Terrible news-ruptured Achilles: anyone else been through this?

[JennyDrake]

Well friends, I have some news and it isn’t the best…..

Thursday night during dress rehearsals for the dance choreography show, I was stepped on (accidentally) in a freak accident and the result is a torn/ruptured Achilles tendon. I will have surgery on Tuesday, an overnight hospital stay and 10-12 weeks of ZERO weight bearing, then months of rehab.

This is a stunning blow; I was heavily involved in dance, completed my first half (F&W) in November and had plans for several other runs, then F&W half again.

Not too much computer time in my future as I am to mostly lie (even now) with leg elevated above the heart. I am in a partial cast now to protect it.

Ironically, I am not in much pain for the severity of the injury.

I would REALLY like to hear from anyone else who has been through this--especially about the rehab and time lines. FYI- I am 47.

In the meantime, you all enjoy all aspects of marathon weekend and the Princess. I'll be thinking of ya!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

My husband did this a few years ago playing basketball. He had the tendon surgically re-attached. Within two weeks his surgeon had him in a walking boot. His total recovery time was to be 90 days from start to finish, including PT.

What happened next is very rare and does not regularly occur. He got a staph infection deep in the surgical wound...something he picked up in the operating room. By the two week mark, he had a fever and redness at the incision sight. He went back into the hospital for a week to have the wound scooped out and to get the infection under control. The repair had been eaten away by the infection. He spent a month at home with a pic line so I could inject antibiotics straight into his heart. Once the infection went away he had a series of casts (first was with foot pointed straight down, next foot was a little flatter, etc.) The surgeon hoped scar tissue would form and re-connect the tendon (the old fashioned way they used to fix torn achilles tendons). At the end of three months he'd go to PT to see if it worked. If it didn't work, they were going to take a tendon from his shoulder and graft it to his achilles. Lucky for him, it worked. Altogether he spent 18 weeks on crutches!

You will have a speedy recovery and be good to go, like nothing ever happened, in 90 days. I have seen several of my husband's sports buddies recover very quickly.

 

[ironz]

Oh, Jenny....I am so sorry to hear this!

My sister tore hers at about age 45 at a track meet. Also, sort of a freak injury, but I think that's how those things go.
She had a long period of non weight bearing and rehab. She is not a runner, so I am not sure how long it really took her (I should be talking to her this week, and I will try to remember to ask), but I don't think she was really good for much for about 6 months or so...and even then, she was tentative to do certain things. OK...I just looked on her FB....she rode a bike off of the trainer about 6 months post-op and was back to doing boot camp about 9 months post-op. We did do a long cycling vacation in Hawaii where she rode about 150 miles, but that was 18 months later.

I would guess that you are looking at 6 months before real training....of course, mind your ortho and PT.

Good luck! check in when you can!

 

[JeffW]

Well friends, I have some news and it isn’t the best…..

Thursday night during dress rehearsals for the dance choreography show, I was stepped on (accidentally) in a freak accident and the result is a torn/ruptured Achilles tendon. I will have surgery on Tuesday, an overnight hospital stay and 10-12 weeks of ZERO weight bearing, then months of rehab.

This is a stunning blow; I was heavily involved in dance, completed my first half (F&W) in November and had plans for several other runs, then F&W half again.

Not too much computer time in my future as I am to mostly lie (even now) with leg elevated above the heart. I am in a partial cast now to protect it.

Ironically, I am not in much pain for the severity of the injury.

I would REALLY like to hear from anyone else who has been through this--especially about the rehab and time lines. FYI- I am 47.

In the meantime, you all enjoy all aspects of marathon weekend and the Princess. I'll be thinking of ya!

Really sorry to hear about your injury. I fractured my ankle 3 weeks before last years marathon when someone landed under me in a volleyball game.

Looking back, the best piece of advice my Dr. gave me was this. "Don't rush the recovery, do exactly as I say. The greatest risk is not the injury itself, but a compensating injury". I didn't listen well, and got to have my first experience with plantar fasciitis because I hadn't strengthened the muscles supporting the ankle enough. Your muscles will really weaken while immobilized. If you have a good doctor, then trust him and no cheating!

 

[liznboys]

Wow, I'm sorry that happened to you! I tore my Achilles a few years ago. It was a micro-tear, not even close to a full tear. I can't imagine a full one. I hope your surgery and recovery go well!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Jenny, I am so sorry this has happened to you. I have known folks who have have to g through the surgery. I really do not know much about what to expect though. I want to give you hugs and WISHes for a speedy recovery. Do what your medical team advises and keep in constant contact with them. I hope to hear you will be "back on track" with things soon.

 

[indygirl99]

Sorry to hear about your injury.

I tore mine up really bad and then was miss diagnosed as a "sprain" 15 years ago. It was a work related injury and I had to insist that the work doc refer me to another doctor.

I finally had surgery to repair the tear after a month of really bad pain. The surgeon told me the only reason he worked so hard to repair it was that he knew I was a nurse and would be on my feet for several more years. 600 some stitches.

After the surgery I was in a cast with my foot pointed down and no weight bearing for 2 weeks. He took the cast off and I was in a walking boot and went to PT 3 X a week for 2 months and then was able to go back to work wearing the boot for another 2 months.

I was not an active person at that time. I am now. I have had off and on problems with planter fascitis but learned in PT how to control that. I do have to wear custom orthotics but they make life so much better.

I started running in June of 2012 and will be running my first half marathon, Tinkerbell in 2 weeks. I don't dance so can't help you there BUT if you do what the doctor tells you, stay off the foot when you are supposed to and do your PT when you are told to, you WILL get back on your feet both on the running track and the dance floor.

I will be sending up prayers for you on Tuesday.

 

[JennyDrake]

THANK YOU for all of the kind thoughts, well wishes and PRAYERS. Surgery is tomorrow. Still don't know anything (yet) about follow up Dr. visits, PT, limitations, etc. I will post when I am back home, semi-upright and can make sense through the pain meds! LOL!

 

[TEK224]

So sorry to hear about your injury. Good luck with the surgery.

I partially ruptured my achilles several years ago. Didn't even know it until my doctor told me (I had complained of some pain). Had surgery and was non weight bearing in a splint for about 6 weeks. Then on crutches light weight bearing for another 3-4 weeks. Finally could start walking and doing pt.
My surgery was in March and I participated in the Goofy the following year. Only finished the half. Got swept in the full since I wasn't able to train enough to keep ahead of the sweepers. But I haven't had any trouble with the foot since then (touching wood).

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I hope everything went well and you are on the road to recovery!