Achilles

Saddleworth Reiver

Managed to rupture my achilles in a non mountain bike related incident . Had the operation to repair and currently 6 weeks into my 9 week plastcast coated world with long period of physio to then look forward to . Anybody else had same injury and carried on biking afterwards ?

mudslinger

Sorry to hear of your injury. I did it 3.5 years ago playing football. Its a nightmare injury & as I'm self employed didn't want to go through that again. So I stopped all sports & got back into biking & took up golf! The calf muscle in the damaged leg will never recover to 100% so you will have one weaker leg.

It is absolutely fine now but I do feel it on a long tough ride. My mate who I ride with has also ruptured his achilles but he still runs, plays squash etc but I won't risk that.

The one consolation is the lovely nurses for hydrotheraphy & physio!

Saddleworth Reiver

Cheers - had already given my squash raquets away as thought was bad idea given the twisting and turning . Already resigned to having one leg weaker than the other but was more worried about carrying on with mtb/endurance. Physion has recommended hydrothearapy to start off with?

mudslinger

You shouldn't have any problems riding afterwards. Take it easy & don't push yourself too hard. Its a long slog in physio but you have to be patient.

I think I had hydrotherapy for about 4 weeks. They get you to do lots of different exercises & it really helps. One of the things they get you to do is put flippers on & it is really difficult kicking with those things on. They also get you to run on your toes in the water which feels really strange to begin with.

Saddleworth Reiver

thanks - v worried about l term prognosis but set myself goal of getting back on bike before easter weekend? How long were you guys out of action for?

mudslinger

Long term you will be fine but I think it was 22 weeks after the op before I was discharged from physio.

My mate didn't have the op - it was left to heal naturally but it snapped again whilst cycling during his recovery period. So he eventually had the op but it meant he was out of action for a long time.

Saddleworth Reiver

Cheers - get plaster cast off tonight all being well so physio here we come !

mudslinger

You'll be in for a shock when you see the size of your calf muscl!

Saddleworth Reiver

Yup - where has it gone ! was expecting wasteage but not that much ! enjoyed first bath in ten weeks although was a bit like sitting in a mixture of parmesan soup and skin stock once everything floated off !