Achilles Tendonitis Surgery two years ago, still healing.

by Bill W.
(Oregon)


Looks like I'm the first story on here. Cool!

4 years ago I started having pain in my right Achilles Tendon, halfway between the calf and the heel.

I'm a runner, so I didn't want to slow down or stop. I probably should have.

3 years ago the tendon pain got so bad I couldn't run more than half a mile, even when I took a long time to warm up.

I made myself rest for 6 months. I didn't run at all. I elevated my foot as much as I could, did upper body and upper leg strengthening at the gym, stretched my calves.
Ibuprofen and ice packs not as much as I should have.

At the end of the 6 months, I went for two short runs. The day after the end of the second run, my Achilles hurt just as bad as before!

No running was driving me crazy. I rested and tried to work back into running, thinking that it had to be healed and that I just needed to work back into it slowly. 6 months of that and it became clear it wasn't going to heal.

My doctor advised me to have surgery, so I did.

I don't know if I should have. It was another 6 months just to heal from the surgery. Now my Achilles is really tight.

It's so stiff when I wake up in the morning. It's stiff most of the day.

I can walk on it fine, but when I start to jog, it just feels so stiff that I know I should stop. I've been stretching taking it easy for the last 2 years after the surgery.

I will say though, it does hurt less than it did. And I've started hiking instead of running. It's good to do that with my kids. Happened for a reason I guess.















Subscribe to The Tendonitis Expert Newsletter Today!

For TIPS, TRICKS, and up-to-date Tendonitis information you need!

Email


Name



Then



Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.

I promise to use it only to send you The Tendonitis Expert Newsletter.




























Comments for
Achilles Tendonitis Surgery two years ago, still healing.

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 06, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Arrgh! Donna, I deleted your response by accident!
by: The Tendonitis Expert

Hi Donna. I'm assuming it was the same Donna that wrote in, but after responding to your next response I accidentally deleted the whole thing. :(

First time in 4 years that I've made that particular mistake.

If you're motivated to do so, please respond again.
Feb 05, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		walking again
by: donna

Hi all I am now walking again more or less normaly,I have found the best way to deal with the stiffness is by walking up the waits bare footed and trying to walk on my toes when I first started to do this It was quite difficult but as the weeks go on i have found it easier,i can run but because my walling was so bad at the beginning it causeed a mayor problem with my knees and they were more painful than my feet but having forced myself to walk as normal as i could i have now over come this i am aware that it will take quite a while for this to return to normal but i am coping well .

Having done both of them at the same time i knew that it was going to be a long haul ,so i was prepared and also i wanted to stick two fingers up to my consultant as he said i would never walk normaly again well I am yes at the end of the day I have pain but I am walking and living a normal life so my only words to those who are suffering this condition is just keep going do not let it beat you adjust and over come.


----


Joshua Comments:

Yeah, those pessimistic doctors....dumb.

I think '..walking up the waits bare footed..' was a misspelling, but I can't figure it out. 'Walls'?
Feb 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Exposed achilles tendon 3 months after surgery
by: eve

I had surgery two mths ago and another one to close a small rupture. Since then the tendon is still expose and the surrounding layers of skin is not covering the tendon.what could my doctor use to fix the problem?


----


Joshua Comments:

You've had an open wound/exposed tendon for 3 months???

Your doctor should investigate why in the world your body isn't closing/healing your wound. Since it's been three months, I'm guessing that your doctors aren't going to do that.

Unless you're 90 years old with paper thin skin, you should be healing and the wound should be closing.

Hi Eve.

They stitched it up, right?

The first place to look is nutrition. You don't have enough basic building blocks for the body to do what it's designed to do, so it's not.

More protein, more healthy fat, various nutrients to therapeutically supplement with. No gluten, no processed foods.
Feb 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pain after 2 years
by: Emma

Hi there, 2 years ago I had tendonitis surgery at the time I was 19years old & my doctor didn't know how I would recover as he said it was not normal for someone my age or anyone under 30 to have this issue. They believe I gained this issue by my high level gymnastics & soccer for years.

When it's very hot or very cold I get stiff pain by the heel bone which makes my muscles tight & makes walking painful.

I run fine, walk fine swim fine everything! Other then when I am experiencing temperature pain
Jan 11, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		response
by: Anonymous

Thank you for you response ,I am now walking relatively well on a good day .

Yes I did rupture them both at once the left one went first then when I drew the right leg forward the other one went just a loud snap in both no pain then I fell ,as I didn't know what I done I tried to walk them there was pain. I haven't really had much input from any medical professional.although I am nearly back to normal.

I did suffer a few infections and later found a stich under the skin which when I found it and removed it resolved the infection.

Any information you can give me will be gladly received

Thanks donna


---


Joshua Comments:

Yeah.....don't expect much from the medical profession.

A little surgery, a little PT, and off you go.

So.

Did you have partial or complete ruptures?

How did the surgeries go?

What's the exact timeline of injury to surgery to walking to now?

How's pain, swelling, etc been?

Basically, write me a very detailed story, including your hopes and wishes for how active you want to be (and why), etc.

The more complete picture I have, the better opinion/commentary I can come up with.
Jan 06, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Ruptured both Achilles running
by: Donna

I am 44 years old and ruptured both Achilles tendons whilst running.

I've had both operated on but i am now two weeks post opp and have no real pain or swelling but i am concerned about walking again i can not find any information about recovery and have no input from my surgeon so if any one out there could give me some ideas about what to do or how to get back on my feet again i will be for ever grateful.

I've been given boots and crutches but i am still in a wheel chair and do try to walk a bit but i have no real balance so i am at a loss as what to do.


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Donna.

Do you mean you ruptured both achilles while running at the exact same time?

I'd be curious to hear more about that.

Granted it's been 3ish months since you submitted this question, but it's good news that 2 weeks post surgery you're not having pain. That's a good sign.

Unfortunately, yes, while one expects good post-surgery advise and self care instructions from one's surgeon/doctor/medical facility, one probably shouldn't. The medical community somehow still thinks that surgery and rest you'll be back to 100%. They often prescribe physical therapy as an expected aspect of treatment, but if you come back with pain, it's always somehow your fault.

So give me an update on where you're at/how you're feeling/what you've done since submitting this and we'll go from there.

I imagine you're out of the cast by now.
Aug 21, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Military 6 months after surgery & still hurts
by: Anonymous

I had surgery in Feb 2012 now it's Aug and I am still having pain in the mornings, with stiffness etc. I also have a slight bulge in the back where they attached it.

It also doesn't help that I'm in the military and i have to wear boots that causes pain throughout the day.

Is the pain normal like this after surgery? Also when i try to run/jog i feel it really tight and it feels like i'm limping.


----


Joshua Comments:

Hello Anonarmy.

Unfortunately, Achilles Tendonitis surgery isn't the cure all we'd like it to be.

It was ALREADY tight, that's what caused the original Achilles Tendonitis Symptoms.

Surgery doesn't fix the CAUSE of the achilles tendon pain and symptoms.

SO 8 months later, when things are still tight and painful.....

So, is your situation ideal? No.

Is it 'normal'? For the most part, unfortunately, yes.

Why? Because you weren't given effective post surgery rehab. Because the original causes of the problem weren't addressed by surgery so are still in place.

Get the Reversing Achilles Tendonitis ebook, and get to serious work on it (because it's predictable that if you keep running etc, things will get bad again. I don't want that to happen, but it's predictable).
Jun 09, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A Year Later 3/4 achilles tendon tear and no surgery
by: Anonymous

It has been a year since I ruptured my achilles playing baseball. It was 3/4 of the way torn, so my doctor decided against surgery. It healed pretty well on its own, but I get the absolute worst calf cramps in the morning. I do stretches everyday, I do aquafit and swim, walk, etc. Anyone have any other suggestions on how to stop this cramping?


----


Joshua Comments:

See: Magnesium for Tendonitis

The danger is that the cramping is because the nervous system can't fire muscle properly because it's getting a signal from the tendon that the tendon is in danger (3/4 tear of an achilles tendon is -significant-).

See what happens with the magnesium.
Mar 27, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		e: Joshua's comment
by: Gena

Hi Josh. And, thanks for responding to my post. "What have I done for my achilles, for the past year?" I did re-hab for 9 weeks. They said I could not leave till I could stand on toes...that never happened.

I have continued with the bands/weights, daily. I try to walk as much as possible. I tend to us my toes and side of foot to do all the work, it seems.

I have complete atrophy in calf muscle. I was VERY athletic before injury. Anything you could add would be greatly appreciated.

I have recently been diagnosed with spondyloarthritis. (I'm not convinced with diagnoses)...You think I should see Rhuemy, or surgeon, regarding issues?

Thanks :)


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Gena.

Here's the reason to be suspicious about that arthritis diagnosis. Technically, you likely do have an irritated joint (I'm assuming you're talking about your ankle). Here's why: TIGHT Achilles is compressing the foot bones into the leg bones. So all movement is 'grinding', and just laying there is compressing.

Not so great. I would focus on reducing that compression.

The reason you don't fire off your big toe side is because your neurology is jacked up due to physical tissue issues, and your brain won't let the right muscles fire for a variety of very good reasons.

Personally, I'd drop $20 on my Reversing Achilles Tendonitis ebook.

You have a serious physical issue, and you need an -effective- strategy to get yourself going again. Clearly rehab and bands/weights, etc, didn't do the trick. Nor will they.

Bands and weights isn't the answer to your multifaceted problem.

Getting rid of inflammation with something like learning How To Reduce Inflammation is an important start.

Opening up the constrictive tissue is another.

The reattachment surgery technically shortened the structure(s) in the back of your lower leg. It was short to begin with, which is likely why it ruptured. You have to lengthen it.

It will take time and effort, but it's doable.
Mar 27, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Still not close to 100%, 1 year after rupture
by: Gena

It will be one year next week since my achilles acute rupture. I am far from 100%, still cannot do heel lifts, and VERY tight. Most days it feels like it's going to just snap, it is so tight.

Cannot do steps or steep slopes. Try to walk about a mile or so a day, use "tens unit", and ice/heat on regular basis. I do believe my running and hiking days are over. It is a very "mental" injury as well as physical.

Best of luck to all who are suffering.


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Gena.

Thanks for sharing.

I assume that you had it surgically reattached, yes? It makes sense it would be super tight now....

So...what are you doing to counter that tightness?

In other words, what have you done for it over the last year?


Feb 05, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A year and 7 months after Achilles Rupture and still feel pain
by: Anonymous

I did not have surgery. I rupture the achilles tendon. A year and 7 months later, I have pain mostly in the back of my heal. When I wake up, it's real tight. I have to take a warm shower and stretch it to loosen it up. I can walk on it and if I walk to fast, it starts to feel a little painful. But when I try to jog lightly, it just feels like it doesn't want to relax. It tightens up.

Isn't the pain supposed to be gone by now?


----


Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

Wouldn't it be great if the pain was gone by now?

But, the fact is, it's not.

The question becomes, why not?

Because the entire structure of the back of your lower leg is TOO TIGHT.

And the pain isn't going to change until that does.


Kind of a brief answer. Let me know if you have follow up questions.
Apr 29, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstar 		You're not alone - Achilles Tendonitis Surgery two years ago, still healing.
by: terri

hey you're not alone my Achilles gets stiff and hard too.. sometimes it feels like a robot it dont flex right lol... i cant run either.. n if they offered a billion dollars to tip toe on that one foot i would loose... lol.... in the morning i can not walk...

i started walking a mile a day that got in trouble... i heard walking on the beach is great.. i guess like hiking... but i tore mine from hiking... yikes for me... i guess we dont really recover to 100%.... but me and you are in the same club....

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Achilles Tendonitis Surgery Stories