Torn Achilles Tendon, has anyone here been through it?

[liznboys]

I apparently tore my achilles running a couple weeks ago. Limped around for a week and a half, finally felt I should see a Dr. and he said I have a micro-tear. He tells me no running until it's healed, which could take 3-4 weeks. He prescribed an anti-inflamatory/pain killer which I really don't want to take as I react easily to those types of drugs (nausea/headaches/sleepiness). He said it was either this drug or a ton of Aleve or even more than a ton of Motrin.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through this. I want to run so badly and I am bummed. I AM doing the half in January one way or another. So I'll do what it takes this fall, once I'm recovered, to get there.

Thanks

 

[TEK224]

Liz,

Sorry to hear about the achilles. I partially tore my achilles a couple of years ago. Probably doing the Goofy. Came home from FLA and had nasty blisters and a sore foot. Went to the Podiatrist to check out the blisters and told him my foot was sore on the back of my ankle. He gave a little squeeze and said I ruptured it. I though he was kidding. Sure enough the MRI showed a tear. I ended up having surgery and was out of commission for 3 months. Feels fine now though. Hopinbg to coplete the Goofy in Jan.

Good luck with your injury. I know it's hard when you really want to be out there. Just be careful you don't totally tear it. That would be ugly.

Terri

 

[jmasgat]

Liz Don't have the experience with Achilles (but had my own with ITB), but just wanted to say sorry and second Terri--take the time to let it heal. You still have plenty of time to train. You can do other things to cross train and maintain some level of fitness/aerobic capacity.

Plus, better slightly undertrained and maybe a little slower on race day than injured and on the sidelines!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Maura

 

[Duanerice]

Liz,
That's a bummer. But,you really don't need to start training for 3 - 4 weeks if you are doing the half. You'll be fine time wise.

Ask your doc for a anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen, 800mg. You won't notice the pain killer part as it is just like taking any over the counter drug but just a stronger does of anti-inflammatory. When I was having issue they suggested taking Ibuprofen so they gave me a prescription because I'd have to take 4 - 8 of the over the counter daily.

Don't run! Like was said, bicycle, swim, use weights, etc. 4 weeks is not that bad.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[ultramickeymouse]

I hurt my Achilles in 2001 during a 50K Ultra. It was first diagnosis was sprained ankle. Rested and no better. Went to PT and last day of 4 weeks of PT tore Achilles high (above original injury). Put in boot for 4 weeks and back to PT. Not better and went to multiple Ortho Dr's until one did MRI and thought both Achilles needed operated on. The first was scheduled 5 weeks before the other. The main injured one turned out to have have been a 50% tear left for 2 years. It had tendonosis from the tear. Repaired. The other leg was scheduled 5 weeks later anticipating first would be healed to bear weight. It wasn't. So 5 weeks crutches, 8 weeks in wheelchair, and than back on crutches for 5 weeks when second leg was healed enough to carry the first leg.

It took 2 years of rehab afterwards before I was back to semi normal. The right(first) ahs and NEVER will be the same. That ended my Ultra career. It was a total of 5 years without any races until 2006 Goofy.

Gist is rest and do what they say. Take easy or you can be really sorry!

Good luck and hope to speedy recovery!

 

[TEK224]

Wow Robert! That sounded bad. I didn't know you went through all that!

My doc said my achilles surgery was a new type of procedure. Instead of trying to re-attach the tendon, they somehow threaded it through other tissue (can't remember the name of the procedure). He said it would be stronger now than if they just reattached it.

He told me I would probably have the same issue with the other achilles, but so far it hasn't happened.

Terri

 

[Duanerice]

Robert,
my tendon hurts just thinking about that!

Duane

 

[Kira G.]

Liz - sorry to hear about your injury.

You have all just convinced me that I really do need to call the doctor about my Achilles pain - I've been procrastinating. Clearly, this is not something to mess with!

 

[liznboys]

Liz,

Sorry to hear about the achilles. I partially tore my achilles a couple of years ago. Probably doing the Goofy. Came home from FLA and had nasty blisters and a sore foot. Went to the Podiatrist to check out the blisters and told him my foot was sore on the back of my ankle. He gave a little squeeze and said I ruptured it. I though he was kidding. Sure enough the MRI showed a tear. I ended up having surgery and was out of commission for 3 months. Feels fine now though. Hopinbg to coplete the Goofy in Jan.

Good luck with your injury. I know it's hard when you really want to be out there. Just be careful you don't totally tear it. That would be ugly.

Terri

Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, when he said I tore mine I was surprised. I thought it was something, I don't know, not so harsh sounding. lol You are right though, I am going to take things slow when I start running again (and in the meantime). I definitely do not want to make this worse!!

Liz Don't have the experience with Achilles (but had my own with ITB), but just wanted to say sorry and second Terri--take the time to let it heal. You still have plenty of time to train. You can do other things to cross train and maintain some level of fitness/aerobic capacity.

Plus, better slightly undertrained and maybe a little slower on race day than injured and on the sidelines!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Maura

Thanks and you are so right!

Liz,
That's a bummer. But,you really don't need to start training for 3 - 4 weeks if you are doing the half. You'll be fine time wise.

Ask your doc for a anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen, 800mg. You won't notice the pain killer part as it is just like taking any over the counter drug but just a stronger does of anti-inflammatory. When I was having issue they suggested taking Ibuprofen so they gave me a prescription because I'd have to take 4 - 8 of the over the counter daily.

Don't run! Like was said, bicycle, swim, use weights, etc. 4 weeks is not that bad.

enjoy,
Duane

Thanks, I like the sound of taking that much better than the drug my Dr. gave me. I still haven't taken it...knowing me it'll probably end up in the trash.

I hurt my Achilles in 2001 during a 50K Ultra. It was first diagnosis was sprained ankle. Rested and no better. Went to PT and last day of 4 weeks of PT tore Achilles high (above original injury). Put in boot for 4 weeks and back to PT. Not better and went to multiple Ortho Dr's until one did MRI and thought both Achilles needed operated on. The first was scheduled 5 weeks before the other. The main injured one turned out to have have been a 50% tear left for 2 years. It had tendonosis from the tear. Repaired. The other leg was scheduled 5 weeks later anticipating first would be healed to bear weight. It wasn't. So 5 weeks crutches, 8 weeks in wheelchair, and than back on crutches for 5 weeks when second leg was healed enough to carry the first leg.

It took 2 years of rehab afterwards before I was back to semi normal. The right(first) ahs and NEVER will be the same. That ended my Ultra career. It was a total of 5 years without any races until 2006 Goofy.

Gist is rest and do what they say. Take easy or you can be really sorry!

Good luck and hope to speedy recovery!

Boy did you go through it!!! Thanks for sharing your story!

Robert,
my tendon hurts just thinking about that!

Duane

Mine hurts worse. lol

Liz - sorry to hear about your injury.

You have all just convinced me that I really do need to call the doctor about my Achilles pain - I've been procrastinating. Clearly, this is not something to mess with!

Thanks and good luck to you! Have you seen this website?:
http://www.achillestendon.com/

I knew very little about the Achilles until now. And I didn't know that there are very different ways of treating achilles issues depending on the type. Seems like it could be easy to treat the wrong way and make it worse.

 

[Kira G.]

Thanks and good luck to you! Have you seen this website?:http://www.achillestendon.com/

Thanks - that's a great website! I learned a lot!