Ruptured Achilles, beyond fed-up ...

ChrisJ_SLH

ChrisJ_SLH

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So after a bit of a hiatus from the photography hobby due to being heavily absorbed in work I was looking forward to rekindling things this summer. As a little reward to myself I chopped in the 5D3 for a mk4 and was eager to get out and enjoy the better weather with the new toy and the family.

Then 3 weeks ago I was having a kick about with my son and pop, ruptured Achilles...

Nearly five weeks in plaster (comes off on 1st June) and then an orthopaedic boot for 6 to 8 with rehab and physio. I'm signed off work completely until June (they're being great about it) and pretty much house bound at the minute, let alone capable of using the camera. Cheesed-off doesn't even come close to describing it....

Happy to hear any indoor photography projects I can do sitting down!
 
May I just say, fekkin' ouch!!
I wish you a speedy rehab, but take it easy....you don't want any long term repercussions.
 
Ouch.

All the best for a full recovery.

How about a Macro lens while you're confined to barracks? Or a series of "a shot a day" projects? Maybe plan some outings so you have something to work towards when you're "in rehab"?
 
You have my greatest sympathy, having been confined and unable to drive when I smashed my elbow a couple of years ago, drove me totally crazy :(
 
I ruptured mine last April, they don't plaster anymore up here, so big boot on. I was able to drive with mine after practising in the car park along the road after a week.
That let me get out and about away from the house at least.
 
tom24 said:
I ruptured mine last April, they don't plaster anymore up here, so big boot on. I was able to drive with mine after practising in the car park along the road after a week.
That let me get out and about away from the house at least.
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Did you have surgery Tom?

I did mine on the Sunday of the last bank holiday weekend and they originally had me on the list for surgery on Monday Come the Monday though they said they weren't going to operate as it was just a partial rupture and I got to them very quickly (<30 minutes) which is crucial apparently. My plaster has my toes pointed right down (to take the tension of the tendon for it to heal) so even if I was in a boot there is no way I could drive.

How did your recovery go? I run and cycle and accept it will be a long road back to full activity levels. Ironically having cycled to work through the cold mornings and nights of the winter I was really looking forward to the summer months but ce la vie...
 
Thanks for all the kind wishes people, I really appreciate it. Being relatively fit and active it is complete bore but hopefully I should fully recover given time.

I can tell you that I'll never take my mobility for granted again though. Like much in life you don't miss things until they go.
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
Thanks for all the kind wishes people, I really appreciate it. Being relatively fit and active it is complete bore but hopefully I should fully recover given time.

I can tell you that I'll never take my mobility for granted again though. Like much in life you don't miss things until they go.
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Totally sympathise, when I had a pretty bad bike accident i was in crutches for a few months and hated it. Simple things like moving a dinner plate was a mission. Very vulnerable feeling when outside in East London.
 
GWS

Yours is the second rupture I have heard about in the past weeks. A work colleague ruptured his Achilles tendon after landing heavily slipping off of a ladder.

All we have been made aware of is that he will be off for two months. He like you is an active sort of guy and I surmise 'cabin fever' needs managing.

I hope you have a speedy and fullest recovery.
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
Did you have surgery Tom?

I did mine on the Sunday of the last bank holiday weekend and they originally had me on the list for surgery on Monday Come the Monday though they said they weren't going to operate as it was just a partial rupture and I got to them very quickly (<30 minutes) which is crucial apparently. My plaster has my toes pointed right down (to take the tension of the tendon for it to heal) so even if I was in a boot there is no way I could drive.

How did your recovery go? I run and cycle and accept it will be a long road back to full activity levels. Ironically having cycled to work through the cold mornings and nights of the winter I was really looking forward to the summer months but ce la vie...
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Well apparently only athletes or such get surgery in my area as they can respond better to it. Lesser mortals are just as well healing by immobilisation I was told.
I did mine at a concert and didn't go to hosp' until next morning, I didn't know it was as bad as I had a skinful and just dragged my leg to the train home where the mrs picked me up.
I knew the triage nurse at a+e and he was surprised as were the docs that i'd stayed upright, anyhow it was examined by 3 docs who did the diagnostic tests and said there's no need for any imaging, we know it's ruptured.
I had wedges under the heel within the boot, to keep the tension off. I went for a couple of physio sessions, got the info re stretches etc then just did it myself thereafter.
Healed ok but I do have Achilles tendonitis in both legs with plantar fasciitis in my feet of late but I don't think that's to do with the injury.
 
Snap
I tore mine in work, went to GP and he said its ligament, take these pain killers and put a bandage on but it will take a few weeks to heal. Hurt like hell but i stupidly thought doc was right. Still limping weeks later and saw another GP, she said its Achilles straight away - simple test can you stand on injured leg and putting weight on your toes then try raise your heel off the floor.

Went for ultra sound scan and guy called me in to carry out scan, bit of a remark off him saying you are walking quite well, anyway did scan and he was very impressed I was walking as nearly full tear. Saw surgeon a week later and operated the following week- 12th March- a Sunday. One night in hospital , 3 weeks full leg plaster, 3 weeks 1/2 plaster, in a boot now until next appt 1st June and physio starts next week.

NHS have been really good apart from diagnosis from 1st GP, when surgeon asked me about delay and had I been to A&E after injury I told him I saw GP I swear he rolled his eyes thinking stupid man.

90% of people who ask what injury is then say:
Oooh
That`s worse than a break
I know X person and their`s has never been right since
 
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The first Doctor I saw on the Sunday (a Junior) advised that as it was only a partial rupture they could either treat it surgically or conservatively. The main difference being that a conservative approach meant sport was ruled out in the future. Being active, this horrified me and after talking to his Senior they agreed to put me on the surgery list for the Monday and advised nill by mouth from midnight and that they would call be early to tell me the surgery time.

I spoke to the Monday morning and they said that the Specialist had reviewed my case and had decided not to operate. I panicked again and asked to speak to the Specialist but he was already scrubbed-up in theatre. The Nurse said she would see him shortly in theatre and would relay my concerns and get back to me late morning, which they did. It was actually the Specialist that called this time and explained that recent evidence showed very little difference in outcome between surgical and conservative approaches, only a slightly higher risk of recurrence in very active people for the conservative approach. Also, the risk of lower leg complications from surgery was quite high and that me also being a Type 1 Diabetic meant that I was at higher risk again. All fair enough.

They called me into a clinic on the following Thursday for a proper cast to be fitted and I spoke to the Orthopaedic Specialist at that. I told him what the first Doctor had said and he literally said that was nonsense. No reason, given time, that I shouldn't get back to full activity. I also mentioned that we were on Holiday the second two weeks in August and asked if he thought I would be walking by then. Thankfully he thought I should be walking boot free by then. Bring it on...
 
Good luck with your recovery.
I am a bit confined myself at the moment so know how you feel.
 
So I got the plaster off and boot on today. All going well so far, I have a big three layer wedge in the boot and one layer gets removed on the 22nd.

I've got to be honest I was a bit of a wuss when the fitted the boot and asked me to stand and put my weight on it. They had to get the specialist to come in and convince me it would just snap.

I can tell there is just enough pressure being put on the tendon to gently stretch it. It feels like other Achilles injuries I have had with running now.

Slow and steady ahead...
 
I`m down to 1 wedge now and should finish with boot in next 7 to 14 days, consultant said "see how you feel but take it slowly" Have had a few sessions of physio now- with lots of home work to do.
Your physio arranged yet?
 
nog said:
I`m down to 1 wedge now and should finish with boot in next 7 to 14 days, consultant said "see how you feel but take it slowly" Have had a few sessions of physio now- with lots of home work to do.
Your physio arranged yet?
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Not yet, I'll ask about that on the 22nd. I was quite amazed that my calf hadn't atrophied more, though before the injury I was getting some decent miles in running and on the bike so there was plenty of it.
 
So, three weeks on on I'm down to two wedges with two to go.

I was initially advised to only remove a wedge after 4 weeks but after an uncomfortable 1st day or so in the boot it eased quickly and by the end of the second week I didn't really feel it was progressing much so after a bit a googling and advice I took a wedge out for an exploratory hobble. All felt good and again I could feel the gentle stretch (that was last Friday).

I saw the consultant on Thursday (yesterday) and he had a good squeeze and was happy and actually wanted to take another wedge out there and then. I was a bit reticent so he advised one a week from here on in. That's one today and so to boot free 8th to 15th of July. He's referred me for physio too to coincide with the booting coming off.

Touch wood but the end feels in sight now. Or at least the beginning of the end. This recent spell of good weather and the light nights have been torture not being able to get out with the camera, cycle or run.
 
MIGHT be worth getting down to the physio to get yourself on the list so you can start as soon as the boot comes off, otherwise you might end up having to wait a while for the treatment to start.
 
Nod said:
MIGHT be worth getting down to the physio to get yourself on the list so you can start as soon as the boot comes off, otherwise you might end up having to wait a while for the treatment to start.
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Sorry, I wasn't clear. The consultant said he'd refer me now as it would be two or three weeks delay. So that should coincide with me getting the boot off.
 
(y)

By the time I got a physio session arranged after an injury some years ago, I had (after taking advice from a friend in the trade!) managed to sort out the exercises that he suggested myself and was 3/4 of the way back to (what passes for) fit (for me!)

All the best with the rehab. Hope the weather holds for you so you can get out shooting again!
 
Nod said:
(y)

By the time I got a physio session arranged after an injury some years ago, I had (after taking advice from a friend in the trade!) managed to sort out the exercises that he suggested myself and was 3/4 of the way back to (what passes for) fit (for me!)

All the best with the rehab. Hope the weather holds for you so you can get out shooting again!
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Nod, the physio round here (at least from my GP's practice) has been sub'ed out to Connect Health. It is usually quite quick to get an appointment and I can self refer too. If nothing come's through via the Hospital in a couple of weeks I will speak to my GP and take that route instead.
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
...after a bit a googling and advice I took a wedge out for an exploratory hobble.

I saw the consultant... wanted to take another wedge out there and then. I was a bit reticent so he advised one a week from here on in.
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Have I understood you right? You used Google to decide on a medical way forward but then later declined to take the advice of a consultant?
 
@Nod I totally forgot to ask when I saw the specialist on Thursday about continuing to sleep in the boot. Were you advised to sleep with the boot on up until you didn't need it?

It doesn't particularly bother me to be honest from a comfort point of view. It's more the thought of keeping the shoe you've walked around in all day in bed.
 
I was told not to walk without the boot on. I asked about wearing it in bed and was told it was up to me, but if I did get up in night to go to loo I should put the boot on. Only concern they had was me forgetting to put the boot on middle of night and the noise from the velcro waking better half. I slept with the boot off as found it pretty hot in bed
 
HuntingMartians said:
Have I understood you right? You used Google to decide on a medical way forward but then later declined to take the advice of a consultant?
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No, you've completely misunderstood me. The initial advice on the "4 weeks" was given to me by the plaster technician when I got the plaster removed and boot fitted. "Google" didn't advise me of anything, the many medical articles (NHS included) returned by Google gave me an indication of the various recovery stages for the condition. The point I removed the first wedge was well within the normal lower upper time limits, 4 weeks being the upper. For info, when I got the boot on initially, I couldn't actually initially weight bear as advised. It was just too painful. I used the crutches to ease the weight for a day and after that it was fine. When I did my exploratory wedge removal I had no such discomfort. I could walk and weight bear immediately. The consultant didn't contradict my actions when I explained.

As I said in my previous post, he advised a wedge a week from then. It had only been 6 days so I declined. I took the wedge out on Friday, a week after the previous one. Hence I followed his advice fully.
 
nog said:
I was told not to walk without the boot on. I asked about wearing it in bed and was told it was up to me, but if I did get up in night to go to loo I should put the boot on. Only concern they had was me forgetting to put the boot on middle of night and the noise from the velcro waking better half. I slept with the boot off as found it pretty hot in bed
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My main concern is that I tend to sleep toes pointed down which may give it an opportunity to tighten up during the night. I may give them a ring monday to discuss.
 
ChrisJ_SLH said:
@Nod I totally forgot to ask when I saw the specialist on Thursday about continuing to sleep in the boot. Were you advised to sleep with the boot on up until you didn't need it?

It doesn't particularly bother me to be honest from a comfort point of view. It's more the thought of keeping the shoe you've walked around in all day in bed.
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My problem wasn't the Achilles tendon, although it did include pain in the same area. It was Planar Faciitis (sp...) which I still suffer from occasionally but just repeat the exercises and massage that relieved it the first time.

ChrisJ_SLH said:
My main concern is that I tend to sleep toes pointed down which may give it an opportunity to tighten up during the night. I may give them a ring monday to discuss.
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IF the boot isn't too hot and/or uncomfortable to sleep in, it might be a good idea to sleep in it to reduce the tightening up overnight - the consultant should be able to give a definitive answer. Maybe take the boot off for a couple of hours in the evening to air it if you do decide to wear it overnight.
 
Nod said:
My problem wasn't the Achilles tendon, although it did include pain in the same area. It was Plantar Fasciitus (sp...) which I still suffer from occasionally but just repeat the exercises and massage that relieved it the first time.
.
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I get that periodically too. Bloody painful!
 
I find that rolling a golf ball under the affected sole/arch helps stretch the affected tissues so relieves the problem. Not as effective as changing my usual shoes! (I used to wear 2 identical pairs of shoes pretty much all day, every day but now alternate between similar shoes [different brand but similar style] and my g#lf shoes which seem to give better support.)
 
Nod said:
IF the boot isn't too hot and/or uncomfortable to sleep in, it might be a good idea to sleep in it to reduce the tightening up overnight - the consultant should be able to give a definitive answer. Maybe take the boot off for a couple of hours in the evening to air it if you do decide to wear it overnight.
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Spoke to the Consultant today and he suggested pretty much the same thing. Main risk is it tightening up over night and then the hasty early morning stumble to the bathroom. Not a drama, the end is in sight...
 
Keeps my hands warm! :p
 
Boot has been off since Friday. In reality it felt much the same as removing a wedge but with a bit of added vulnerability by dint of not having the rigid support. I'm wearing old running shoes for the ankle support and things feel like they are progressing nicely. I've already got a decent range of dorsiflexion beyond 90 degrees. I have been limping a bit defensively I think but if I concentrate I can walk pretty naturally without any pain or tension.

I've had a bit of lower leg swelling not unlike a 'regular' calf strain but this is calming down now too. Just waiting patiently for the physio referral to come through now so I can get started on the properly guided recovery.

Oh, it is oh so nice not to have to wear that bloody boot in bed any more...
 
Chances are that there's been a bit of muscle wastage over the booted period which would help explain the feeling of strain and the feeling of vulnerability is fairly natural - you want to protect your mended bit!

Good luck with the physio and sleep well!
 
Old thread resurrection time...

It's been a long haul but I was finally discharged by the physio today. I still need a bit more strength in my right calf but he's happy for me to transition back into running gradually now. I've been cycling for the last couple of months so have got some fitness back already. Range of movement is normal and very little scar tissue on the tendon which is a bonus.

Back to basics on the running though, couch to 5K to start with. Looking forward to it though.
 
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