Ruptured My Achilles

[kingaucho]

Hi all,

Just wanted to vent a little. I tore my Achilles tendon two weeks ago playing soccer. Like I have been for the last 10 years, I warmed up and stretched before the game. After playing for almost 2 hours, with nobody near me I took 3 steps towards a player I was defending and it POPPED! Other people on the field said they heard it, too. Surprisingly, the pain was not as bad as you would think it may be, but I could not walk or put any pressure at all on my left foot. Went to the ER and sure enough they confirmed it was a ruptured Achilles. Has anybody here (I hope not!) had this type of injury and how long did it take you to get back out on the trails? I am a week removed from surgery and have to wear a cast for 5 more weeks. I know that I will be riding a stationary bike for my physical therapy and from what my Dr. said I may be off the dirt for 5-6 months. Hope not...

[DISCO]

I have gone through a few procedures and suggest you start by swimming, respect your limits and focus on technique.

[0gravity]

Bummer. Good luck healing. Rehab on a road bike.

[schleppp]

OHHH SNAP!!!

Joking aside, sorry to hear it. I hope you heal quickly!

[Lefty Kev]

I've always feared having my achilles give out...it's just one of those injuries that makes me cringe

Healing vibes to you. Hope you are back in the saddle soon

[mfoga]

I have never ruptured an achillies but its a very serious injury. This is one where I would listen to the doctor and take it as easy you can. Swimming and water exercises are a good idea. Follow any PT that they give you. Tendons can take a long time to heal and you are dealing with the biggest and strongest ones in the human body.

[kingaucho]

Thanks for the support and advice. I definitely intend on taking the PT very seriously. I did have a complete ACL reconstruction (from soccer, too ) and know how important the rehab process was. Again, thanks and hope to see you out on the trails as soon as possible!

[Letyrides]

I've had achilles tendonitis and often wondered if that leaves me more susceptable to this. Hope you heal quickly and take it easy.

[Big Guy]

I got my Achilles tendon ruptured in 93. I was doing tae kwon do and I kicked in the air, switched the kicking foot back and pushed to go forward. I suddenly heard a loud SNAP!! and felt like if someone hit me with a golf club in the back of the leg. It didn't hurt that much when it happened, but it was followed by a wave of pain, that brought the cold sweats and the nauseas.

It completely ripped except for a little string of tendon that prevented my calf muscle from curling up. I had to wait for 5 days for the swelling to go down before they performed surgery.

The tendon had ripped diagonally, which gave a larger bonding surface, after stitching it back together, the surgeon cut a strip of the calf muscle outer membrane and folded it over the rupture and used it to reinforce the tendon.

After the surgery, I had a full leg cast, bent 45 degrees at the knee with the foot pointing down for 1 month. I could not walk of even stand on it.

The second month, I got a cast below the knee, but still with the foot locked down, I was able to move my leg but was not able to stretch my tendon.

The third month, I got a walking cast and finally could walk around and stand for more than a few minutes. With 2 kids under 3 it was important.

So, after 3 months in a cast, I started physical therapy and had a brace for a few months to prevent my tendon from over extending.

5 month after the surgery it was spring in Montreal and I started riding my bike on the road, it really helped.

I regained all the flexibility and most of the strength. I always feel my tendon, not a pain, but a strong presence. It is hard to explain. You usually never think about any particular body parts but my tendon is always sending signals to my brain. When the weather is changing I feel it a lot more.

It's will be 15 years next week...

[DeadlyStryker]

Originally Posted by DISCO

I have gone through a few procedures and suggest you start by swimming, respect your limits and focus on technique.

I don't know much, but I hear that swimming is GREAT for this. Something about moving your ankles and whatnot in a lot more directions than if you were pedaling/running/etc.