Did my Achilles rupture in January this year. Non surgery. Had boot on for 4 months and slept with it on. 70 years old and been playing squash since I was 24. Had my first game in September since it happened. Took it steady and walked to shots end it felt comfortable. I walk miles daily and continue to use the exercises I was given from the physio dept at local hospital. I do everything that I did b4 the rupture and I am pleased with my recovery.
I'm 32 and I ruptured my Achilles whilst playing squash approx a month and a bit ago. It was a sudden and out of nowhere loud snap! The night of injury was taken to NHS injuries, I was there for approx 3 hours during that time I was seen twice and at the end I was given crutches, medical boot and blood thinner tablets. Went to NHS outpatients 2 weeks later, and was given an ultrasound appointment which happened to be a couple of days later. The doctor looking after me at first was hesitant to go down the surgery route, that was before the ultrasound. Once he saw the scan, he suggested surgery as it appeared a decent sized chunk was missing and because I play quite a bit of competitive sports and generally very active he felt this was the best route. It's been just over a week since I had surgery, now in a hard cast fixed on a position. Just waiting for the follow up appointment to take the cast and stitches off and take it from there. All in all, it's going to be a long and patient recovery. Looking forward to being able to walk again! On a sidenote, my experience with the NHS has been fantastic. Everyone I've come across has dealt with me in a positive and constructive manner. The waiting times for follow up appointments have not been long. This has been my first major injury and has been well cared for, looking forward to getting back to action once it all heals up.
@@mumtaazl8159 hey, been 4 months post surgery. My mobility and flexibility has somewhat returned, been driving and cycling for approx a month or so (great feeling!) . Been getting private physio to aid in my recovery. The longest recovery phase will be building UK strength again, that will take time. I can do standing calf raises with bodyweight, dumbell calf raise on my injured leg with a 10kg dumbell. The next aim is to work towards being able to do a standing raise on the injured leg only (via the calf raise machine). There is slight pain in the ankle area which is expected since it's been out of action for so long. All in all, the recovery has been great. The physio and NHS are very happy with the recovery rate I'm experiencing. They suggest I could be playing sports around September time but I'm perhaps best not to bother playing any sports this year, rather build the tendon back up again and strengthen it fully!
I ruptured my Achilles two weeks ago. Went to an NHS MIU the next day, earliest I could. Nurse immediately decided it was a rupture. Got a second opinion from an arrogant doctor who was on his way home but had to see me. A 32 year old male who felt like he’d been kicked in the back of the leg, felt a pop and now had a positive Thompson test. He just said “give it two weeks and see how you get on. If there’s any pain maybe we’ll do an ultrasound” and overruled the nurse who then changed her tune. Travelled back to my home city and got a second opinion the next day, immediately put me in a boot as a cut and dry obvious Achilles rupture. They were speechless when told about the doctors advice. The NHS is an absolute shambles.
(I should add, the doctor came into the room in jeans and t shirt swinging his car keys. Made it clear he wasn’t happy having to stay on. Didn’t ask me my name or provide his. Couldn’t get me out quick enough haha)
Ruptured mines at the age of 20 in the military during pt. Felt like someone kicked me in the back of the leg as well then felt like the ground was sinking afterwards followed by intense localized pain. I told the Dr and nurses but still had to wait until the morning for ortho to do the Thompson test again for confirmation. Now I have reoccurring abscesses on the surgical site.....warning signs of potential ruptured Achilles tendon . shoes affect your feet. Also lack of stretching. You should stretch more than you lift. Shin splints are a sign that your legs are stressed out muscles ligaments ALL. Dehydration shrinks everything in your body causing more inflammation. Side note h302 is way better than h20 for optimum health . I'm a testimony
@@kuladeeluxe sounds like a shambles. Looks like I got lucky in that mine did heal ok, I’m out of the boot completely and into physio now. Week 15 post rupture and can do two footed heal raises for 4 sets of 12+. Walking ok but with a mild limp - trying to actively improve this. Doing indoor cycling, building up from 12 minute sessions. Some of this prescribed by the NHS and some me using common sense. My physio sessions had to be cancelled twice due to staff illness so had a week and a half without prescribed physio. Both times I only found out after walking all the way into the waiting room of the medical centre which took an hour each time. The process should absolutely be: 1. Thompson test. If negative: a. Immediately into boot with wedges. b. Arrange ultrasound. 2. If ultrasound shows tendon ends are in appropriate position to heal non-surgically and patient is a non-pro athlete, recommend non-surgical. 3. Else if strong reason to suspect tendon won’t heal, recommend surgery. 4. Once boot is off, physio and if patient requests it they should be able to pay for an additional ultrasound near the end of the physio process so they have more info about the state of their tendon for future reference and causal return to sport. Unfortunately, I feel there’s a dangerous mix of a lack of funding to afford all this, massive operational inefficiencies, and arrogance form medical professionals which prevent this.
Biggest issue atm is foot is still swollen and I only fit into a couple of my old pairs of hiking boots haha. Hopefully that comes down in the coming month or two, or I’ve got a now useless sizeable shoe collection haha
I'm 35 and in week 2 of recovery after tearing my achilles playing basketball. I confirmed it was rough play from an opponent, looks like he kicked my heel, from reviewing the CCTV footage. Tore the tendon right off the bone. Had successful surgery, watched the whole thing while on epidural. Had the cast for 1 week and now in the airboot. I can already flex my calf muscle thanks to starting physio this week. Already had 5 sessions and the team say I could be walking in another 3 weeks. Quick recovery to all of you
Thank you for this very informative video. In the future it would help if the interviewer would let the guest speaker finish his thought before interrupting. It felt like there was too much talking over one another and couldn’t make out what either person was saying.
This is superb - very informative and open conversation. I am in week 3 of conservative treatment here in the Netherlands. This is the plan I am on......4 weeks in a cast not load bearing, followed by 2 weeks in a walking cast which I will be able to bear weight on. Following that after week six I will be given an achillotrain support brace to walk in. Do you have any experience with this in the UK?
they gave me plaster for only 8 days, then acchillotrain, very very strange, coz my calf did not move at all 2 weeks after the injury, yet they decided I should start weight bearing 🤔 in the Netherlands as well, this month I am going to see a doctor in Hungary and we'll try to find out how much the tissues have healed and if my progress is normal or not, if my Achilles got any longer...
That's interesting, I don't see these training braces at all in any protocol in North America. I'm just finishing week 2 post-op in Canada and I'm in a fibreglass cast until week 6 then into a walking boot (Air Cast). Hope your recovery is going well.
I know 2 people in their 30s who raptured their Achilles from running. One took the surgery route while the other took the no- intervention route. Luckily they’re both back to running after recovery.
Wow, I’m in Japan and my doctor said I need surgery from his first touch. I had to talk to him about conservative method and he said conservative is much more likely to re rupture. Btw I’m 52 and was hoping to start getting fit enough to play squash next year. I’ve thrown that into the bin. I’m more concerned how long can I work in a nursery daycare environment again
Fantastic reassuring video. I popped mine Wednesday evening and went to a&e wirhin a couple of hours. Bless the staff they whacked on a pot within 3 hours. Got my follow up in a few days. Alhamdollilah
Hi, Really glad you found it useful, thank for the feedback. We have lots of info and videos on TA ruptures so check out our website complete-physio.co.uk, and give our channel a follow! Good luck with the recovery process, hope it goes smoothly.
Excellent chat ! I can relate on many points. I’m 33 returning playing basketball. I didn’t see this coming, I though I’ve been hit by the back. Currently in week 4 of conservative treatement… With the conservative treatment and a good rehab, will I have chance to get back at the same level in basketball ? Should I fear a re-rupture after 1 year once I’m back at it ??? Cheers and good luck to everybody healing from this injury 😉
@@JustAskBarit’s been 11 week now, I’m doing good. I’m walking in normal shoes 👟 with a limp. The progress comes very progressively and requires time. Week after week you will notice small improvements 📈 so be patient !!
Hey so the doctor from urent care Said it's a bad strain since my tendon is basically still attached on my heels I can move my foot up n can still walk but ima go get x-rays to make sure it is that
It is not painful? I almost lost consiousness 3 times because of the pain... Full rupture... 6 weeks ago almost... Shivers still go through my spine when I think about it! But yeah.. Before covid I was always active... with covid I quit sports.. after covid I started kickboxing again this spring! After 5 weeks it happened when I went all in... I guess because of the pain I felt I am very serious despite non-op! I am very careful! I am confused about all the different protocols though.. In many hospitals here you get a 2 weeks cast in 30% pointing down.. and after 2 weeks you get an achillotrain.. and thats it.. I got a cast for 6 weeks and should have been at neutral position according to my hospitals protocol.. But I am still at 15%. Still got the achillotrain.. and now I have to figure out life.. Luckily there is the internet... Bought myself a vacoped...
For someone going NHS route getting advice from specialists is very valuable. Thank you 🙌. I'm getting the impression the NHS has different protocols and levels of experience depending on the hospital or consultant. I'm 35, very active, a PT and competitive sports man. Took two weeks to get an Ultrasound on NHS. Told literally nothing before then and even after. Easily got more from this podcast alone. I've decided to pay for private advice and physio (at Complete Physio in fact) now which I regret not doing earlier.
Surprised to hear the part about blood thinners being absolutely mandatory. My doctor put it completely in my hands to decide. She almost suggested if it was her she wouldn’t bother with it. But she said she can’t make the decision and I have to decide. I didn’t feel qualified to make that decision because I’m a patient and not a medical professional haha. In the end I decided to take them as we have a family history of strokes etc. and everything has been fine so far. I’ve had such a terrible experience from an NHS perspective with an initial misdiagnosis, lack of communication, boots being the wrong size, etc. It just seems like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing in the NHS atm.
I think there is an awful lot of pressure on the NHS at the moment and ball are certainly being dropped! With regards to blood thinners; different doctors and hospital trusts will often have different policies. I'm glad to hear that everything is going well so far though. Good luck with the recovery and rehab. If we can be of any help, please don't hesitate to get in touch. complete-physio.co.uk
I’m in my early 30s and ruptured my Achilles doing parkour. The NHS doctor decided not to operate which is devastating to me. 8 months later, no real guidance was given to me. I’m scared I’ll never run and compete again. Help, please.
Giving blood thinners does not help prevent thrombosis in patients who have their lower leg in a cast or who have undergone keyhole surgery on the knee. This is evident from a study by the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The researchers therefore advise doctors against routinely prescribing preventive anticoagulation to these patients. Doctors can only consider this in patients with a high risk of thrombosis. The results of the study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This study was designed to weigh the pros and cons of anticoagulation treatment. A total of 3,000 patients participated: 1,500 patients with lower leg casts and 1,500 patients who underwent keyhole surgery on the knee. By fate, half of all patients received blood thinners and the other half received no medications. Approximately the same number of patients in both groups developed a thrombosed leg or a pulmonary embolism. The results showed convincingly that there is no point in giving every patient anticoagulation, the researchers said. They do not recommend prescribing preventive anticoagulation for everyone. Doctors can only consider doing this in high-risk patients.
I ruptured my Achilles tendon 2 months ago and had surgery. I’m guilty of playing football for the first time in 5 years, I had knee and ankle injuries and something in my mind said I could play through the pain, I’ll be fine and BOOM snapped my Achilles tendon 🤣🤣… when my ruptured my Achilles I felt like someone booted me and I turned around and started accusing people of kicking me 🤣🤣 no one was near me 🤣…. Anyone recovering from this I genuinely feel for you, it’s a long road and I am starting to get on my foot with wedges.
How are you feeling man? You walking yet? It is horrible...im still only in week 1...and its the saddest and most difficult part of life ive ever dealt with.
@@Always_Never keep your head up, have you had a operation?? I will tell you this it’s going to get worse, the not being able to do nothing for yourself becomes so testing. But you’ve got to listen to all the advice you’ve been given it takes a long time to heal.. I’m walking now but very slowly and my leg is so skinny. I’ve always played sports and gone the gym and now my leg is like a pencil.
@@Robbo-lw4dd thank you for the support and love brother...its a very daunting task at hand, with trying to recover from a horrible injury like this one. And you know it as well, it makes you feel really sorry and lonesome for some reason. But I will try to do better, and I'm sure once I finally get to the stage where I can walk up stairs again, will be much better for me...as right now I'm literally baby crawling up or down them...and it's not comfortable attempting to then leap up on one foot when your already 38 years old lol its rough
@@Always_Never I totally understand that, I did the same thing. I would even make a cup of tea put it on the floor and bum slide across the floor to the living room just so I didn’t have to ask for help… it’s horrible the feeling of how you’re feeling, but please stay as positive as you can cause every day is one day closer to be able to walk…. I will tell you the physio therapy isn’t fun, it always makes you think “it’s going to snap again”… any advice you’re more then welcome to ask me 😊
What are some common signs that the tendon may have lengthened? I have achilles injury for three months now, I have good dorsiflexion since the beginning but tendon still feels kind of squishy. I can flex my calf with resistance against my toes but at certain angles the calf flex is a lot weaker. I cannot stand on my toes yet
I rer ruptured my Achilles after 4 months of treating it the first time. The first rupture was complete and took the non surgical approach. Wearing boot for 3 months with wedges and PT for a month. After 4 weeks of PT I ruptured it again at the same spot. It did not get out into a boot for days. I am now in a boot with wedges for the last 4 weeks. Do I did to go through the same protocol as before and what are my long term prognosis after the delayed boot after the 2nd rupture? Will it ever heal? I don't have a calf anymore and will this affect the leg for strength in the future?
Thanks guys. That’s the first one I’ve watched fully without feeling ill. I ruptured my achilles whilst over energetically dancing at my nephew’s wedding 6 weeks ago. I’m a 52 year old ex-400m hurdler and was a bit worried that not having surgery was the right path for me. Your podcast has really put my mind at rest, as long I don’t return to hurdles. Cheers
Thank you so much for this video. I ruptured my achilles almost 3 weeks ago playing football. Went straight to the A&E, did an X ray and was put in a frontal cast. Went to the fracture clinic 10 days later and my doctor gave me the option of conservative or non surgery with pros and cons. I went for the conservative route and was put in a Vacoped boot for the past week now. I have another appointment with the doctor in 4 weeks to check progress. Like most people, my main worry is the likelihood of a rerupture but right now my focus is on full recovery.
Thank you for getting in touch. Really pleased to hear that all is going well so far. Glad you found it useful. Please follow us if you would like to keep up to date with our latest videos.
1st time i played football in 25 years. 5 minutes in and boom. despite cycling 400 kms a week... so surgery or not?! Thinking better to try the boot after listening to you guys. I like skiing and snowboarding, but very rarely do that. Great stuff guys thank you.
Hi, thank you for your feedback. Really glad that found it useful. I hope that you have found a good Orthopaedic specialist. Please follow our channel for more videos or take a look at our website blogs page. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
So my right tendon has been very sore for sometime but I have ruptured my left. Is it likely I might rupture my right now that I’m depending on my right leg to move?
Fantastic podcast, thank you Chris and Dr Singh. Ruptured achilles 1 week ago doing a beep test, presented to ED immediately, ultrasound confirmed 15mm gap in achilles and put in equinus cast. Confused whether to go conservative or operative. Saw orthopedic surgeon today to confirm the contention surrounding information on achilles rupture and what best to consent to, pros and cons (conservative vs operative), ultimately patient decides. Good to be as well informed as possible. This podcast confirmed the information, particularly benefits of acting early. I've chosen conservative, have a boot fitting next week and start rehab. I still hope to compete and represent the state in dragon boating end of April, when I hope to weight-bear without boot.
Hi, Thank you for taking the time to give feedback. We really hope that you are making good progress with your recovery and were able to compete earlier this year. best wishes
Fantastic video guys really helpful. I ruptured my Achilles on New Year’s Eve on the dance floor whilst on a cruise ship. The song was “haven’t stopped dancing yet” luckily the ships doctor put me in a boot the next day and I got to the fracture clinic on the 17th and now wearing the Vacoped boot which is great. Any links to exercises I should be doing whilst in the boot would be appreciated as couldn’t find much online thanks
The Indian chap is a little hard to understand. Background music makes it worse. So does all the yeah, yeah, yeahs. Otherwise great video. As an American doctor, I am surprised that every doctor or office doesn’t have an ultrasound machine. They are not that costly and so very convenient.
So I had ruptured my right Achilles tendon 2 yrs ago while playing high intensity squash . Managed it conservatively and was able to recover within a year and started playing after that again . Recently a few days ago while playing the same level of squash I ruptured my other leg’s tendon and now lying on bed trying to figure out what to do . The point I am trying to make is my previous Achilles tendon stayed intact and didn’t re rupture. Though in the last two yrs I have done a lot of physio and gym weight bearing activities to make it really strong.So May be early weight bearing and making the tendon really strong after that will help but be patient and take it slow . The key to recovery and getting back to sports I guess is patience starting it slow and gradually building up and be disciplined
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. Agreed, these injuries take time and it's important not to rush the rehab. Good luck with your recovery this time around.
Hey, great vid. Probably the best I have seen after watching nearly everything on UA-cam surrounding the topic following my Achilles rupture. I am 4 weeks and 4 days out of surgery in a vacupod boot, can walk without crutches with no pain, slight hobble. My surgeon has said don’t start any exercise until we get past week 8 but my physio said as long as I don’t stretch the tendon and use my heal it could be good to do some light work on the static exercise bike to get the blood flowing. What is you view on this. do you think the bike would be safe or you think so as I’m told by surgeon. Thanks 🙏
Thank you for the comment! I would touch base with a local physio who can assess your ankle before getting on the bike. Everyone heals differently and therefore should be assessed and treated slightly differently. Complete physio would be happy to see you in clinic if you need some help
Such a great amount of information being shared, too bad I couldn't hear it all with all of the overtalking and the microphones being far enough away to complicate the audio.
@@CompletePhysio Totally agree. Excellent content but overtalking by Chris and poor microphone placement for Sam meant that some of the most vital information was lost which could not be recovered by louder volume and replaying. That was a shame as otherwise, brilliant.
Complete tear over here...on both legs. Right leg 5 1/2 years ago and left 3 weeks. To me there was no conservative approach on either leg. It was surgery or being crippled the rest of my life
I am at week 7, UK NHS non surgery. I have not seen consultant since A&E on day 1, 2 weeks in a cast in the ballerina position, 6 weeks in a boot removing a heel wedge every 2 weeks. I start Physio next week. The tendon feels fat but strong and I have started full weight bearing and you really feel how weak the calf is. Still a long way to go but for those in the early stages, from week 4 - 6 you become a lot more mobile and walking around in the boot becomes a lot easier
Thank you so much for providing this valuable information about op vs non op with the achilles tendon rupture and also the best practices early in the injury process. In the US, most Orthopedic surgeons recommend surgery, so most clinics don't cast injured patients in 30 degrees plantar flexion, which is a huge disservice to the patient. I feel so fortunate that I was able to watch your video prior to my first Ortho appointment and demanded that I be placed in equinus at that first visit, which was within the 48 hour window. Your video allowed me to make an informed decision to go the non op route, which I'm forever grateful. The information that you and Dr. Singh provided should be incorporated as standard of care when dealing with acute achilles tendon. Keep up the fantastic work Chris Myers!
A really useful talk with lots of positive information, I am a 62 year old man, I ruptured my Achilles tendon just having a kick about with my grandson, I am going down the conservative route, my main concerns are getting back to some form of normality as soon as possible. I found this talk very useful, its was very reassuring, some very good pointers on what to do and what to be wary of.
Really sorry to hear about your injury, we hope you're on the mend. It can feel like quite a slow and daunting process. I'm glad that you found this talk useful, Sam is a very experienced foot and ankle consultant and we enjoyed picking his brains! If you would like some more help and guidance with your recovery journey, please get in touch with us. complete-physio.co.uk. We have other resources on our website, or you can book an appointment to see one of our Physiotherapists.
Great video. I tore my Achilles tendon 5 days ago playing football. I am 33 years old very fit athlete. I am due to meet the surgeon in a week. I am hoping for a full recovery. It is such an ugly injury. Thanks for your video and experiences. I hope your doing well..🙂
I hope your doing better man, its horrible and saddening...not being able to do anything and just sit there like a slug...how you doing 2 months later?
I went with the non operative treatment as advised by the orthopaedic surgeon. I was worried about same, but he promised I would return to my previous Level of activity. I am in the boot just over 8 weeks and will remain in it until 10 weeks. My foot feels good. There is no pain. It appears to be healing well. I gym regularly ( all upper body) with 20 minutes of stationary cycling every day. I regularly walk a good distance in the boot. I feel mobilising early and getting off the crutches sooner rather then later has helped me. I do my Achilles exercises daily and I feel things are going well..I am petrified of coming out of the boot. But I remain hopeful I am on the right road to recovery. 🙂
@@darcoman2 that's awesome news brother! I'm glad your doing very well, and it gave me hope as I went non surgery as well (however I'm only in week 1...so I gotta long road) that's good that the exercises your doing are strengthening it. How early in your recovery could you walk up stairs again? I for some reason can't get the crutches to help me (I'm 38...and not sure if my upper body is just not strong enough anymore) so I'm literally baby crawling up and down my steps...and getting up from that is a nightmare.
@@Always_Never I could walk weight bearing 3 weeks after being in a boot, but I mostly used crutches. I was in a soft cast for 12 days immediately after the rupture. And I started walking longer distances without crutches about 4 weeks after being in the boot. It takes time. Use the auxiliary crutches under your arm pits if you are unable to carry your weight. They will support you better then the hand crutches. It takes time, but you will get there.
Ruptured mine a few weeks back on holiday! got myself into a same day cast equinus (thankfully had holiday insurance) and saw Sam as soon as I got back, he looked at my ultrasounds and I basically said I’m not leaving until you agree to operate haha…I’m 51 and extremely active. To be fair he did discuss the option of non operative treatment but that was never an option for me. Post surgery Sam agreed it was the right choice as my tendon ends were a mess and it would never have healed together as well non surgically. I had open surgery and I believe the failure rates are lower than keyhole, although the recovery is longer (and of course there is infection risk as with any surgery). Open surgery also allows for a stronger suture as it’s easier to work on fully exposed. Sam used the Krackow suture technique which is a proven choice for strength. I am now nearly 3 weeks post op and one week in the Vacoped boot @20 degrees. I’m being religious in my rehab stretching from plantar flexing to neutral and toe crunches plus a little side isometrics. Nothing past neutral however. Non op Vs op depends on two factors, will the tendon ends realistically join? and secondly how much do you need FULL and maximum functionality restoring. Do not leave it to chance, get an ultrasound asap and a cast as a minimum within the first 24hrs as the longer you wait the less options you have. Sam’s been great, this is bread and butter for him and if you have the opportunity to see him for treatment, do it! Cheers!
Great to hear you both together from both sides of the professional spectrum. It would be useful to hear about the Physio required to get back to the sports i.e. football and what almost the criteria would be - thinking ROM, strength and the respective exercises you could recommend. Thanks in advance
Here to tell my story and possibly get more advice. I am 38 years old. Played sports my entire life. During the pandemic I stopped playing full court basketball. However, I was still very active. I played A LOT of disc golf, hiked, played basketball alone and went to the gym often. I moved back to my hometown and was asked to play in a winter adult basketball league with old friends. Of course, let's go! The first game I played EVERY minute of the game. No issues. The next day I went to work as a drone pilot. Then the following day (2 days after first game) I had another basketball game. During our short warm up period, I complained how slippery the floor was. But, I played every minute of the first half. Sure enough, the start of the second half I made an "explosive" move and then jumped up to shoot but when I landed it felt like someone kicked me in the back of the leg. Mind you, I have never been injured in my entire life. Not even a sprained ankle. So, in my head I thought "oh, this must be a badly sprained ankle". Believe it or not, I went BACK in and played the rest of the game! I drove home afterwards. I did ice it and elevate my foot because I thought it was a sprained ankle. The next day I went to work and hobbled around. It wasn't until 48 hours after when I realized this is probably not a sprained ankle. I went to the doctor and he confirmed it was a ruptured achilles. I got an ultrasound that essentially confirmed it to be a full rupture but a "mid tear". I've been in a boot since the 3rd day. HERE IS THE WORST PART THOUGH. I was getting married in 2 weeks! Extremely unfortunate circumstance all the way around. I ended up wearing a boot the entire wedding while weight bearing but crutching long distances since now it was the 3 week mark. Fast forward to yesterday, exactly 1 month since rupture. I had a follow up with the Ortho. I don't like how nonchalant he was but maybe that's a good thing? His PA saw me the first time so this is his first time seeing me. He comes in, looks at the achilles and says "ah this is healing nicely and it's even filling in already". I'm not sure how he knows that just by touching it but who am I to question it? I started with 3 wedges in the boot. At the 3 week mark I went down to 2 wedges. He told me take it down to 1 wedge after one more week. Since it is my right foot I haven't been able to dive but he said I could try driving in 10-14 more days and start wearing normal shoe with the insert he gave me. I am a little hesitant with all of this. I seem to get mixed messages from people I know who also ruptured achilles and information online. A month later and I am still seeking answers and in disbelief. The hardest part to me is the mental aspect moving forward. I don't think I can ever play the sport I love (basketball) ever again. I don't know how to trust my achilles ever again. I know there are no warning signs and it's very rare but that actually makes it worse in my mind. The Ortho told me I could play Disc Golf again in another 4-5 months. I am not even sure he knows what Disc Golf is. But it seems crazy that I won't be able to play Disc Golf until basically the 6 month mark but he wants me to walk at the 6 week mark? I am just looking for advice, encouragement, similar stories, etc etc. Thank you!
I’m looking for answers too. Ruptured fully during basketball game. Walked around the gym for bit, went home, walk to hospital next day, they got my in a boot at 22 degrees. Not sure if I should go op or none op. Late 30’s but I don’t want to stop playing basketball, I’m still active enough to hang with high school kids on the floor. Going to get mri tomorrow. If only there were more professional athletes who done the non op route to balance the statistics. I hate how all competitive people are forced pretty much for op. Would be nice to see if there is no difference from conservative ways. I don’t mind the extra rehab but I do mind the results. I want best results and safety, I can wait if need be. Thoughts.
There’s a reason athletes get the op, the stats show the likelihood of rerupture is less and additionally the suture strength is higher with open surgery over keyhole.
Had my MRI yesterday and consultant talk today. So I've a rupture, and minor injuries told me it wasn't ruptured, so it was a late presentation. This has convinced me (as the surgeon basically said this morning) that I need the surgery. I'm very physically active, so it's going to have to be surgery.
Thank you for this video, it’s been very helpful. I suffered a full rupture playing basketball in February. I had surgery and the incision site was infected which meant weeks in hospital on IV antibiotics. The day after getting out I slipped in the bathroom and suffered a rerupture. Second repair completed at the start of may and now 15 weeks on I’m starting to feel progress and it’s nice to be walking without any wedges for the past few weeks. This video gave me a lot of reassurance for what has been a concerning period, thank you.
Hi, I'm really pleased that you found our video helpful. It sounds like you have been incredibly unlucky with your recovery and managing some nasty setbacks. It's great to hear that you are on the mend though - good luck with the rest of your rehab. Best Wishes
I’ve ruptured my Achilles 3 weeks ago playing football, put in a boot two days later via A&E after doctor had to consult someone after I had an appointment with him. Seen the consultant the day after who confirmed rupture. He just told me to keep boot on till 8 weeks and go back to see him. Nothing about Blood thinners, told me I didn’t need crutches and I was ok to walk about. Went for an ultra scan this week organised by my Doctor which found it to be abnormal and they sent it off to the consultant but I’ve heard nothing back from him. Got this boot on 24/7 with three wedges in taking one out every two weeks but feel like I’ve just been left to get on with life by the NHS plus foot is still swollen three weeks later! My biggest fear is going back at 8 weeks and they then say it’s not healing so need a op!
That sounds like a terrible experience with NHS. I hope everything works out for you and you're able to return to your life without pain ASAP. I also haven't heard any mention of blood thinners from my surgeon. I ruptured playing football (soccer) just over 3 weeks ago now and went to Emergency within a few hours and put into a plaster cast in equinus, ultrasound confirmed full tear the following day. Had a consult with the surgeon about a week and a half later and was offered conservative treatment, which they seemed to be strongly encouraging by telling me "you don't need to do the op but you can if you want." I chose to operate due to my active lifestyle and was done the next day. Just had a follow-up with the surgeon yesterday and everything looks good, no infection and movement is fine. Protocol is a fibreglass cast in less equinus for 4 weeks then into a walking boot with physio. Any actual guidance during these 4 weeks was reduced to "do some toe movements." I've watched this discussion once or twice now since the rupture and it's really amazing information and I wish most surgeons and physios were able to communicate with their patients to this level. In the meantime, I've found some PDF guides on some stretches and range of motion exercises to retain strength and motion in the injured leg online
I wish I would have seen this video earlier. ER doc said I only had a muscle contusion after snowboarding accident. Left ER with an ankle brace at 90 degree angle followed by a 5hr manual shift drive home. I then got an MRI showing partial Achilles tear with complete calf muscle tear. (Skeptical of the partial tear after this video) Ortho doc said to go surgical route which I will do now since I went two weeks without plantar flexion knowledge. Hopefully it heals up and too much blood/fat hasn't accumulated.
This was fantastic to have access to this information, thank you for posting this. I’m one week into conservative treatment on the NHS. I knew immediately that I’d ruptured my tendon and went straight to A&E. they confirmed the injury and put me in a half cast, foot pointing down etc. I was then booked into the fracture clinic 3 days later. I was not given the option of surgery even though I’m very active. They put me in a Vaco Ped boot. Long road ahead but now feel much more informed and prepared. Thanks again
34 ruptured playing basketball 10 days ago. I want to return to being active. My doctor is pushing me towards non surgical. It’s very frustrating because I want to just have them fix it. Health care system is wack here in USA so feels like I’m now being forced into just letting it heal on its own smh
great conversation but a bit misleading, I had my surgery 2wk ago and my MD gave me example of another person who tried to avoid surgery at all cost… after 6mo of waiting tendon still had the same gap and didn’t heal at all, end up having surgery after 6mo of misery, another aspect of non surgical approach is ; when it actually will heal it will always be elongated which will potentially affect your gait for years. Also the diet was never mentioned…
Thank you for your time in making this video. Can you answer this please. If not reattached surgically then how does the tendon reattach or mend back together with strength? I’m two and a half weeks into a Achilles rupture and currently going through the non surgical conservative route and just worried I’m not making the right choice in not getting surgery. I’m 30 years old and just want to be able to run/jog and work out in the gym and play recreation sport with my child.. not looking into getting back into physical sport. Thanks again for this informative video!
Scar tissue forms in between the ruptured space and heals to replicate the tendon. But might not be as strong hence a lot of rehab will make it close to being strong again as originally but will never feel the same.
@@MrStewiess Hey man, sorry your going through this as well. I understand how mentally hard this injury is. I’m doing pretty well and I notice the tendon definitely healing with the range of motion I can do. I am going on week 7 and as of now I’m still in the cam walking air boot with 3 wedges pointed in a plantar flex position. I got to my next appointment in a couple days to remove a wedge. I have only got clear to do some range of motion exercises and partial weight bear with wearing the boot about 25-50% weight bear with the help of crutches depending on how I feel. I feel if you are smart about letting your tendon heal and doing rehab as instructed that the outcome can be good. Definitely have to put in the time and getting the calf and tendon strong again if you want to feel like your back to some sort of normal. It’s just a long process and have to be mentally prepared to get yourself physically prepared for the physical therapy you have to do.
@@johnnyo6416 Thanks for getting back to me and I hope you are still on to path to recovery. On week 5 I am already starting to weight bare 50% with my cast. In 2 days I get an actual walking cast. After that on week 6 I get small ankle support called an achillotrain. As you mention the mental part of it is challenging and think it will be something I will need to overcome to return to full strength. The thought of a re-rupture is scary, but we need to find the balance of keeping active, but getting enough rest for healing and not to over do it to do damage. I was always scared of this injury and now I know why. All the best and speedy recovery to all suffering this injury!!
Great chat from Chris and Sam, cheered me up and gave me plenty of laughter as I recover from my surgery yesterday. It's been just over a week since I raptured my achilles tendon play 5-aside 😅 keen to get back to scoring worldies so found the tips to be very helpful!
Ruptured 3/26 8pm. Walked on it no boot that night. Iced it until midnight. Walked on it (limping), for a bit until noon next day. Not much pain thank God. Got confirmed by Thompson test at specialist. They gave me a boot with heal double pad, I think like at 22 degrees. Took X-ray same day. Been walking WITHoUT crutches but in boot (heal light load) mostly skipping. Is some load ok on the heal? Getting scooter tomorrow and crutches. Getting MRI tomorrow. Should I request ultrasound too? I am very athletic, play basketball almost 40 but still play like a 25 year old. I don’t want to stop but I’m not getting paid to play either, so i don’t need the speed fast recovery from surgery, I just need less risks and best results. Should I op or non op even if mri shows things progressing well? My bed has the ability to elevate the feet, I’ve been doing that all night while waring boot. Should I continue to elevate my feet while I sleep?
Hi John. My name is Nick and I ruptured my achilles on the 4/11. I’ve created a WhatsApp group where a bunch of us can share about our recovery journey. Are you interested in joining?
Funny I said it felt like someone kicked me I turnt around and didn’t see anyone and thought oh no. It was painful so I was hoping it wasn’t a full rupture. It was just found out 2 hours ago.
STORY THEN QUESTION in the last sentence... I felt a pop while playing pickleball, It was shocking and somewhat painful but mostly shocking. I stopped the game but there was no severe pain so I continued to play 3 more games! The next day I woke up with some pain but definitely limping. I stopped all physical activity besides walking to and from my internship office. that was 6 days ago. ( i had just lost my Medicaid benefits a few days before so I did not go to a doctor.) Yesterday I walked a little too fast chasing after a child and the pain is back. I did research on youtube (as all underinsured graduate students do) and realized I need to stay off of it completely and put my foot in a boot with a heel. currently applying for affordable health insurance to get it checked out by a professional. Feeling discouraged that I didn't do something about it sooner and even more disappointed that I didn't know I could apply for affordable health insurance after being disqualified from Medicaid. Physical activity is my coping skill for stress and anxiety so I'm feeling really sad about how long recovery could take. Are there any exercises I CAN do while I am in recovery? thank you
The best thing to do is get booked in with a physio with experience in rehabing Achilles ruptures. They will then be able to give you safe advice that is right for you. We would be happy to see you at Complete physio
2 steps missing @ bottom staircase in a gym and I overlooked and overstepped 1 feet down breaking achilles tendon at Tilburg NL. Dr told me.nothing happened . 14 days I roamed, Came back to India and consulted Ortho who did surgery, Now 15 weeks PO, Advised 50% weight bearing 10 days and 75 WB for 3 month
Hi, Different surgeons have different post op protocols, and advice will vary somewhat depending on each individual case. Delayed surgery following a rupture often requires a more conservative approach post op. Good luck with your recovery. Thank you for watching our video, if you are interested in keeping up to date with our content then please subscribe to our channel. Best wishes
Tore my Achilles playing football on the 26th of July. Had surgery 2 days later. Splinted for 10 days and now Doc has me in a cast for 3 weeks in plantar flexion. Than replace cast with another in dorsiflexion for 3 weeks. From there he said I will move into a CAM boot with no wedges and begin PT. Is this normal protocol for recovery? (I am 25, in really good shape).
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. I hope the rehab is going well. It sounds like a fairly standard approach, however, post op protocols can differ depending on a number of factors, it is best to speak to your specialist or physio if you have any concerns
I am 69y.o ruptured my achilles tendon last 2 weeks which AE applied cast. Seen ortho and trauma orthopedics today, he did remove the cast and did ultrsound today and told me i will not have surgery instead he xplained the need for a walking boot as the gap from ruptured tendon will be healed with the help of this boot (its called Vacoped) . I felt weird after i tried having few steps with the help of my zframe. The wedge sole of the boot is awkward looks bulky as i have short leg and small feet,but i can weight bear better than hopping on with zframe. My question is i've started to feel pain on the achilles area 2 hrs after wearing this boot. Is this normal? Can I travel abroad on an airplane in mid of November on 17hrs flight?
There is bound to be some discomfort in and around the achilles, however if the pain is not settling or getting worse, then you should speak to your orthopaedic specialist. Regarding flying, there are not usually flying restrictions with TA ruptures, or when wearing a boot, but again you should discuss it with your consultant.
Thank you Chris and Sam, very informative discussion. I just ruptured my Achilles 48 hours ago and visited A&E immediately after confirmation with ultrasound for a complete tear. Good to know the outlook on treatments.
@@Hooleyboi26 Wow 18 days for what??? That's a long wait. I had surgery after 12 days and that included a bank holiday weekend in Canada. Are you in UK? Does the NHS give you the option for surgical treatment there?
I snapped my accilles on my right foot some 10 yrs ago went to gp he basically said yup thats what youve done take 3 weeks off work ,he didnt say i needed a boot or physio, people may be thinking you didnt snap your Achilles well i can tell you i thought someone had wiped my leg with electric cable so i think i very much had ,luckly it healed well on its own ,ive now snapped my left Achilles and again ive only been given crutches and ive been told to go back in 4 weeks and they may consider giving me a cortisone injection
Glad that the first one recovered well. You might consider getting a second opinion with regards to how your injury is being managed though, it is not usual for the ankle not to be mobilised for a period of time after a ruptured Achilles. Good luck and speedy recovery.
This is a great video. Really helpful. A&E NHS provided boot, 4 wedges & injections to thin blood. A virtual clinic then confirmed conservative care plan with consult after 6 weeks. I was lucky enough to see specialist & have ultra sound after 3 weeks 2 days which confirmed healing and connection. Specialist removed 1 wedge & suggested I remove another 3 days later, which I have just done. I have started walking around block - at first tentatively but in days stronger. A long road ahead.
I have a very specific question. I am about 4 weeks out now from my achilles rupture and have taken the conservative route. Should my injured foot be in plantar flexion now when dangling or is there still some time before that happens?
Hi, it can take a while for your Achilles tendon to knit back together and for the fibres to strengthen, however if you are concerned then it is vital that you speak to your orthopaedic consultant or Physiotherapist as soon as possible.
My achilles tendon was damaged as aside effect from antibiotics and been 4 months lost the muscle and still no improvement going for a scan what is your advice please
Hi, Great that you are having a scan. I hope that you get a clear diagnosis and treatment plan in place. If you would like more information please follow our channel. We have other videos and information on our website too. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
I did mine Achilles (footy) last Tuesday 07/03/2023. Had rupture confirm at A&E the next day and foot put into ballerina position. (In cast and on blood thinners ). Having follow up appointment on the 20th. Question: should I actively be wiggling my toes to aid healing process or is this bad ? 47 years old and stilling wanting to play football after healing. Found the video very informative.
Hi, Very glad that you found this video useful. We hope that you are very much on the mend following your injury, it can be a lengthy and frustrating process, but with consistency and hard work, i'm sure you'll make it back on the football field! We wish you all the best.
33M ruptured last week., highly active. If you go conservative, at what week is it safe to assume the tendon has reattached/healed? Or can only a scan prove that?
Terrific discussion and some interesting thoughts from both of you. I'm now six weeks post surgery and it's recovering nicely. I can happily weight-bear both in and out of the boot and I've managed to avoid doing anything daft to set back recovery. The boot is due to come off at eight weeks and physio starts straight afterwards, although as recommended in the video I still intend to wear the boot when out and about. I'm 59 years old and ruptured the right Achilles playing in a charity football match, which in hindsight was a huge error on my part. I hobbled around for several weeks thinking it was a bad ankle sprain or potential Achilles tear, and by the time a total rupture was diagnosed, surgery was the only option. I had VY plasty/FHL transfer surgery to repair a 6cm gap and this was nine weeks after the rupture occurred, which I believe is close to the time limit for surgery to be considered an option. Everything seemed to go well and, as I'm not planning to ever play football again (!), it was clearly the best approach. Many thanks for posting the vid.
Fabulous! This is really great to hear. Thank you for your response. Good luck with your rehab and if we can be of any help please get in touch. complete-physio.co.uk
Really enjoyed this. Found it informative and honest. Ruptured mine playing tennis at the weekend. Knew what it was straight away. All the classic symptoms so no need for x-ray. A&E same day and been in a boot since. Was told surgery shouldn't be necessary and advised to go down the conservative route... but although not a professional... tennis is my main sport, fitness, and social outlet... so I was surprised he didn't suffest surgery. I was feeling the physio's perspective here in saying (summarised), "I don't want to spend weeks doing this boot thing and it not to work!"
Glad that you found it useful. Good luck with your recovery. Please like and follow our channel for up to date videos. You can also fine lots of useful information on our website. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
I tore mine when being chased by a dog. Im questioning my choice of.ortho. No "bedside manner". No empathy. Didnt listen or even ask how i was doing until she was halfway out the door and tossed it over her shoulder.
Hi, its important that you feel happy with the specialist that you are seeing. I hope that you find someone that you trust and that you recover quickly. Good luck. Please follow our channel for more up to date videos.
I just rupture my achilles tendon doing MMA Boxing foot work drills i been doing since high school im 36 i never been so scared in my life, thanks a lot for the information I have decided to go with conservative treatment
Hi, I'm really sorry to hear about your injury. It is incredibly daunting and scary when you are someone who is so active but i'm glad that you have found this video useful. Wish you all the best with your rehab and recovery. If you would like up today info and advice, please like and follow our channel. You can also fine lots of useful blogs on our website. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
I’ve had bad advice. I got in a boot after 36 hours and I was told I may have a partial tear. The boot has been angling my foot at 90 degrees for five days. I just put something in the boot under my heel to change the angle. Am I too late?
That sucks! I had the same experience but luckily had seen a video about the necessity of wedges in the heel to ensure the angle was conducive for healing. The ortho had left and the nurse apparently was unaware of the heel lifts and I kept saying on UA-cam they always have heal lifts. I don’t think she had dealt with this before but when explained I would be in pain without the lifts she went back to the ortho and then they gave me a stack of the lifts to adjust myself.
I ruptured my achiles tendon July last year. Spent 4 months in a boot. Had to wear 247 including to bed so i know how it feels. Now fast forward just over a year and it has gone again 😢😢😢
Really sorry to hear this! We have a lot of videos and information on our website and youtube channel. complete-physio.co.uk/?s=achilles Speedy recovery.
Thanks for the video. I’m about 2.5 weeks post-op and just switched to a boot. The problem is, I have pretty bad nerve pain that is aggravated while in the boot. I’d love to start weight bearing and putting more tension on my tendon but it’s just painful when I do it. Any advice?
Hi There, where are you getting nerve pain? Are you using crutches to very gently weight-bear? My advice would be to go and see your physio to get some advice on treating the nerve pain, and also some help with slowing increasing your weigh bearing.
@@CompletePhysio thanks for the reply. I’m getting nerve pain on outside of my right foot, most notable in the area below my ankle bone and my heel, all the way to my pinky toe. I have started using crutches with the boot and it has gotten a little better since taking some pain meds for the nerve pain.
Hi Glen. My name is Nick and I ruptured my achilles on the 4/11. I’ve created a WhatsApp group where a bunch of us can share about our recovery journey. Are you interested in joining?
I’m in week 10 since my operation. I had a rupture in May, playing tennis (58 years old and just returned to the sport after 20 odd years or so). My initial treatment was to have it conservatively managed in the wedged boot and then re-ruptured it in July at week 10. It took until 2nd week September before it got operated on and it is now 3rd week of November. Everything is going very well and I am walking again, albeit not smoothly and not full stride. When I go into an environment where I am not in full control because there are crowds, my boot comes with me (on me). My NHS physio is fantastic, I am seeing him every 2 weeks and he gives me great confidence to push things further during my rehab than I would if I was left on my own. As soon after initial treatment as you can, whether conservative or operative, exercise (obviously not possible if you are in a cast). Wear your boot and load the tendon. I rowed (on a Concept 2) initially with my booted foot on the floor and then high, resting on the stirrup. I was able to weight train and using ankle weights, I was able to exercise all the major muscle groups (barring my calfs) in my injured leg. I started cycling on an ergo last week and swimming this week (swimming was always my main sport) and the benefits felt immediate. I am also driving - my ankle is strong in plantar flexion and I feel very confident with it. When swimming had to be very careful entering and especially exiting the pool as the old pool only has ladders. For the next few weeks I will remain cautious with my aim to be able to walk without a limp by Christmas (week 16). It’s going to be a long road ahead but I am already enjoying the freedom of moving around that I missed so much
Had a failed conservative treatment (re-rupture) myself and then had surgery to fix it. I can totally sympathize it’s a long road back but important to remain positive throughout the process.
I wish my doctor had of explained even half of this when I visited him on Day 1 after Rupturing my Achilles. Good information, I hope I did not leave it that long to get into a Boot with a heel raiser. Thanks for this video, very informative.
Hi, Very glad that you found it useful. Thank you for taking the time to comment. If you would like to keep up to date with all our latest information and videos then please subscribe to our channel. Hope the rehab process goes smoothly and you are back on the cricket pitch by next season. All the best
Thank you so very much! My husband ruptured this weekend and I’m a therapist and this has helped me be up to date with the information we need moving forward into the recovery process following surgery in 2 days:)
Ruptured my Achilles left ankle on 5 days ago, saw orthopedic 3 days later. Put me cast for 2 weeks as of rn. Apparently will get a boot after that. I'll keep yall posted.
Thanks for getting in touch. Good luck with your recovery journey. We have lots of advice and videos on our youtube channel and website if you'd like to give us a follow. complete-physio.co.uk/?s=achilles. Let us know how you're doing. Best Wishes
@@hooks210 I bet you felt wonderful, just to walk and jog again. It's so saddening and depressing when the ability to walk or even take care of yourself gets taken away from you. I'm glad your nearly there! Quick question, do you remember how soon it was for you to be able to walk up stairs again?
Did my Achilles rupture in January this year. Non surgery. Had boot on for 4 months and slept with it on. 70 years old and been playing squash since I was 24. Had my first game in September since it happened. Took it steady and walked to shots end it felt comfortable. I walk miles daily and continue to use the exercises I was given from the physio dept at local hospital. I do everything that I did b4 the rupture and I am pleased with my recovery.
Did you weight-bear the whole time?
Happy for you! I'm 2 weeks after surgery myself, gives me hope that I will be able to play basketball comfortably!
When did you start wearing the boot after your injury?
Wonderful! 🙏🏾
Did you have any pain when you were able to bear weight on ?
I'm 32 and I ruptured my Achilles whilst playing squash approx a month and a bit ago. It was a sudden and out of nowhere loud snap! The night of injury was taken to NHS injuries, I was there for approx 3 hours during that time I was seen twice and at the end I was given crutches, medical boot and blood thinner tablets. Went to NHS outpatients 2 weeks later, and was given an ultrasound appointment which happened to be a couple of days later. The doctor looking after me at first was hesitant to go down the surgery route, that was before the ultrasound. Once he saw the scan, he suggested surgery as it appeared a decent sized chunk was missing and because I play quite a bit of competitive sports and generally very active he felt this was the best route. It's been just over a week since I had surgery, now in a hard cast fixed on a position. Just waiting for the follow up appointment to take the cast and stitches off and take it from there. All in all, it's going to be a long and patient recovery. Looking forward to being able to walk again! On a sidenote, my experience with the NHS has been fantastic. Everyone I've come across has dealt with me in a positive and constructive manner. The waiting times for follow up appointments have not been long. This has been my first major injury and has been well cared for, looking forward to getting back to action once it all heals up.
I just tore mine today man I feel you
Hi,just following up on your recovery?
@@mumtaazl8159 hey, been 4 months post surgery. My mobility and flexibility has somewhat returned, been driving and cycling for approx a month or so (great feeling!) . Been getting private physio to aid in my recovery. The longest recovery phase will be building UK strength again, that will take time. I can do standing calf raises with bodyweight, dumbell calf raise on my injured leg with a 10kg dumbell. The next aim is to work towards being able to do a standing raise on the injured leg only (via the calf raise machine). There is slight pain in the ankle area which is expected since it's been out of action for so long. All in all, the recovery has been great. The physio and NHS are very happy with the recovery rate I'm experiencing. They suggest I could be playing sports around September time but I'm perhaps best not to bother playing any sports this year, rather build the tendon back up again and strengthen it fully!
@@taz4382 When did you start walking and driving again?
Tore mine 5 days ago. Wishing you a quick recovery! Did you use spinal or general anaesthesia
I ruptured my Achilles two weeks ago. Went to an NHS MIU the next day, earliest I could. Nurse immediately decided it was a rupture. Got a second opinion from an arrogant doctor who was on his way home but had to see me. A 32 year old male who felt like he’d been kicked in the back of the leg, felt a pop and now had a positive Thompson test. He just said “give it two weeks and see how you get on. If there’s any pain maybe we’ll do an ultrasound” and overruled the nurse who then changed her tune. Travelled back to my home city and got a second opinion the next day, immediately put me in a boot as a cut and dry obvious Achilles rupture. They were speechless when told about the doctors advice. The NHS is an absolute shambles.
(I should add, the doctor came into the room in jeans and t shirt swinging his car keys. Made it clear he wasn’t happy having to stay on. Didn’t ask me my name or provide his. Couldn’t get me out quick enough haha)
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.
Ruptured mines at the age of 20 in the military during pt. Felt like someone kicked me in the back of the leg as well then felt like the ground was sinking afterwards followed by intense localized pain. I told the Dr and nurses but still had to wait until the morning for ortho to do the Thompson test again for confirmation. Now I have reoccurring abscesses on the surgical site.....warning signs of potential ruptured Achilles tendon . shoes affect your feet. Also lack of stretching. You should stretch more than you lift. Shin splints are a sign that your legs are stressed out muscles ligaments ALL. Dehydration shrinks everything in your body causing more inflammation. Side note h302 is way better than h20 for optimum health . I'm a testimony
@@kuladeeluxe sounds like a shambles.
Looks like I got lucky in that mine did heal ok, I’m out of the boot completely and into physio now. Week 15 post rupture and can do two footed heal raises for 4 sets of 12+.
Walking ok but with a mild limp - trying to actively improve this. Doing indoor cycling, building up from 12 minute sessions. Some of this prescribed by the NHS and some me using common sense.
My physio sessions had to be cancelled twice due to staff illness so had a week and a half without prescribed physio. Both times I only found out after walking all the way into the waiting room of the medical centre which took an hour each time.
The process should absolutely be:
1. Thompson test. If negative:
a. Immediately into boot with wedges.
b. Arrange ultrasound.
2. If ultrasound shows tendon ends are in appropriate position to heal non-surgically and patient is a non-pro athlete, recommend non-surgical.
3. Else if strong reason to suspect tendon won’t heal, recommend surgery.
4. Once boot is off, physio and if patient requests it they should be able to pay for an additional ultrasound near the end of the physio process so they have more info about the state of their tendon for future reference and causal return to sport.
Unfortunately, I feel there’s a dangerous mix of a lack of funding to afford all this, massive operational inefficiencies, and arrogance form medical professionals which prevent this.
Biggest issue atm is foot is still swollen and I only fit into a couple of my old pairs of hiking boots haha. Hopefully that comes down in the coming month or two, or I’ve got a now useless sizeable shoe collection haha
I don't like the constant unfinished sentences. Let each other finish talking please.
Yeah very hard to follow interview
That mustache guy keep interrupting the talk. Can't hear some important part
yeah its so annoying the guy on the right is saying some really interesting stuff and he just constantly interrupts
Rupture mine playing bball. Age 37 on 10/9/22. Had surgery 2 days later. Wish me luck
How do you feel? I’m in decision mode still and like to play a lot of basketball
I'm 35 and in week 2 of recovery after tearing my achilles playing basketball. I confirmed it was rough play from an opponent, looks like he kicked my heel, from reviewing the CCTV footage. Tore the tendon right off the bone. Had successful surgery, watched the whole thing while on epidural. Had the cast for 1 week and now in the airboot. I can already flex my calf muscle thanks to starting physio this week. Already had 5 sessions and the team say I could be walking in another 3 weeks. Quick recovery to all of you
Have been playing basketball with no issues? Feel like you are the same?
Thank you for this very informative video. In the future it would help if the interviewer would let the guest speaker finish his thought before interrupting. It felt like there was too much talking over one another and couldn’t make out what either person was saying.
This is superb - very informative and open conversation. I am in week 3 of conservative treatment here in the Netherlands. This is the plan I am on......4 weeks in a cast not load bearing, followed by 2 weeks in a walking cast which I will be able to bear weight on. Following that after week six I will be given an achillotrain support brace to walk in. Do you have any experience with this in the UK?
they gave me plaster for only 8 days, then acchillotrain, very very strange, coz my calf did not move at all 2 weeks after the injury, yet they decided I should start weight bearing 🤔 in the Netherlands as well, this month I am going to see a doctor in Hungary and we'll try to find out how much the tissues have healed and if my progress is normal or not, if my Achilles got any longer...
That's interesting, I don't see these training braces at all in any protocol in North America. I'm just finishing week 2 post-op in Canada and I'm in a fibreglass cast until week 6 then into a walking boot (Air Cast). Hope your recovery is going well.
How is it going?Im probably going to have the same treatment
I know 2 people in their 30s who raptured their Achilles from running. One took the surgery route while the other took the no- intervention route. Luckily they’re both back to running after recovery.
Great! This goes to show that you shouldn't jump straight into surgery!
Wow, I’m in Japan and my doctor said I need surgery from his first touch. I had to talk to him about conservative method and he said conservative is much more likely to re rupture.
Btw I’m 52 and was hoping to start getting fit enough to play squash next year. I’ve thrown that into the bin.
I’m more concerned how long can I work in a nursery daycare environment again
Fantastic reassuring video. I popped mine Wednesday evening and went to a&e wirhin a couple of hours. Bless the staff they whacked on a pot within 3 hours. Got my follow up in a few days. Alhamdollilah
Hi, Really glad you found it useful, thank for the feedback.
We have lots of info and videos on TA ruptures so check out our website complete-physio.co.uk, and give our channel a follow!
Good luck with the recovery process, hope it goes smoothly.
Excellent chat ! I can relate on many points.
I’m 33 returning playing basketball. I didn’t see this coming, I though I’ve been hit by the back.
Currently in week 4 of conservative treatement…
With the conservative treatment and a good rehab, will I have chance to get back at the same level in basketball ?
Should I fear a re-rupture after 1 year once I’m back at it ???
Cheers and good luck to everybody healing from this injury 😉
Same here. 33 years old Tore my Achilles last week playing basketball.
How are you feeling and doing now?
@@JustAskBarit’s been 11 week now, I’m doing good. I’m walking in normal shoes 👟 with a limp. The progress comes very progressively and requires time. Week after week you will notice small improvements 📈 so be patient !!
Just fk my shit up today turn 30 on October bro I think it's ruptured thoe currently at urgent care
@@kaycebrown4848 good luck man ! If you feel it’s rupted, it is ! Let us know and good luck 🍀
Hey so the doctor from urent care Said it's a bad strain since my tendon is basically still attached on my heels I can move my foot up n can still walk but ima go get x-rays to make sure it is that
It is not painful? I almost lost consiousness 3 times because of the pain... Full rupture... 6 weeks ago almost... Shivers still go through my spine when I think about it! But yeah.. Before covid I was always active... with covid I quit sports.. after covid I started kickboxing again this spring! After 5 weeks it happened when I went all in...
I guess because of the pain I felt I am very serious despite non-op! I am very careful!
I am confused about all the different protocols though.. In many hospitals here you get a 2 weeks cast in 30% pointing down.. and after 2 weeks you get an achillotrain.. and thats it.. I got a cast for 6 weeks and should have been at neutral position according to my hospitals protocol.. But I am still at 15%. Still got the achillotrain.. and now I have to figure out life.. Luckily there is the internet... Bought myself a vacoped...
For someone going NHS route getting advice from specialists is very valuable. Thank you 🙌. I'm getting the impression the NHS has different protocols and levels of experience depending on the hospital or consultant. I'm 35, very active, a PT and competitive sports man. Took two weeks to get an Ultrasound on NHS. Told literally nothing before then and even after. Easily got more from this podcast alone. I've decided to pay for private advice and physio (at Complete Physio in fact) now which I regret not doing earlier.
Great! Hope to see you in clinic soon! Good luck with your rehab
Surprised to hear the part about blood thinners being absolutely mandatory. My doctor put it completely in my hands to decide. She almost suggested if it was her she wouldn’t bother with it. But she said she can’t make the decision and I have to decide.
I didn’t feel qualified to make that decision because I’m a patient and not a medical professional haha. In the end I decided to take them as we have a family history of strokes etc. and everything has been fine so far. I’ve had such a terrible experience from an NHS perspective with an initial misdiagnosis, lack of communication, boots being the wrong size, etc.
It just seems like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing in the NHS atm.
I think there is an awful lot of pressure on the NHS at the moment and ball are certainly being dropped!
With regards to blood thinners; different doctors and hospital trusts will often have different policies.
I'm glad to hear that everything is going well so far though. Good luck with the recovery and rehab. If we can be of any help, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
complete-physio.co.uk
Excellent video. I found it really helpful. Reassuring too in the first week of post-ATR turmoil.
Many thanks to both of you for producing it.
I’m in my early 30s and ruptured my Achilles doing parkour. The NHS doctor decided not to operate which is devastating to me. 8 months later, no real guidance was given to me. I’m scared I’ll never run and compete again. Help, please.
Did you ever get a solution to this?
Giving blood thinners does not help prevent thrombosis in patients who have their lower leg in a cast or who have undergone keyhole surgery on the knee. This is evident from a study by the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The researchers therefore advise doctors against routinely prescribing preventive anticoagulation to these patients. Doctors can only consider this in patients with a high risk of thrombosis. The results of the study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
This study was designed to weigh the pros and cons of anticoagulation treatment. A total of 3,000 patients participated: 1,500 patients with lower leg casts and 1,500 patients who underwent keyhole surgery on the knee. By fate, half of all patients received blood thinners and the other half received no medications.
Approximately the same number of patients in both groups developed a thrombosed leg or a pulmonary embolism. The results showed convincingly that there is no point in giving every patient anticoagulation, the researchers said. They do not recommend prescribing preventive anticoagulation for everyone. Doctors can only consider doing this in high-risk patients.
I ruptured my Achilles tendon 2 months ago and had surgery. I’m guilty of playing football for the first time in 5 years, I had knee and ankle injuries and something in my mind said I could play through the pain, I’ll be fine and BOOM snapped my Achilles tendon 🤣🤣… when my ruptured my Achilles I felt like someone booted me and I turned around and started accusing people of kicking me 🤣🤣 no one was near me 🤣…. Anyone recovering from this I genuinely feel for you, it’s a long road and I am starting to get on my foot with wedges.
How are you feeling man? You walking yet? It is horrible...im still only in week 1...and its the saddest and most difficult part of life ive ever dealt with.
@@Always_Never keep your head up, have you had a operation?? I will tell you this it’s going to get worse, the not being able to do nothing for yourself becomes so testing. But you’ve got to listen to all the advice you’ve been given it takes a long time to heal.. I’m walking now but very slowly and my leg is so skinny. I’ve always played sports and gone the gym and now my leg is like a pencil.
@@Robbo-lw4dd thank you for the support and love brother...its a very daunting task at hand, with trying to recover from a horrible injury like this one. And you know it as well, it makes you feel really sorry and lonesome for some reason. But I will try to do better, and I'm sure once I finally get to the stage where I can walk up stairs again, will be much better for me...as right now I'm literally baby crawling up or down them...and it's not comfortable attempting to then leap up on one foot when your already 38 years old lol its rough
@@Always_Never I totally understand that, I did the same thing. I would even make a cup of tea put it on the floor and bum slide across the floor to the living room just so I didn’t have to ask for help… it’s horrible the feeling of how you’re feeling, but please stay as positive as you can cause every day is one day closer to be able to walk…. I will tell you the physio therapy isn’t fun, it always makes you think “it’s going to snap again”… any advice you’re more then welcome to ask me 😊
What are some common signs that the tendon may have lengthened? I have achilles injury for three months now, I have good dorsiflexion since the beginning but tendon still feels kind of squishy. I can flex my calf with resistance against my toes but at certain angles the calf flex is a lot weaker. I cannot stand on my toes yet
I rer ruptured my Achilles after 4 months of treating it the first time. The first rupture was complete and took the non surgical approach. Wearing boot for 3 months with wedges and PT for a month. After 4 weeks of PT I ruptured it again at the same spot. It did not get out into a boot for days. I am now in a boot with wedges for the last 4 weeks. Do I did to go through the same protocol as before and what are my long term prognosis after the delayed boot after the 2nd rupture? Will it ever heal? I don't have a calf anymore and will this affect the leg for strength in the future?
Thanks guys. That’s the first one I’ve watched fully without feeling ill. I ruptured my achilles whilst over energetically dancing at my nephew’s wedding 6 weeks ago. I’m a 52 year old ex-400m hurdler and was a bit worried that not having surgery was the right path for me. Your podcast has really put my mind at rest, as long I don’t return to hurdles. Cheers
Good luck in your recovery and to everyone going through their own process :)
Did it hurt to bear weight on it when you were out of the boot?
I’ve got home from hospital, on a raised boot. How do I get my jeans off? Why do no videos do day 1.
Thanks.
Thank you so much for this video. I ruptured my achilles almost 3 weeks ago playing football. Went straight to the A&E, did an X ray and was put in a frontal cast. Went to the fracture clinic 10 days later and my doctor gave me the option of conservative or non surgery with pros and cons. I went for the conservative route and was put in a Vacoped boot for the past week now. I have another appointment with the doctor in 4 weeks to check progress. Like most people, my main worry is the likelihood of a rerupture but right now my focus is on full recovery.
Thank you for getting in touch. Really pleased to hear that all is going well so far. Glad you found it useful. Please follow us if you would like to keep up to date with our latest videos.
Great topic and information provided. The simultaneous talking / talking over each other is a bit unfortunate.
Speaker were in a competition, both speaking at the same time mostly. Not a collaborative podcast.
1st time i played football in 25 years. 5 minutes in and boom. despite cycling 400 kms a week... so surgery or not?! Thinking better to try the boot after listening to you guys. I like skiing and snowboarding, but very rarely do that.
Great stuff guys thank you.
I hope they answer your question because I also do similar sports as you.
Hi, thank you for your feedback. Really glad that found it useful. I hope that you have found a good Orthopaedic specialist. Please follow our channel for more videos or take a look at our website blogs page. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
So my right tendon has been very sore for sometime but I have ruptured my left. Is it likely I might rupture my right now that I’m depending on my right leg to move?
Fantastic podcast, thank you Chris and Dr Singh. Ruptured achilles 1 week ago doing a beep test, presented to ED immediately, ultrasound confirmed 15mm gap in achilles and put in equinus cast. Confused whether to go conservative or operative. Saw orthopedic surgeon today to confirm the contention surrounding information on achilles rupture and what best to consent to, pros and cons (conservative vs operative), ultimately patient decides. Good to be as well informed as possible. This podcast confirmed the information, particularly benefits of acting early. I've chosen conservative, have a boot fitting next week and start rehab. I still hope to compete and represent the state in dragon boating end of April, when I hope to weight-bear without boot.
Hi,following up on your treatment
Did the conservative route help ?
Hi, Thank you for taking the time to give feedback. We really hope that you are making good progress with your recovery and were able to compete earlier this year. best wishes
Fantastic video guys really helpful. I ruptured my Achilles on New Year’s Eve on the dance floor whilst on a cruise ship. The song was “haven’t stopped dancing yet” luckily the ships doctor put me in a boot the next day and I got to the fracture clinic on the 17th and now wearing the Vacoped boot which is great. Any links to exercises I should be doing whilst in the boot would be appreciated as couldn’t find much online thanks
Ruptured mine a week ago.
Going Surgery route on Monday.
34 and quite active. I would hate to have re-rupture of a scar tissue. This sucks!!!
Good luck with your surgery and the rehab afterwards
The Indian chap is a little hard to understand. Background music makes it worse. So does all the yeah, yeah, yeahs. Otherwise great video. As an American doctor, I am surprised that every doctor or office doesn’t have an ultrasound machine. They are not that costly and so very convenient.
Hi, Thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.
So I had ruptured my right Achilles tendon 2 yrs ago while playing high intensity squash
. Managed it conservatively and was able to recover within a year and started playing after that again . Recently a few days ago while playing the same level of squash I ruptured my other leg’s tendon and now lying on bed trying to figure out what to do . The point I am trying to make is my previous Achilles tendon stayed intact and didn’t re rupture.
Though in the last two yrs I have done a lot of physio and gym weight bearing activities to make it really strong.So May be early weight bearing and making the tendon really strong after that will help but be patient and take it slow . The key to recovery and getting back to sports I guess is patience starting it slow and gradually building up and be disciplined
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. Agreed, these injuries take time and it's important not to rush the rehab. Good luck with your recovery this time around.
Excellent podcast/videocast. Well delivered expert knowledge and advice. Thanks to you both.
Really glad that you found it interesting and helpful.
Hey, great vid. Probably the best I have seen after watching nearly everything on UA-cam surrounding the topic following my Achilles rupture. I am 4 weeks and 4 days out of surgery in a vacupod boot, can walk without crutches with no pain, slight hobble. My surgeon has said don’t start any exercise until we get past week 8 but my physio said as long as I don’t stretch the tendon and use my heal it could be good to do some light work on the static exercise bike to get the blood flowing. What is you view on this. do you think the bike would be safe or you think so as I’m told by surgeon. Thanks 🙏
Thank you for the comment! I would touch base with a local physio who can assess your ankle before getting on the bike. Everyone heals differently and therefore should be assessed and treated slightly differently. Complete physio would be happy to see you in clinic if you need some help
Such a great amount of information being shared, too bad I couldn't hear it all with all of the overtalking and the microphones being far enough away to complicate the audio.
Thank you for your feedback, it is very much appreciated and we will look at improving this for other podcasts.
Best Wishes
@@CompletePhysio Totally agree. Excellent content but overtalking by Chris and poor microphone placement for Sam meant that some of the most vital information was lost which could not be recovered by louder volume and replaying. That was a shame as otherwise, brilliant.
Complete tear over here...on both legs.
Right leg 5 1/2 years ago and left 3 weeks.
To me there was no conservative approach on either leg.
It was surgery or being crippled the rest of my life
Thank you for the comment. Hope the rehab on the left goes well
I am at week 7, UK NHS non surgery. I have not seen consultant since A&E on day 1, 2 weeks in a cast in the ballerina position, 6 weeks in a boot removing a heel wedge every 2 weeks. I start Physio next week. The tendon feels fat but strong and I have started full weight bearing and you really feel how weak the calf is. Still a long way to go but for those in the early stages, from week 4 - 6 you become a lot more mobile and walking around in the boot becomes a lot easier
Good luck with the physio
Do you guys have any experience with the achillotrain? I get one in week 7 in the Netherlands.
Thank you so much for providing this valuable information about op vs non op with the achilles tendon rupture and also the best practices early in the injury process. In the US, most Orthopedic surgeons recommend surgery, so most clinics don't cast injured patients in 30 degrees plantar flexion, which is a huge disservice to the patient. I feel so fortunate that I was able to watch your video prior to my first Ortho appointment and demanded that I be placed in equinus at that first visit, which was within the 48 hour window. Your video allowed me to make an informed decision to go the non op route, which I'm forever grateful. The information that you and Dr. Singh provided should be incorporated as standard of care when dealing with acute achilles tendon. Keep up the fantastic work Chris Myers!
A really useful talk with lots of positive information, I am a 62 year old man, I ruptured my Achilles tendon just having a kick about with my grandson, I am going down the conservative route, my main concerns are getting back to some form of normality as soon as possible. I found this talk very useful, its was very reassuring, some very good pointers on what to do and what to be wary of.
Really sorry to hear about your injury, we hope you're on the mend. It can feel like quite a slow and daunting process. I'm glad that you found this talk useful, Sam is a very experienced foot and ankle consultant and we enjoyed picking his brains! If you would like some more help and guidance with your recovery journey, please get in touch with us. complete-physio.co.uk. We have other resources on our website, or you can book an appointment to see one of our Physiotherapists.
Great video. I tore my Achilles tendon 5 days ago playing football. I am 33 years old very fit athlete. I am due to meet the surgeon in a week. I am hoping for a full recovery. It is such an ugly injury. Thanks for your video and experiences. I hope your doing well..🙂
I hope your doing better man, its horrible and saddening...not being able to do anything and just sit there like a slug...how you doing 2 months later?
I went with the non operative treatment as advised by the orthopaedic surgeon. I was worried about same, but he promised I would return to my previous Level of activity. I am in the boot just over 8 weeks and will remain in it until 10 weeks. My foot feels good. There is no pain. It appears to be healing well. I gym regularly ( all upper body) with 20 minutes of stationary cycling every day. I regularly walk a good distance in the boot. I feel mobilising early and getting off the crutches sooner rather then later has helped me. I do my Achilles exercises daily and I feel things are going well..I am petrified of coming out of the boot. But I remain hopeful I am on the right road to recovery. 🙂
@@darcoman2 that's awesome news brother! I'm glad your doing very well, and it gave me hope as I went non surgery as well (however I'm only in week 1...so I gotta long road) that's good that the exercises your doing are strengthening it. How early in your recovery could you walk up stairs again? I for some reason can't get the crutches to help me (I'm 38...and not sure if my upper body is just not strong enough anymore) so I'm literally baby crawling up and down my steps...and getting up from that is a nightmare.
@@Always_Never I could walk weight bearing 3 weeks after being in a boot, but I mostly used crutches. I was in a soft cast for 12 days immediately after the rupture. And I started walking longer distances without crutches about 4 weeks after being in the boot. It takes time. Use the auxiliary crutches under your arm pits if you are unable to carry your weight. They will support you better then the hand crutches. It takes time, but you will get there.
Ruptured mine a few weeks back on holiday! got myself into a same day cast equinus (thankfully had holiday insurance) and saw Sam as soon as I got back, he looked at my ultrasounds and I basically said I’m not leaving until you agree to operate haha…I’m 51 and extremely active. To be fair he did discuss the option of non operative treatment but that was never an option for me.
Post surgery Sam agreed it was the right choice as my tendon ends were a mess and it would never have healed together as well non surgically. I had open surgery and I believe the failure rates are lower than keyhole, although the recovery is longer (and of course there is infection risk as with any surgery). Open surgery also allows for a stronger suture as it’s easier to work on fully exposed. Sam used the Krackow suture technique which is a proven choice for strength.
I am now nearly 3 weeks post op and one week in the Vacoped boot @20 degrees. I’m being religious in my rehab stretching from plantar flexing to neutral and toe crunches plus a little side isometrics. Nothing past neutral however.
Non op Vs op depends on two factors, will the tendon ends realistically join? and secondly how much do you need FULL and maximum functionality restoring. Do not leave it to chance, get an ultrasound asap and a cast as a minimum within the first 24hrs as the longer you wait the less options you have.
Sam’s been great, this is bread and butter for him and if you have the opportunity to see him for treatment, do it!
Cheers!
There was some discussion about partial ruptures but a lot of that portion of the video was unintelligible. Would like to hear more about that issue.
Fun game: skip to any point in this video and see if only one of them is talking haha. I’m betting it’s unlikely.
Great to hear you both together from both sides of the professional spectrum. It would be useful to hear about the Physio required to get back to the sports i.e. football and what almost the criteria would be - thinking ROM, strength and the respective exercises you could recommend. Thanks in advance
Here to tell my story and possibly get more advice. I am 38 years old. Played sports my entire life. During the pandemic I stopped playing full court basketball. However, I was still very active. I played A LOT of disc golf, hiked, played basketball alone and went to the gym often. I moved back to my hometown and was asked to play in a winter adult basketball league with old friends. Of course, let's go! The first game I played EVERY minute of the game. No issues. The next day I went to work as a drone pilot. Then the following day (2 days after first game) I had another basketball game. During our short warm up period, I complained how slippery the floor was. But, I played every minute of the first half. Sure enough, the start of the second half I made an "explosive" move and then jumped up to shoot but when I landed it felt like someone kicked me in the back of the leg. Mind you, I have never been injured in my entire life. Not even a sprained ankle. So, in my head I thought "oh, this must be a badly sprained ankle". Believe it or not, I went BACK in and played the rest of the game! I drove home afterwards. I did ice it and elevate my foot because I thought it was a sprained ankle. The next day I went to work and hobbled around. It wasn't until 48 hours after when I realized this is probably not a sprained ankle. I went to the doctor and he confirmed it was a ruptured achilles. I got an ultrasound that essentially confirmed it to be a full rupture but a "mid tear". I've been in a boot since the 3rd day. HERE IS THE WORST PART THOUGH. I was getting married in 2 weeks! Extremely unfortunate circumstance all the way around. I ended up wearing a boot the entire wedding while weight bearing but crutching long distances since now it was the 3 week mark. Fast forward to yesterday, exactly 1 month since rupture. I had a follow up with the Ortho. I don't like how nonchalant he was but maybe that's a good thing? His PA saw me the first time so this is his first time seeing me. He comes in, looks at the achilles and says "ah this is healing nicely and it's even filling in already". I'm not sure how he knows that just by touching it but who am I to question it? I started with 3 wedges in the boot. At the 3 week mark I went down to 2 wedges. He told me take it down to 1 wedge after one more week. Since it is my right foot I haven't been able to dive but he said I could try driving in 10-14 more days and start wearing normal shoe with the insert he gave me. I am a little hesitant with all of this. I seem to get mixed messages from people I know who also ruptured achilles and information online. A month later and I am still seeking answers and in disbelief. The hardest part to me is the mental aspect moving forward. I don't think I can ever play the sport I love (basketball) ever again. I don't know how to trust my achilles ever again. I know there are no warning signs and it's very rare but that actually makes it worse in my mind. The Ortho told me I could play Disc Golf again in another 4-5 months. I am not even sure he knows what Disc Golf is. But it seems crazy that I won't be able to play Disc Golf until basically the 6 month mark but he wants me to walk at the 6 week mark? I am just looking for advice, encouragement, similar stories, etc etc. Thank you!
I’m looking for answers too. Ruptured fully during basketball game. Walked around the gym for bit, went home, walk to hospital next day, they got my in a boot at 22 degrees. Not sure if I should go op or none op. Late 30’s but I don’t want to stop playing basketball, I’m still active enough to hang with high school kids on the floor. Going to get mri tomorrow. If only there were more professional athletes who done the non op route to balance the statistics. I hate how all competitive people are forced pretty much for op. Would be nice to see if there is no difference from conservative ways. I don’t mind the extra rehab but I do mind the results. I want best results and safety, I can wait if need be. Thoughts.
There’s a reason athletes get the op, the stats show the likelihood of rerupture is less and additionally the suture strength is higher with open surgery over keyhole.
How has your achillis been?
My opinion?!
SURGERY
Anytime!
Had my MRI yesterday and consultant talk today. So I've a rupture, and minor injuries told me it wasn't ruptured, so it was a late presentation. This has convinced me (as the surgeon basically said this morning) that I need the surgery. I'm very physically active, so it's going to have to be surgery.
When you were able to bear weight on it did it hurt?
Thank you for this video, it’s been very helpful.
I suffered a full rupture playing basketball in February. I had surgery and the incision site was infected which meant weeks in hospital on IV antibiotics. The day after getting out I slipped in the bathroom and suffered a rerupture. Second repair completed at the start of may and now 15 weeks on I’m starting to feel progress and it’s nice to be walking without any wedges for the past few weeks. This video gave me a lot of reassurance for what has been a concerning period, thank you.
Hi, I'm really pleased that you found our video helpful. It sounds like you have been incredibly unlucky with your recovery and managing some nasty setbacks. It's great to hear that you are on the mend though - good luck with the rest of your rehab. Best Wishes
I’ve ruptured my Achilles 3 weeks ago playing football, put in a boot two days later via A&E after doctor had to consult someone after I had an appointment with him. Seen the consultant the day after who confirmed rupture. He just told me to keep boot on till 8 weeks and go back to see him. Nothing about Blood thinners, told me I didn’t need crutches and I was ok to walk about. Went for an ultra scan this week organised by my Doctor which found it to be abnormal and they sent it off to the consultant but I’ve heard nothing back from him. Got this boot on 24/7 with three wedges in taking one out every two weeks but feel like I’ve just been left to get on with life by the NHS plus foot is still swollen three weeks later! My biggest fear is going back at 8 weeks and they then say it’s not healing so need a op!
Very similar situation myself. Although I got blood thinners. I wasn’t given a wedge for basically almost 2 weeks.
That sounds like a terrible experience with NHS. I hope everything works out for you and you're able to return to your life without pain ASAP. I also haven't heard any mention of blood thinners from my surgeon. I ruptured playing football (soccer) just over 3 weeks ago now and went to Emergency within a few hours and put into a plaster cast in equinus, ultrasound confirmed full tear the following day. Had a consult with the surgeon about a week and a half later and was offered conservative treatment, which they seemed to be strongly encouraging by telling me "you don't need to do the op but you can if you want." I chose to operate due to my active lifestyle and was done the next day. Just had a follow-up with the surgeon yesterday and everything looks good, no infection and movement is fine. Protocol is a fibreglass cast in less equinus for 4 weeks then into a walking boot with physio. Any actual guidance during these 4 weeks was reduced to "do some toe movements."
I've watched this discussion once or twice now since the rupture and it's really amazing information and I wish most surgeons and physios were able to communicate with their patients to this level. In the meantime, I've found some PDF guides on some stretches and range of motion exercises to retain strength and motion in the injured leg online
Same mate put in a leg cast by the shite NHS no scan nothing.
@@Prophecykay How did your recovery go with no wedge?
I wish I would have seen this video earlier. ER doc said I only had a muscle contusion after snowboarding accident. Left ER with an ankle brace at 90 degree angle followed by a 5hr manual shift drive home. I then got an MRI showing partial Achilles tear with complete calf muscle tear. (Skeptical of the partial tear after this video) Ortho doc said to go surgical route which I will do now since I went two weeks without plantar flexion knowledge. Hopefully it heals up and too much blood/fat hasn't accumulated.
This was fantastic to have access to this information, thank you for posting this.
I’m one week into conservative treatment on the NHS. I knew immediately that I’d ruptured my tendon and went straight to A&E. they confirmed the injury and put me in a half cast, foot pointing down etc. I was then booked into the fracture clinic 3 days later. I was not given the option of surgery even though I’m very active. They put me in a Vaco Ped boot. Long road ahead but now feel much more informed and prepared. Thanks again
NHS seems to be 100% conservative and only operates after a rerupture
34 ruptured playing basketball 10 days ago. I want to return to being active. My doctor is pushing me towards non surgical. It’s very frustrating because I want to just have them fix it. Health care system is wack here in USA so feels like I’m now being forced into just letting it heal on its own smh
This video is amazing thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.
Is a partial tear the same as a rupture.
great conversation but a bit misleading, I had my surgery 2wk ago and my MD gave me example of another person who tried to avoid surgery at all cost… after 6mo of waiting tendon still had the same gap and didn’t heal at all, end up having surgery after 6mo of misery, another aspect of non surgical approach is ; when it actually will heal it will always be elongated which will potentially affect your gait for years. Also the diet was never mentioned…
Thank you for your time in making this video. Can you answer this please. If not reattached surgically then how does the tendon reattach or mend back together with strength? I’m two and a half weeks into a Achilles rupture and currently going through the non surgical conservative route and just worried I’m not making the right choice in not getting surgery. I’m 30 years old and just want to be able to run/jog and work out in the gym and play recreation sport with my child.. not looking into getting back into physical sport. Thanks again for this informative video!
Scar tissue forms in between the ruptured space and heals to replicate the tendon. But might not be as strong hence a lot of rehab will make it close to being strong again as originally but will never feel the same.
@@newtinslaw7623 thanks for the reply!
I am in the same boat and also only want to get back to normal life with the family. How are you getting on now?
@@MrStewiess Hey man, sorry your going through this as well. I understand how mentally hard this injury is. I’m doing pretty well and I notice the tendon definitely healing with the range of motion I can do. I am going on week 7 and as of now I’m still in the cam walking air boot with 3 wedges pointed in a plantar flex position. I got to my next appointment in a couple days to remove a wedge. I have only got clear to do some range of motion exercises and partial weight bear with wearing the boot about 25-50% weight bear with the help of crutches depending on how I feel. I feel if you are smart about letting your tendon heal and doing rehab as instructed that the outcome can be good. Definitely have to put in the time and getting the calf and tendon strong again if you want to feel like your back to some sort of normal. It’s just a long process and have to be mentally prepared to get yourself physically prepared for the physical therapy you have to do.
@@johnnyo6416 Thanks for getting back to me and I hope you are still on to path to recovery. On week 5 I am already starting to weight bare 50% with my cast. In 2 days I get an actual walking cast. After that on week 6 I get small ankle support called an achillotrain. As you mention the mental part of it is challenging and think it will be something I will need to overcome to return to full strength. The thought of a re-rupture is scary, but we need to find the balance of keeping active, but getting enough rest for healing and not to over do it to do damage. I was always scared of this injury and now I know why. All the best and speedy recovery to all suffering this injury!!
Great chat from Chris and Sam, cheered me up and gave me plenty of laughter as I recover from my surgery yesterday. It's been just over a week since I raptured my achilles tendon play 5-aside 😅 keen to get back to scoring worldies so found the tips to be very helpful!
this info is 10x better than what my orthopaedic surgeon told me, thank you guys
Ruptured 3/26 8pm. Walked on it no boot that night. Iced it until midnight. Walked on it (limping), for a bit until noon next day. Not much pain thank God. Got confirmed by Thompson test at specialist. They gave me a boot with heal double pad, I think like at 22 degrees. Took X-ray same day. Been walking WITHoUT crutches but in boot (heal light load) mostly skipping. Is some load ok on the heal? Getting scooter tomorrow and crutches.
Getting MRI tomorrow. Should I request ultrasound too?
I am very athletic, play basketball almost 40 but still play like a 25 year old. I don’t want to stop but I’m not getting paid to play either, so i don’t need the speed fast recovery from surgery, I just need less risks and best results.
Should I op or non op even if mri shows things progressing well?
My bed has the ability to elevate the feet, I’ve been doing that all night while waring boot. Should I continue to elevate my feet while I sleep?
Hi John. My name is Nick and I ruptured my achilles on the 4/11. I’ve created a WhatsApp group where a bunch of us can share about our recovery journey. Are you interested in joining?
Funny I said it felt like someone kicked me I turnt around and didn’t see anyone and thought oh no. It was painful so I was hoping it wasn’t a full rupture. It was just found out 2 hours ago.
Very informative. Can one have a cyst on the Achiellis. My Ortho suspects one?
Great video, highly informative!
60 year old at a Greek Wedding ... NO Zorba dancing !!! Ruptured last weekend ... arghhhhh ....
STORY THEN QUESTION in the last sentence... I felt a pop while playing pickleball, It was shocking and somewhat painful but mostly shocking. I stopped the game but there was no severe pain so I continued to play 3 more games! The next day I woke up with some pain but definitely limping. I stopped all physical activity besides walking to and from my internship office. that was 6 days ago. ( i had just lost my Medicaid benefits a few days before so I did not go to a doctor.) Yesterday I walked a little too fast chasing after a child and the pain is back. I did research on youtube (as all underinsured graduate students do) and realized I need to stay off of it completely and put my foot in a boot with a heel. currently applying for affordable health insurance to get it checked out by a professional. Feeling discouraged that I didn't do something about it sooner and even more disappointed that I didn't know I could apply for affordable health insurance after being disqualified from Medicaid. Physical activity is my coping skill for stress and anxiety so I'm feeling really sad about how long recovery could take. Are there any exercises I CAN do while I am in recovery? thank you
The best thing to do is get booked in with a physio with experience in rehabing Achilles ruptures. They will then be able to give you safe advice that is right for you. We would be happy to see you at Complete physio
2 steps missing @ bottom staircase in a gym and I overlooked and overstepped 1 feet down breaking achilles tendon at Tilburg NL. Dr told me.nothing happened . 14 days I roamed, Came back to India and consulted Ortho who did surgery, Now 15 weeks PO, Advised 50% weight bearing 10 days and 75 WB for 3 month
Hi, Different surgeons have different post op protocols, and advice will vary somewhat depending on each individual case. Delayed surgery following a rupture often requires a more conservative approach post op. Good luck with your recovery. Thank you for watching our video, if you are interested in keeping up to date with our content then please subscribe to our channel. Best wishes
Tore my Achilles playing football on the 26th of July. Had surgery 2 days later. Splinted for 10 days and now Doc has me in a cast for 3 weeks in plantar flexion. Than replace cast with another in dorsiflexion for 3 weeks. From there he said I will move into a CAM boot with no wedges and begin PT. Is this normal protocol for recovery? (I am 25, in really good shape).
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. I hope the rehab is going well. It sounds like a fairly standard approach, however, post op protocols can differ depending on a number of factors, it is best to speak to your specialist or physio if you have any concerns
I am 69y.o ruptured my achilles tendon last 2 weeks which AE applied cast. Seen ortho and trauma orthopedics today, he did remove the cast and did ultrsound today and told me i will not have surgery instead he xplained the need for a walking boot as the gap from ruptured tendon will be healed with the help of this boot (its called Vacoped) . I felt weird after i tried having few steps with the help of my zframe. The wedge sole of the boot is awkward looks bulky as i have short leg and small feet,but i can weight bear better than hopping on with zframe. My question is i've started to feel pain on the achilles area 2 hrs after wearing this boot. Is this normal? Can I travel abroad on an airplane in mid of November on 17hrs flight?
There is bound to be some discomfort in and around the achilles, however if the pain is not settling or getting worse, then you should speak to your orthopaedic specialist. Regarding flying, there are not usually flying restrictions with TA ruptures, or when wearing a boot, but again you should discuss it with your consultant.
Thank you Chris and Sam, very informative discussion. I just ruptured my Achilles 48 hours ago and visited A&E immediately after confirmation with ultrasound for a complete tear. Good to know the outlook on treatments.
Must be a good hospital I've gotta wait 18 days
@@Hooleyboi26 Wow 18 days for what??? That's a long wait. I had surgery after 12 days and that included a bank holiday weekend in Canada. Are you in UK? Does the NHS give you the option for surgical treatment there?
@@lepoldbuttersstotch just for a scan to see the damage.
They do but prob prefer not to and they prob encourage natural healing.
I snapped my accilles on my right foot some 10 yrs ago went to gp he basically said yup thats what youve done take 3 weeks off work ,he didnt say i needed a boot or physio, people may be thinking you didnt snap your Achilles well i can tell you i thought someone had wiped my leg with electric cable so i think i very much had ,luckly it healed well on its own ,ive now snapped my left Achilles and again ive only been given crutches and ive been told to go back in 4 weeks and they may consider giving me a cortisone injection
Glad that the first one recovered well. You might consider getting a second opinion with regards to how your injury is being managed though, it is not usual for the ankle not to be mobilised for a period of time after a ruptured Achilles.
Good luck and speedy recovery.
This is a great video. Really helpful. A&E NHS provided boot, 4 wedges & injections to thin blood. A virtual clinic then confirmed conservative care plan with consult after 6 weeks. I was lucky enough to see specialist & have ultra sound after 3 weeks 2 days which confirmed healing and connection. Specialist removed 1 wedge & suggested I remove another 3 days later, which I have just done. I have started walking around block - at first tentatively but in days stronger. A long road ahead.
I have a very specific question. I am about 4 weeks out now from my achilles rupture and have taken the conservative route. Should my injured foot be in plantar flexion now when dangling or is there still some time before that happens?
Hi, it can take a while for your Achilles tendon to knit back together and for the fibres to strengthen, however if you are concerned then it is vital that you speak to your orthopaedic consultant or Physiotherapist as soon as possible.
My achilles tendon was damaged as aside effect from antibiotics and been 4 months lost the muscle and still no improvement going for a scan what is your advice please
Hi, Great that you are having a scan. I hope that you get a clear diagnosis and treatment plan in place. If you would like more information please follow our channel. We have other videos and information on our website too. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
I did mine Achilles (footy) last Tuesday 07/03/2023. Had rupture confirm at A&E the next day and foot put into ballerina position. (In cast and on blood thinners ). Having follow up appointment on the 20th.
Question: should I actively be wiggling my toes to aid healing process or is this bad ?
47 years old and stilling wanting to play football after healing.
Found the video very informative.
Hi, Very glad that you found this video useful. We hope that you are very much on the mend following your injury, it can be a lengthy and frustrating process, but with consistency and hard work, i'm sure you'll make it back on the football field! We wish you all the best.
Cipro (the antibiotic) ruptured my Achilles.
33M ruptured last week., highly active. If you go conservative, at what week is it safe to assume the tendon has reattached/healed? Or can only a scan prove that?
You need to be very careful for at least 12 weeks to prevent any re-ruptures.
❤❤ 50:37
In how long can you go back to warehouse work after rupture
Terrific discussion and some interesting thoughts from both of you. I'm now six weeks post surgery and it's recovering nicely. I can happily weight-bear both in and out of the boot and I've managed to avoid doing anything daft to set back recovery. The boot is due to come off at eight weeks and physio starts straight afterwards, although as recommended in the video I still intend to wear the boot when out and about. I'm 59 years old and ruptured the right Achilles playing in a charity football match, which in hindsight was a huge error on my part. I hobbled around for several weeks thinking it was a bad ankle sprain or potential Achilles tear, and by the time a total rupture was diagnosed, surgery was the only option. I had VY plasty/FHL transfer surgery to repair a 6cm gap and this was nine weeks after the rupture occurred, which I believe is close to the time limit for surgery to be considered an option. Everything seemed to go well and, as I'm not planning to ever play football again (!), it was clearly the best approach. Many thanks for posting the vid.
Fabulous! This is really great to hear. Thank you for your response. Good luck with your rehab and if we can be of any help please get in touch. complete-physio.co.uk
All True!😮
Really enjoyed this. Found it informative and honest.
Ruptured mine playing tennis at the weekend. Knew what it was straight away. All the classic symptoms so no need for x-ray. A&E same day and been in a boot since.
Was told surgery shouldn't be necessary and advised to go down the conservative route... but although not a professional... tennis is my main sport, fitness, and social outlet... so I was surprised he didn't suffest surgery.
I was feeling the physio's perspective here in saying (summarised), "I don't want to spend weeks doing this boot thing and it not to work!"
Glad that you found it useful. Good luck with your recovery.
Please like and follow our channel for up to date videos. You can also fine lots of useful information on our website. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
How are you healing since its been 6 months?
I feel attacked when the doc laughs every time. lol
I tore mine when being chased by a dog. Im questioning my choice of.ortho. No "bedside manner". No empathy. Didnt listen or even ask how i was doing until she was halfway out the door and tossed it over her shoulder.
Hi, its important that you feel happy with the specialist that you are seeing. I hope that you find someone that you trust and that you recover quickly. Good luck.
Please follow our channel for more up to date videos.
Luckily I got a second opinion and had surgery and am on my way to recovery.
I just rupture my achilles tendon doing MMA Boxing foot work drills i been doing since high school im 36 i never been so scared in my life, thanks a lot for the information I have decided to go with conservative treatment
Hi, I'm really sorry to hear about your injury. It is incredibly daunting and scary when you are someone who is so active but i'm glad that you have found this video useful. Wish you all the best with your rehab and recovery.
If you would like up today info and advice, please like and follow our channel. You can also fine lots of useful blogs on our website. complete-physio.co.uk/blogs/
How are you healing man, as its been 5 months?
I’ve had bad advice. I got in a boot after 36 hours and I was told I may have a partial tear. The boot has been angling my foot at 90 degrees for five days. I just put something in the boot under my heel to change the angle. Am I too late?
That sucks! I had the same experience but luckily had seen a video about the necessity of wedges in the heel to ensure the angle was conducive for healing. The ortho had left and the nurse apparently was unaware of the heel lifts and I kept saying on UA-cam they always have heal lifts. I don’t think she had dealt with this before but when explained I would be in pain without the lifts she went back to the ortho and then they gave me a stack of the lifts to adjust myself.
I ruptured my achiles tendon July last year. Spent 4 months in a boot. Had to wear 247 including to bed so i know how it feels. Now fast forward just over a year and it has gone again 😢😢😢
Really sorry to hear this! We have a lot of videos and information on our website and youtube channel. complete-physio.co.uk/?s=achilles
Speedy recovery.
Omg you re ruptured it? Im so sorry that is horrible...how are you now?
Thanks for the video. I’m about 2.5 weeks post-op and just switched to a boot. The problem is, I have pretty bad nerve pain that is aggravated while in the boot. I’d love to start weight bearing and putting more tension on my tendon but it’s just painful when I do it. Any advice?
Hi There, where are you getting nerve pain? Are you using crutches to very gently weight-bear? My advice would be to go and see your physio to get some advice on treating the nerve pain, and also some help with slowing increasing your weigh bearing.
@@CompletePhysio thanks for the reply. I’m getting nerve pain on outside of my right foot, most notable in the area below my ankle bone and my heel, all the way to my pinky toe. I have started using crutches with the boot and it has gotten a little better since taking some pain meds for the nerve pain.
Hi Glen. My name is Nick and I ruptured my achilles on the 4/11. I’ve created a WhatsApp group where a bunch of us can share about our recovery journey. Are you interested in joining?
Really informative video. For someone due to have surgery to repair in around 12 hours time I feel reassured that I am making the right decision.
Thank you. Good luck with your op
Sir i have second surgery aclihc tendon i hope halp
I’m in week 10 since my operation. I had a rupture in May, playing tennis (58 years old and just returned to the sport after 20 odd years or so). My initial treatment was to have it conservatively managed in the wedged boot and then re-ruptured it in July at week 10. It took until 2nd week September before it got operated on and it is now 3rd week of November. Everything is going very well and I am walking again, albeit not smoothly and not full stride. When I go into an environment where I am not in full control because there are crowds, my boot comes with me (on me).
My NHS physio is fantastic, I am seeing him every 2 weeks and he gives me great confidence to push things further during my rehab than I would if I was left on my own. As soon after initial treatment as you can, whether conservative or operative, exercise (obviously not possible if you are in a cast). Wear your boot and load the tendon. I rowed (on a Concept 2) initially with my booted foot on the floor and then high, resting on the stirrup. I was able to weight train and using ankle weights, I was able to exercise all the major muscle groups (barring my calfs) in my injured leg.
I started cycling on an ergo last week and swimming this week (swimming was always my main sport) and the benefits felt immediate. I am also driving - my ankle is strong in plantar flexion and I feel very confident with it. When swimming had to be very careful entering and especially exiting the pool as the old pool only has ladders. For the next few weeks I will remain cautious with my aim to be able to walk without a limp by Christmas (week 16). It’s going to be a long road ahead but I am already enjoying the freedom of moving around that I missed so much
Had a failed conservative treatment (re-rupture) myself and then had surgery to fix it. I can totally sympathize it’s a long road back but important to remain positive throughout the process.
I wish my doctor had of explained even half of this when I visited him on Day 1 after Rupturing my Achilles. Good information, I hope I did not leave it that long to get into a Boot with a heel raiser. Thanks for this video, very informative.
Hi what day did you get a heel raiser? How are you doing now?
What is the long term effect if not repairing Achilles?
Very informative, thank you, I did mine playing cricket!
Hi, Very glad that you found it useful. Thank you for taking the time to comment. If you would like to keep up to date with all our latest information and videos then please subscribe to our channel.
Hope the rehab process goes smoothly and you are back on the cricket pitch by next season. All the best
Thank you for this channel!! The conversation between Chris and Sam was extremely informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you. Really enjoyed this. Currently recovering from surgery.
Pleasure! Good luck with your recovery
Thank you so very much! My husband ruptured this weekend and I’m a therapist and this has helped me be up to date with the information we need moving forward into the recovery process following surgery in 2 days:)
How is everything going for him? I'm going non surgery recovery though.
Ruptured my Achilles left ankle on 5 days ago, saw orthopedic 3 days later. Put me cast for 2 weeks as of rn. Apparently will get a boot after that. I'll keep yall posted.
Thanks for getting in touch. Good luck with your recovery journey. We have lots of advice and videos on our youtube channel and website if you'd like to give us a follow. complete-physio.co.uk/?s=achilles.
Let us know how you're doing. Best Wishes
How have you healed?
@alwaysreturnNurgirl I can't walk & jog. Sore after forsure but.havent played explosive basketball yet. I'm waiting a little after 1yr to be explosive
@@hooks210 I bet you felt wonderful, just to walk and jog again. It's so saddening and depressing when the ability to walk or even take care of yourself gets taken away from you. I'm glad your nearly there! Quick question, do you remember how soon it was for you to be able to walk up stairs again?
21:55 For those with late diagnosis
Thank you für this conversation!