achilles rupture/ no surgery healing

[markyj]

Fee.........You have had a different experience to us all. Your leg has been in this mode a lot longer than ours as you hit 22wks(roughly) going in the same direction as me and then F*%K bang b*%"$&s!!!
I would think your leg is a lot weaker than mine was at that stage as you will remember how it died off the first time before getting a real sniff at recovering. Just keep rolling the foot heel to toe when you walk, it will get better. As for any quicker movements, I stayed away from this for quite a while and remember trying to run with a slapping foot. I had to run the other day after not doing it for ages and I was shocked how normal it felt...........Just shows time heal's.

Vern..........6 weeks was in the boot and when taken out it flopped like a fish on dry land!!! 10 wks I was only a week or so out of the boot and this is the frightning stage of the road back. Its a bit like crossing a motorway for a few days but improves quite quickly. Like WWDave said earlier, stick with the signals from your body as to how far to go with it - the brain always wants more but soon gets the message. This is a real critical stage where you are playing with your future..........be cautious and do it properly. Thanks for the info on the Tig dsg, if you get bored and want to send me anything you know I would be interested, this might save me a few quid!!! WWDave is right about the NHS doing the aircast. I had it briefly and then switched to the breg which I found much more secure and a better option in my opinion. They definately do both as the aircast is more widely used for many lower leg injuries whereas the breg is almost purely for achilles type injuries and involves no wedges so its straight into a shoe!!! I only say this as I have tried them both. When you speak with the consultant, if he doesn't know much about the boot - ask for an opinion from a consultant who does. PURSUE it in a polite manner and who knows?? Like I said before, its not the end of the world if you stay in a cast, you will be taking a different road there.

Mark.

Mark.

[Domjuan]

WWDave- well done on 6 months. You are going well.

Fee- i looked at a post i did at 6 months. I stated i could do single heel raises to 2 or 3 inches and the "bounce" in my foot was noticeable. You have fallen into a lot of lag over the past year and your leg will take (i suspect) the full year to properly move around + a lot more months to strenghten it.

The first 6 months are to try and make your lg/muscles/gait work again.
The next 6 months are to strengthen all your lower leg.

You must be sick of it by now but also used to it! Just plod along.
Did u see that cat that races its owner from the shop and never gets overtaken?

[VERN]

Mark, I will do you a deal on a car... just let me know...?

I know i will have to listen to my body and not my head when it comes to my rehab but it isn't giving me any problems at present.. who knows what i will feel like when the 2nd cast comes off on friday? - it will be almost 7 weeks!!

Dave-which aircast site? I've read the Irish experiment and it was very pro conservative and early weight bearing...I think Mark mentioned it on an early post!?

My NHS consultant is so 'anti boot' so i'm going to have problems there-although i am visiting a private consultant on Monday evening. I wonder what type of protocol they will have and if they will be more 'clued-up' on ATR's??

Mark-more bizarre coincidences re meeting other ATR sufferers...

Is the injury 1 in 5000?

I will drop by on Monday evening and let people know of the 'private' consultation...

Vern..

[wwdave]

Vern,

I meant the aircast selling site so that they can see the product. The sites that discuss the medical advantages/disadvantages would only wind up your doctor as he will have set views on this and see you as 'poaching' on his professional territory. Equally be careful about getting a course of treatment from the private consultant, you may end up being discharged from the NHS and that could be very costly in the long run. It is very difficult to 'pick and choose' private treatment and certainly where I am I only sought advice (which was very reassuring). I know the consultant is probably the same guy or knows your NHS consultant, but hey where do you think the MPs learnt the double counting/claiming tricks!!!

Good luck for tomorrow, WWDave

[Domjuan]

I met the head trainer at a gym i used to go to( 10 yrs) the other night. I told him about my ATR.

This is what he said," That is the injury i most fear It takes a year to recover. "I was mildly shocked at his knowledge. How do you know? i said
He replied, " I have seen quite a few at this Sports centre. I deal with them and it's not nice. I don't see them back for about a year, if ever"

See! most people who deal/with this injury.....know the truth! So don't think you can make a quick 6 month, sporting comeback. It rarely happens!

Vern- wheteher u are in a boot or cast. Once out of it, it's all pretty much the same. Physio/Foot and ankle and mainly (90%) you. At 7 weeks your tendon is healed and you could only spend 4 weeks in a boot ( maybe?) The horse has bolted, so stick with the casts....but if they could give you a boot or a breg....well bully for you Private is a waste of money, unless you really want a second opinion.
Fee (pussy cat) Order more Physio and try and get in a Foot AND Ankle class. It's good fun and motivates you + it makes you more patient. When you see people with bolts out of their ankle and frozen lower legs with swelling who smile and have a laugh....you just want to stick at it and play the time game

[Onepeg]

Well, my name is Craig and im Alcoholic, OOps sorry wrong Forum.

No Seriuosly I have just Totally snapped my right Achilles Tendon. It happened on my Birthday (Nice Present i Know) whilst playing rugby. I just received the ball on the wing - started to sprint then Snapp!!!. At first i thought someone had tap tackled me, then as i continued to run (one step only) it dawned on me, I was propper F****d. I now know how the poor rabbit feels after being shot up the arse with a 12 Bore, Writhing around on the grass looking for help or at least to be put down. I knew straight away what i had done and was devasted. I have had broken bones before but to me the was excruciating.
Had the usually gas and air (wimp) - made me talk as though i was sucking on Hellium. I was supposed to be a big rufty tufty rugby player - Not today though. Went to hospital - Had the Squueze test and was told it had snapped. The docker said he wanted to put me in plaster straight away.
However - how can they be sure of the extent of demage with out a scan. It was at this point i demanded one. The next day i got one and it confirmed i had a complete rupture. Unusually (according to the doctor) The two broken ends were touching with out a gap. However when i moved my ankle (which i could still slightly do) the gap became noticeable - 1/2 cm at most.
Saw the consultant that afternoon and was told i was going into plaster following the Shefield Regime - 3 weeks (toes down) 3 weeks Toes slightly up (to strect the Achilles) then two weeks in a boot before doing proper PT. I was gutted - I have read loads of reports (as everone else - no doubt) and wanted surgery (i am a parachute Jump Instructor in the Military and well into sport All sportsmen opt for surgery - Dont They?). I asked him to speak to his boss and ask if he would operate - he came back and said No. Again i sent him on his way to ask his boss if he would reconsider. The answer still was no. He explained that Surgery was only really used if the gap was excessive (mine was vertually no existant) and that the sutures were not there to strenghen but to attached enough for healing to take place. I was still gutted but guess what? NOT Anymore. I spent hours (4) last night reading this forum and can honestly say i know everything (unless anyone else has a miracle cure) on what i can expect during this long recovery phase. I can see there is def a mix a characters, FEE - Mad but fun and def supportive, Vern - impatient at first (as expected-just like me) but has started to except this S*** injury. these are some to but to name a few. Thanks for the info, will update peridically on my progress. It happened on May 10th 09, The first 3 weeks cast due off in a couple of week. (I will ask for the boot straight away) Prob told to do one, If not then into the cast again. Hope i haven't bored you all. Craig

[Onepeg]

I had just had a word with myself for making all those splelling Mistates. Sorry

[Domjuan]

Two pegs reporting.
Hello Craig, only a weaner of one week. I sympathise
You seem a persistent bugger and you have done your reading. Well done!
I have had this injury (right) and have fully recovered. The Conservative is as good as the surgery approach, if not better. A good thing is you know the gap size ( very small) and where. You should have no problems. I was a winger as well but not a paruchute instuctor Not much use one legged paruchute instructors You won't be doing any jumps for a while as you realise. You can push them out of the plane perhaps?
Before you know it, you will get into the swing of it and will be walking again.

[Domjuan]

As you are a weaner. Ask for a boot next change. Show them some posts or trial evidence.

[VERN]

Evening all..

well... first of all, i feel quite honored to be mentioned by a newbee-so thanks 'onepeg'!! Yes I'm bloody impatient..but I know my own body and I will know how far to take it- its just that I have found it really difficult mentally to cope..! I hope you can mate??
You will be well informed on this site and hopefully you will stay tuned for regular up-dates etc..even if it is just to catch up with our local 'hat-stand' - FEE..

WWDAVE-I went for my consultation earlier and yes it will be expensive and yes I will probably upset the NHS and get discharged but its a risk i'm willing to take.
I decided on sunday to take matters into my own hands-i could't take the crutches any longer...so... I made a heel out of wood, sellotate and sponges...blue peter eat your heart out but at least I can give my hands a temporary rest now and again.!! cheers for the concern..

Dom- it felt quite surreal talking with a surgeon who believed in conservative and who could hold a conversation about differrent boots, tendon repair and early weight bearing..
I came away on a high and optimistic about walking 'crutchless'!! He is going to take me out of the cast on friday and put me in a rom walker with a wedge!! Yes it will probably cost me around £300+ but I think it will be worth the money to get out of the cast 3 weeks early!! The second opinion was what I have been searching for and it was just the fact that I had somebody who actually appeared concerned (even if he wasn't genuine..!!)

A word of concern though.. he did say if it hadn't healed ( and he will be testing) I'll have to have surgery..!!! Ouch..

Wish me luck...

Vern...