Achiles tendon fully torn - what next?

[Pisano]

Thought I'd pick up soccer again and those moves I did 20 years ago ... Well lets just say happen quicker in my head than what my body can do now.  Ended up with a fully torn Achiles Tendon  on the left leg.   Doc says sugery most likely.

Anybody else here who had the same injury?  How long before riding again and anything else I should know?

At least the Griso is great to look at cause that's what I'll be doing for a while.

Thanks

[Bulldog9]

Thought I'd pick up soccer again and those moves I did 20 years ago ... Well lets just say happen quicker in my head than what my body can do now.  Ended up with a fully torn Achiles Tendon  on the left leg.   Doc says sugery most likely.

Anybody else here who had the same injury?  How long before riding again and anything else I should know?

At least the Griso is great to look at cause that's what I'll be doing for a while.

Thanks

Dude, that sucks sorry.  I have had several severe strains of that tendon over the years and a couple running buddies who have torn the tendon completely. Much depends on where it tore and how soon you get surgery.  All made full recoveries, but took well over a year to feel 100%.  Most of these were my Ironman/Triathalon/Marathon psycho friends.

A good surgeon, and good PT will have you back at it, will just take time. PT following surgery and careful recovery and stretching will be part of normal life, this isnt a 'set it and forget it' injury, but is fully recoverable.

[LowRyter]

I am very sorry for your injury.

I've known two coworkers that have torn Achilles.  It took around 6 months for recovery and several months of that with limited mobility.   My coworkers and I took regular shifts driving our affected coworker to work for a period of perhaps 2 or 3 months.  The rehab can be tough. 

In both cases the guys were in their late 30s-40s and were playing sports like basketball. 

The good news is that both cases were successfully treated.   So you'll very likely get through it and will have full mobility.  You might be careful about sport activities thereafter. 

I am no expert but have seen this first hand.  Both cases were almost identical.

[Pisano]

Thanks guys after reading this I'm a bit less anxious .

[lucky phil]

Thanks guys after reading this I'm a bit less anxious .

One of my colleges at work snapped his stepping off a 4" high gutter to cross the road. Can happen doing the most innocuous things as you get older.

Ciao

[Tom H]

What are the symptoms of this? I ask because I may have this issue from putting a bike on a center stand. I heard/felt 3 pops and then my calve stated bruising the next day. I just figured I strained a muscle.

Thanks.
Tom

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Pat it no mind .  You probably just broke an ankle, it'l heal quicker than an Achilles tendon.

[lucky phil]

What are the symptoms of this? I ask because I may have this issue from putting a bike on a center stand. I heard/felt 3 pops and then my calve stated bruising the next day. I just figured I strained a muscle.

Thanks.
Tom

When my colleague did his stepping off a curb he said it went off with a loud crack. I'd be getting that looked at. I guess they can use an ultrasound to look at it. Thats what they used on my shoulder.

Ciao 

[nick949]

Completely snapped my right achilles sparring in Taekwondo back when I was 50.  I had surgery the next morning, then spent a few weeks in a fibreglass boot.
It takes a while to fully heal, but I've hiked hundreds of rough country miles with full camping gear since with zero after effects.

BTW, when it snapped, it went off with a loud noise like a pistol shot (not that I'd know in civilized old Canada) and I fell to the floor. After the initial snap, it didn't hurt much except my foot flopped around like a dead fish. (edit) (My clever wife reminds me that dead fish don't flop around. I should have said it felt like I had a dead fish attached to the end of my leg.)

The key is to allow time for a full repair. Don't try to rush it.

Nick

[sdcr]

Pisano,

    I did my right Achilles exactly like Lucky Phil’s friend, stepping onto a high curb. Did hear the crack. Mine was a completely severed tendon. I had two options, surgery, and about a four to 6 month recovery. Or, I could have a cast for about four months, followed by a smaller cast, then a boot and physical therapy. I opted for door number two, so no cutting.

    This happened 25 years ago at age 38. My Achilles fully recovered after about a year and a half. My calf muscle took longer to rebuild. IIRC, I did not ride for about one season.

Good luck with whichever path you take.

[sdcr]

Tom,

What I remember is an excruciating pain, including a nauseous feeling. Once that initial misery ebbed, my ankle rapidly swelled, enough that a shoe would not be able to be worn. Ankle also turned a purple/ blue shade above the heel. This is accompanied by having zero ability to move or lift off the ball of your foot. Several good x rays or MRI will reveal everything.

What are the symptoms of this? I ask because I may have this issue from putting a bike on a center stand. I heard/felt 3 pops and then my calve stated bruising the next day. I just figured I strained a muscle.

Thanks.
Tom

[Cam3512]

I read somewhere that's the most common injury for guys over 40.  Ever since, I've made it a point to warm them up before any physical activity, to include getting out of bed.  I hang my feet over the side and flex and extend each side several times before walking downstairs.

I've strained my achilles and calves over the years of beating myself up, but that's the worse of it.  ALWAYS when I wasn't warmed up enough.  Even when I run, I WALK for 10 minutes before and after.

[Tom H]

Thank you all for explaining the symptoms. I was in pain, but could walk relatively fine right after it happened, no flopping foot. I think I just pulled the muscle. Had it happen on my other leg a few months latter when I had to help my elderly neighbor get his wife into a chair. All was fine until I had to lift a bit more and pushed down with my toes instead of flat footed. That time there was no pain when it happened, but the next day it was sore.

Thanks again!!
Tom

[ScepticalScotty]

In 2011 I was playing badminton when mine went off with  a sound of snapping rubber band - clearly heard by many people. I fell sideways, said a word you cant even say on the BBC late at night, and was in agony for 15 minutes. Snapped clean through, but luckily the sheath was intact so a cast for 14 days, then the boot for 8 or so weeks, then psysio was an effective plan. I felt severe pains at any time of the day for 3 or 4 months...and all these years later can still feel pain from the spot at times. One of the worst things as injecting myself with anti clotting agent for 42 days in a row.  Good thing I am ok with needles.

Follow the advice of the physio - its very important as to how the injury will heal. how strong. What degree of flexibity and movement.

Good luck. I injured myself in November 2011, and rode again in May 2012.

PS - I used the time in the cast and boot off work to learn morse code. :-)