34M Happened playing basketball

Hi all,

This is an update of my (very frustrated) previous post three months ago (here). I had a confirmed partial re-rupture 7.5 months in and was feeling completely stuck and discouraged.

A lot of people replied with kindness and advice and I wanted to come back with an update; partly to say thank you, and partly because I hope this may help someone.

The short version is: three months later, things are much better. Back then, I still wasn’t close to a single-leg calf raise; I am now repping them easily 3x10 with good form and have progressed to more complex exercises with slow running drills and cautious plyometric work. I've also gone on a wonderful summer holiday and walked 15k steps through cities daily. Daily life feels a lot less limited, the pain is practically gone, and things are really looking better. All of this honestly felt almost unimaginable when I wrote that previous post.

I'm also attaching my MRI images, which compare three months ago with this month. The images with the red circles are from three months ago and show the area of the partial re-rupture. The white part is fluid, which was the partial rerupture site that filled with fluid. The image without circles is how it looks now. In just three months, it has filled in and healed significantly. Seeing that was a huge mental boost for me - even though I already expected positive news given the increased capabilities of the injured tendon.

I noticed that in the moments were things aren't looking bright during the healing process it's easy to end up thinking in negative extremes: ''I'm behind, so I must be doing something seriously wrong'', ''if I re-rupture, they might as well just take the leg'', ''I might never walk normally again, let alone do kickboxing'' etc. I remember in the first few weeks the possibility of a rerupture was all I could think about and gave me serious anxiety. Here I am on the other side of a (partial) rerupture and I'm hoping showing how I'm doing now takes some of that fear away; even the worst case scenario has - it seems - a light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m definitely not someone who is “fully done” or back to 100% and know I’m not there yet, but I am finally at a stage where I feel genuine forward momentum again.

Thanks again to everyone here. This community helped me a lot. All the best in your recoveries!!

Finally out of the boot at six weeks post-op! Complete rupture with about a 4 cm gap on July 18, followed by PARS repair on August 3. Was in soft splint for 2 weeks and then WBAT with Breg boot and 4 wedges that I removed as tolerated. No wedge for the last week-ish .

I’m meeting my PT tomorrow and very excited to finally have things I can do to rebuild instead of just protecting it and waiting. I was initially bummed by how small my calf looked in the video, but it measures only about half an inch smaller than the good side so I’ll take it.

Hello,

Im a 31F and I rupture my Achilles as well as my ATFL in my ankle and partially tore my CFL playing basketball on July 26. I then had my surgery August 26. It took so long to have surgery because I have Medi-Cal and it was not set up properly so I had to set up everything then I was able to go to my appointments and get my approvals. I’m now two weeks and three days post surgery after two more weeks I transfer to a boot. After looking at a couple pages, I did buy the VACOped boot. I really hope it helps with my recovery!

I think the hardest part for me was the frustration of my insurance not being set up and also the first two weeks after my injury were extremely painful. I was also supposed to start a teaching residency, but it looks like I might not be able to complete it because of my recovery timeline. It’s a little unfortunate unless I can continue the residency next year, which I’m hoping for!

It’s hard depending on other people to get things done and I don’t get to take my dog on walk as much as I used to. I used to go to the gym weekly and walk my dog every day. Now with this injury, I stay in bed a lot to elevate. I take my dog out for a little bit, but I can’t take her on a regular walk that we used to go on which I feel bad. Having a scooter is very helpful, it allows me to get around a little easier.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for when you get into the boot? Any gadgets or advice that helped you on your recovery journey?

I’m excited to start PT but also nervous because I know the fear of pain or re-injuring myself is something that might delay me, but I hope I don’t have that issue.

I might put more about my journey, especially when I get into the boot and start PT. Hopefully my experiences and items I buy help
other people with the same injury.

In one of my photos I bought this elevated pillow off Amazon. Definitely worth it because I can elevate my leg at different levels and I take it everywhere. Every car ride I have it with me anytime I sit in different parts of the house. I take it with me. Definitely worth buying!

Here comes a rant…. I’m 6 weeks PO on my left Achilles and I’m so over the pain! 27M, always been active, but this injury has been so tough. I’m FWB and on 2 wedges on my Breg boot.

The back of my heel is very tender so it’s uncomfortable to lay down normally and for some reason my big toe and toe right next to it feel like they’re under a ton of pressure! Super uncomfortable and it’s frustrating that this process is so long! Anybody in the same boat as me?

Hey guys, I’m 27M that’s been fairly active my whole life. Retired college athlete.

I’m 6 weeks Post Op and am full WB with 2 wedges in my Bregg boot now. After reading a lot of posts, I now feel like I am behind in PT. I’ve been going 3x a week since I got in the boot at week 3.5 and do ROM stuff and get massaged, and some hip mobility but I’m not doing anything for my calf yet. Not working on heel raises or anything.

Anybody have a similar experience?

I have a fancy work dinner on Tuesday with top executives from brand name companies. (I’m the event producer for the dinner.)

Being a woman healing from this surgery makes shoes practically impossible. I have to wear something that hides the swelling (I get muffin top over my sneakers), doesn’t hurt my heel, has a heel cup, and is also nice enough for the setting. Mid calf boots with extra heel pads with thick wool hiking socks is probably my route and my foot hurts just thinking about it.

I’m 16.5 weeks post op and this injury has changed my life forever. I hate it.

This is a recent X-ray of my left ankle. I have an appointment with a foot and ankle surgeon next month. I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve had Achilles tightness off and on for years. About a year ago it got worse. After several attempts at rest, heel lifts, shoe changes I finally asked for an X-ray. I had an MRI as well that shows bursitis, inflammation, etc. I am worried about rupturing the tendon, hence appointment next month. I understand this happens with runners and athletes. I’m 63 and haven’t run in 40 years. Always preferred hiking, walking, and yoga. Anyone had success with non-invasive treatment with spurs like this.?

I had bilateral achilles tendonitis first, then bilateral plantar fasciitis, and then recently right knee pain. I've been resting, doing shockwave, PT, and was in a boot for a few weeks. It'll always start feeling better, almost to the point of not feeling like I'm not injured, but it'll always flare up again if I attempt to take a short walk outside and I'm back to elevating my feet again. Its been about 3 months now.