Ruptured Achilles Tendon

daniel_owen_uk

So just built a lovely new bike.... half way through building commuter (never had 2 bikes).

Ruptured Achilles playing football

Anyone else done this? I am expecting probably 6 months without doing anything sporting.

gratziani

Hello Daniel

Done the same couple years back to mine while playing Badminton.

December 2012 and back on a bike beginning of April the next year.

Basically 3 weeks in a lightweight cast for the tendon to join again and then a space boot with wedges in for ten odd weeks, I had a bad limp when the boot came off but saw a physio and he advised exercises and some easy biking to build the strength back with some walking as well.

daniel_owen_uk

Cast lasted from Thursday till Monday.

Straight to the robocop boot with wedges, gotta say it's still pretty painful, although glad I am not in a cast. They are still contemplating operating but they say it's fairly high on my calf so not likely.

Calf muscle looks knackered and my foot is twice the size of the other one.

gratziani

I would say going to the boot quicker would make it easier for you.

I was able to get in the bath for a wash etc with the leg floating. Just don't put any pressure on it.

Got to say the boot was heaven for me as meant I could hobble around on it , rather than crutches

daniel_owen_uk

Can't walk on the boot yet. Still on crutches.

They very kindly only gave me one liner for the boot, which has become rather smelly!

Fortunately I work at the hospital and managed to talk one of the therapies girls into sorting me a spare

I did manage a bath in pot, although it involved a bin bag and masking tape!

RobinB2

Ruptured both mine (each time playing football) and had them both surgically repaired. First about 15 years ago, second one about 10 years ago

I don't play football any more but from a biking point of view, I don't have any problems with them

I have fairly poor circulation in my feet and one of the things that stops them aching and playing up is to keep my feet warm as much of the time as possible

gratziani

Yeah after the first month or so when the leg had no strength I have been fine on a bike. Just sitting down spinning everywhere I went.

Good luck and hope the recovery goes well.

johnny25

Ruptured my right achilles back in 2000 playing football.

Was in plaster for 3 months, then another 3 months before I could start properly exercising again. Absolute nightmare for me. The calf muscle degeneration was bad and I've never been able to get full strength back in that area.

Don't run much now as it still can hurt.

Cycling isn't too much of a problem, although the right calf does cramp if I'm not careful and I get numb toes in the cold weather on my right foot.

daniel_owen_uk

Went to see consultant Monday, ultrasound confirmed, operated yesterday. Currently laid in a hospital bed!

Hurts like a.... Well it hurts!

johnny25

I remember the pain lasting about a week and taking lots of ibuprofen!

Now that you've been operated on, it's just a matter of resting.

Once given the all clear, I'd certainly look at some proper physio to get you back to fitness. That's one area I didn't bother with and it probably cost me a couple of months in extra recuperation.

Good luck and keep smiling

daniel_owen_uk

johnny25 wrote:

I remember the pain lasting about a week and taking lots of ibuprofen!

Now that you've been operated on, it's just a matter of resting.

Once given the all clear, I'd certainly look at some proper physio to get you back to fitness. That's one area I didn't bother with and it probably cost me a couple of months in extra recuperation.

Good luck and keep smiling

Pain has calmed down a fair bit, first few days felt like cast was far too tight but that was probably just the swelling.

I remember (just) waking up and the nurse giving me IV morphine, was literally able to feel the pain going away instantly, that stuffs crazy!

Physio is one thing I should be ok with, know a few physios through work and my office is about 2 minutes hop from the physio department!

Still frustrating having to sit around whilst the weather is nice.

daniel_owen_uk

Pot is now off!

Boot on with wedges, 6 weeks in this gradually lowering amount of wedges.

Scar isn't as bad as I though, strangely I thought it would be a vertical scar, it's not, it's horizontal.

Was signed off for 6 weeks, but I am going back tomorrow, only so much Jeremy Kyle you can watch.

gratziani

I found having the boot on much easier as could hobble about everywhere.

Had to take the wedges out every two weeks myself soon get used to it.

I also went back to work soon as the boot was on after being bored shitless sitting at home as well

daniel_owen_uk

Wondering how long the swelling will last, ankle has now been swollen for a 5 weeks now.

I am RICE methoding it most nights.

Philly8mt

Hi there

Sorry to hear you've ruptured!
That's how I got into cycling tbf! I ruptured my achillies approx 3 1/2 years ago. It took (from memory) seven weeks before I was able to drive (two weeks pot & five in the boot). I didn't have the op, I was given the option by the consultant who said the recovery time was approx one week difference and seeing as I wasn't some top flight athlete wasn't that important.
I wasn't given any form of physio to do, just told to keep moving and stretching!
The biggest thing for me was comparing both legs in front of the mirror, muscle wastage in my left leg was quite pronounced, more than I ever expected.

Anyway, I gave up the footy and eventually got on my bike. It's sometimes a little stiff in the mornings or after a very long walk tbf, but never had any issues during or after any bike ride at all.

Good luck with ya recovery

My biggest issue is breaking my Collarbone last week and the operation pencilled in for tomorrow! Bugger!

daniel_owen_uk

I had already read on the internet, and the consultant said (without me prompting) that the re-rupture rate of surgical vs non surgical are 5% vs 15% respectively.

So given the choice between 5% or 15% I decided to go with the surgery.

Getting better day by day, start removing wedges this week, so shouldn't "bob" so much when I walk

Probably take a few months off football, maybe a year, and keep gym to non impact stuff, although I do like jogging.

Would love to be out on the bike though.

handful

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I have just ruptured mine, playing squash on Weds.

Im in a half cast and was due to have surgery this morning but it got cancelled due to higher priority cases. It then turned out to be a c0ck up and the consultant I spoke to today wants me to go in on Monday to discuss the options because there are risks attached to both choices. I'm tempted to go private through work scheme but that would cost me £200 + another £200 if treatment continues into next year, which no doubt it will. I've left it that I will see what he has to say on Monday and he tells me there is a slot reserved for me to have an op on Wednesday if that's the option I go for.

I don't know yet if it's a full or partial rupture and I'm getting a bit bamboozled with all the conflicting stories I hear about potential outcomes, any advice from others that have gone through this would be much appreciated.

Flâneur

advice, listen to the consultant (or a second) not the internet. But do press for the reasons and logic and evidence from them.

handful

Don't worry, I wasn't intending to rely on a random strangers advice, just looking for the experience of fellow cyclists about their struggles back to fitness! Thanks anyway

Philly8mt

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19763972#p19763972]handful[/url] wrote:

Don't worry, I wasn't intending to rely on a random strangers advice, just looking for the experience of fellow cyclists about their struggles back to fitness! Thanks anyway

See my post on this thread below ...

Never had any issues with my Achillies whilst on the bike at all.
The big thing for me was the amount of muscle loss in my left leg!
I've given up on the footy now

handful

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19764248#p19764248]Philly8mt[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19763972#p19763972]handful[/url] wrote:

Don't worry, I wasn't intending to rely on a random strangers advice, just looking for the experience of fellow cyclists about their struggles back to fitness! Thanks anyway

See my post on this thread below ...

Never had any issues with my Achillies whilst on the bike at all.
The big thing for me was the amount of muscle loss in my left leg!
I've given up on the footy now

Thanks Philly8mt
I've been researching the pros and cons of surgery and it seems there is little to choose between them as long as the non surgical option involves weight bearing with the special boots made famous by Beckham and Rooney with the gradual stretching of the tendon throughout the healing process. Full non weight bearing for 12 weeks seems to be the one thing to definitely avoid.

handful

I'm just over 4 weeks in now and getting seriously fed up with the lack of exercise! I didn't have surgery in the end after the ultrasound showed it was too close to the calf muscle. There was a gap on 2.2 cms which I was concerned about, I just couldn't see how the tendon could heal on it's own with a gap unless it maybe healed longer which can cause a whole different set of issues. I've been in the boot for 3 weeks now and so far have removed 1 wedge and although I'm supposed to be partial weight bearing now I can hobble around short distances with no pain so looks like things are improving. I won't see the consultant again until the remaining 3 wedges are out which is nearly 6 weeks away.

Although I went back to work after 3 days I am working a shorter day than normal due to needing lifts. I seriously have no idea how people can spend months at home and not able to do anything, it would drive me stir crazy. Just a tip for anyone else unlucky enough to do this injury, I have rented a knee scooter (google stride on scooter) which has been a godsend. It means you can make a cup of tea and actually carry it to the sofa without spilling it or having to resort to a baby cup! Also gives the arms a break from crutching everywhere whilst you get used to them. Now I'm used to them I'm now using the crutches for exercise, gives a pretty good upper body workout!

I've used work insurance to get referred to a decent sports physio now, not sure yet when I can start that but conscious not to start too soon!

gratziani

hi

I ruptured mine just over three years ago playing Badminton as previously said in this topic.

Was doing a lot of walking about in the boot , and having baths and massaging the tendon as much as I could.

But when the boot came off the leg muscle had shrunk a lot and walked with a limp pretty badly, started physio and had me doing lifts on stairs with both legs to get some strength back into the leg until I could just use the injured leg which was pretty scary lifting it an inch and shitting meself.

He also advised cycling as a good recovery exercise , so went on turbo for easy 20 minutes spinning.

Eventually went out on the road around beginning of April after injured Dec 18th ish but obviously taking it easy , riding in saddle up hills and no big gears being used.

handful

Hi gratziani. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm not looking forward to the physio in some ways but obviously realise that's what will make the difference to the success of the recovery. 20 minutes on the turbo has never seemed so appealing though! Did you make a full recovery with no long term effects?

gratziani

hello mate

No long term problems since , took couple of months on the bike to get some muscle mass back in the leg.

That year I only really done cycling and walking , didn't risk any other sports as was worried about it going again.

Saw physio for about 8 weeks once a week with different exercises to do and then got discharged when he was happy with me walking ok.

Only time I was worried was when I went up some steep hills as had the back of the mind thing about it going again.

handful

I'm going to be the same, just cycling and walking for me too, can't wait to get back on my bike! I'm really looking forward to being able to start the physio but realise that will be short lived once it starts and hurts! Thanks for the info.

webboo

I ruptured mine 3 weeks ago tomorrow rock climbing and I had it operated on 8 days ago. I still have an air boot/ cast thing on but I'm allowed to rest my foot on the floor when standing. Although I'm weight training all seated stuff, how soon did people who've done this start using a turbo trainer or the like.

handful

Webboo wrote:

I ruptured mine 3 weeks ago tomorrow rock climbing and I had it operated on 8 days ago. I still have an air boot/ cast thing on but I'm allowed to rest my foot on the floor when standing. Although I'm weight training all seated stuff, how soon did people who've done this start using a turbo trainer or the like.

Hi Webboo. Rock climbing, blimey that must've been scary! I was playing squash so didn't have far to fall to the floor! The thing with this injury is there seems to be massive variation in the way people are treated and how quickly they recover. I would be very cautious about rushing too quickly becasue re-ruptures are not uncommon. I'm 7 weeks into my recovery now, still in the boot but I'm now fully weight bearing whilst in the boot and can get about without the boot but only by keeping my knee locked and not walking properly. I've got my next consultant appointment on 24th Feb when I will be pushing to see if I can start light turbo training, this will be 10 weeks since injury but I didn't have surgery due to it being very close to the calf muscle.

I don't think I would expect to doing much any time soon if I were you! I have every sympathy for you though, it's a cr@p injury to have.

webboo

I wasn't very far off the the deck only a foot or so As I was bouldering. I originally was offered conservative i.e. Non surgical treatment even though this has a greater chance of re rupture especially if you are physically. So I got myself an appointment with an Orthapedic surgeon who specialised in Achilles treatment. He was very clear an op was the way to go.
Why I was asking about the turbo is I can pedal with no discomfort ( This is still wearing the air boot with little resistance)
I guess the answer is ask the consultant next week.

handful

A lot of the new studies say that there is very little difference in re rupture rates note as long as they follow one of the early weight bearing protocols and have the wedges removed from the bit as it heals to stretch the tendon. It also depends on your age, the younger you are and the higher level you play sport means surgery is more often recommended. I was going to push for surgery myself but couldn't sure to it being so close to the calf muscle. I would certainly wait until you get your specialists opinion if I was you but you seem to be doing very well for so early in your recovery. I'm guessing you must be quite young?

webboo

Hi Handful
The specialist opinion was to go for surgery although you are somewhat out in regard to my age as I'm 60. I just described an average weeks activity such as climbing 3 times a week, 2 turbo sessions and an outdoor ride plus weights if I've any energy left. The consultant was clear there was a chance of it going again with that level of activity.
The current regime of mainly sitting with my foot up and trying to keep out of the fridge is quite challenging.