massage. As you say wild, it's all about rolling the foot and the PT told me to really push my heel into the ground and concentrate on pulling the toes and foot up really hard as you do so, then rolling onto the ball and toes.

Oddly the main tightness I feel is across the shin rather than the back of the calf but am told this is normal. Anyone else feel this? The stretching I'm doing is using a towel looped round my foot to pull the toes up with bent and straight legs and also to sit with my knee bent at 90 and push my foot flat onto the floor, gradually bringing the foot back to feel the stretch.

Would really like to get in the pool and do some exercise so I'm going to look into it.

[bronte7]

I have had a lift put in a shoe and have been walking pretty well for a week. I am at 9 weeks now. I get a bit better walking every day, it was a great feeling to drop the crutches at 8 weeks just like they said. My biggest problem is night cramps and the only way I get a good nights sleep is to wear the ROM boot! It sucks but the cramps are so painful and frequent I have no choice. Has any one else had cramps or might know how to prevent them? I am flying next week and hope I can manage all the airport standing/walking. Then I am going to my sisters who has a pool and am looking forward to some water therapy Wild. Can't wait. I am feeling really positive about the whole conservative thing now.

[Jomoj]

hey bronte, good to hear from you. I haven't had any cramps yet to speak of, have you tried a good massage and stretch before you go to bed and also making sure you're drinking enough water?

[bronte7]

thanx jomoj, i have heard the water thing only yesterday from someone else! also I have heard zinc, calcium, magnesium and quinine. I will take a multi and drink water more.I must admit I don't drink enough.

[jface]

Hey there all conservative method peeps..
I haven't written in awhile but just got my cast off yesturday, it was 4 months to the day since I got it on.
So I got to take a bath/shower and get rid of the scary pound of dead skin and hair. yeah!
It was really sore though last night and had a bit of a time getting to sleep. My leg felt like it was burning.Stood on my own but way to afraid to try anything else. I have the boot on now and it feels tight and a bit painful.
I will find out about my p.t this morning but feeling a bit sad for I almost feel like I am back to square 1. I was getting around great in the cast, now I feel so fragile again.
Wishing everyone a good day and hang in there!

[Jomoj]

jface - I sympathise completely, I felt really vulnerable out of the cast and still do but it does get better, trust me. If you've been in cast for 4 months your tendon ought to be well and truly knitted together but you're bound to have really tight muscles and lack of control.

I'm not in much of a position to offer advice as I'm only a couple of weeks ahead of you but I've felt an improvement even in that time. Just listen to the PT, do your exercises and stretches, massage the leg as much as you can and keep going.

[Jomoj]

come on you lot, what's the news? how's it going?
nearly 4 weeks out of the cast for me and I'm pretty much fully weight bearing, not using the crutches around the home or office but still having them with me out in the street. Recovery seems to happen in 2 day stages for me, good day with a little improvement, sore day so I take it easy then a better day next. I went to the pool yesterday and it was great, did a bit of walking in water interspersed with some lengths. I also held onto the side and cycled my legs making sure I pushed my toes down against the resistance of the water on the downstroke - if you haven't been in a pool yet I'd really recommend it and I'm going to try going once a week.

Well hope you all have a good Christmas and wish you continued healing
cheers

Joe

[wild3]

To all my ruptured Achilles friends. Haven't been on for awhile to busy with the rehab. Hope you all have a great xmas. Stay positive all. House full of peps, got to go!! Merry ho ho.

Love Wild3