r/AchillesRupture

Is it possible to add a tag on every post of Op and Non-Op as they are very different situations? I don't bother reading posts of people that have had an Op as I'm non-op. Just a suggestion. Thanks. ✌️

27m, 3 weeks non-op. Just called my Dr office to discuss boots as I will be getting my cast off in 2 weeks. I was told that they don't recommend the Vacoped because it has to be fitted by an orthotist. Is this true? I found one on FB Marketplace for a great price (not even used, just didn't fit the guy) but am not sure if I should get it because of what the Dr office said. They do the aircast with wedges but everything I am reading and watching points to the Vacoped being better. Thoughts?

Hi everyone I just wanted to share my experience.

I have torn my achilles doing a football game after only 10 minutes first of May 2024. I was able to get surgery the day after the surgeon used tenolig technique which I believe is the most modern and best way.

How to quite thorough physio recovery and started playing football one year after my surgery.

However after about a year of playing with minor injuries here and there mainly due to compensation I started doing physio again

I'm very very lucky that I found a physio super thorough and professional and this reminds me that the quality of the therapies you find is crucial

It is important to note that I was put in a cast for about six weeks which I believe is very conservative and I wonder if that had such an impact to why I'm writing this post

I can run I can play badel and I can also play leisure type football again. My future has warn me that I should keep the intensity low as my strength on the right side is still very far from the left side. As an example I can't fully jump with only my right foot properly

The reason I'm writing this is to share my experience and see with other people after two years of surgery if their calf strength is back to normal and has your return to Sport

Thank you everyone and good luck

Just wanted to hear opinions from the masses on this. Did walking a lot help you build strength in your tendon/calf?

Long rant, question at end of rant.

I ruptured my right Achilles on 9th July playing dodgeball. I lunged forward, felt the classic “someone’s kicked me” sensation, and immediately lost power in my foot.

I was put in a hard cast for around 10 days, then moved into a VACOped boot with maximum wedge, which I’ve been wearing 24/7 apart from washing.

I had an 'urgent' ultrasound on 5th August to assess the tendon and confirm whether surgery would be needed.

The frustrating part is that I now have to wait until 7th September just to discuss the ultrasound results with orthopaedics, let alone any physio plans. That’s over a month after the scan. I spoke with a private physio who said by now it'll be very difficult to operate on as your tendon is starting the early healing stages/ building blocks.

I completely understand the pressure the NHS is under, but it’s incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to recover from a serious injury and your rehabilitation feels like it’s being put on hold because you’re waiting for appointments.

I don’t want to change the VACOped stages without the orthopaedic team confirming that the tendon is healing appropriately, so I feel like I’m losing valuable recovery time.

I’ve now spoken to a private physio who has experience with lower-limb rehab. If orthopaedics confirms I don’t need surgery, I’m planning to start with her privately so I can hopefully progress my rehab rather than waiting even longer for NHS physio.

I know Achilles recovery is a long process and I’m only around 6 weeks in, but mentally it’s hard when so much of your life is essentially waiting for scans, results, appointments and permission to progress. I'm already behind on VACOped progress according to their information leaflet and speaking with the physio.

For anyone who has been through an Achilles rupture in the UK, did you experience similar NHS delays, and did private physio make a noticeable difference to your recovery?

I’m currently NWB in a boot for a partial tear and opted to treat it non-operatively. My Ortho put me in a standard black boot with a pump but it’s soft with the straps and plastic sides. I was at the grocery store and a kid accidentally bumped a grocery cart right into the back of my boot and sent me in a whirl of pain. Should I ask to switch to a different boot that is all hard to give me more protection or even a cast? I’m not sure if there is a standard protocol for what type aftercare people are using to protect the ankle. Thanks

I’ve read that overcompensating on the good foot and length mismatch with the boot can cause problems when using crutches for walking. This morning I started to experience soreness and pain when lifting off in the good foot. From what I’ve researched it seems like tendinitis in the good foot.

Any ideas how to treat this/how long it will take to heal? Currently doing seated calf raise holds for strengthening, and just taking shorter strides.
I don’t want it to affect the rehab of my injured side as I plan to start seeing a PT around 6 weeks.

I made a really stupid decision to wear ankle-length athletic socks for the first 3 days after getting my boot. They were just the easiest socks I had to get over my foot that would also absorb moisture, but now I'm worried I affected my achilles healing by having the sock cuffs press around the area. (Should mention I'm non-op)

I'm switching now to knee length socks but should I be worried about having done any damage or delay to my achilles?

I just got cleared today by PT to stop wearing Vacoped and move to lifted running shoes. Barefoot around the house is ok too. Totally game changer. I am limping slightly but feel pretty good to progress and take a shower without crawling about.

I am continuing with isometric holds. I will progress to calf lifts next week.

M31 had PARS op on 8/3. 2 weeks post op, just transitioned from splint to breg boot with heel lifts.

They had given me the boot and heel lifts pre-op, so I brought the lifts with me to the appointment. PA #1 put me in the boot with the 2 lifts I had, but my heel was still floating above them and trying to get it down onto the lifts caused pretty significant Achilles pain/tightness.

He was pretty nonchalant about it, didn’t really prescribe a specific number of heel lifts or angle, and basically said it was okay if my heel was floating. He offered another lift, but since he also said floating was fine, I initially declined. He also told me to remain completely NWB for another 2 weeks.

2 more weeks NWB didn’t match my pre-op understanding from the surgeon that I’d begin gradually progressing weight bearing around week 2, so I messaged the office for clarification.

Today I got a portal response from a different PA saying the 2 additional heel lifts I added myself (4 total now) was fine and that I can start progressive WBAT now — short distances at first, gradually increasing pressure as tolerated.

So within 24 hours I’ve gotten basically opposite instructions: NWB for 2 more weeks vs progressive WBAT now, plus no particularly clear guidance on heel-lift setup. Both interactions felt pretty casual considering how different the instructions were.

I’m trying to get confirmation from the actual surgeon before changing anything. Has anyone else run into this kind of conflicting guidance? What did your weeks 2–4 protocol look like?

Initial injury happened 5 weeks ago, received 3 stitches at local ER. Same ER confirmed rupture via ct scan 4 weeks ago and placed me in a temporary splint. Went to an approved workers comp facility 3 weeks ago and have been waiting to see a specialist since. Had a follow up at the approved urgent care and asked for a boot as my splint fell apart and wanted solid protection if I fall at work(retail). This doc did some tests and even had me trying to walk barefoot. He gave me a short boot with no heel lifts.
Everyone associated with workers comp and even the first 2 docs at the ER didn’t/don’t believe I ruptured my Achilles tendon.
I will now have to start “walking” with this short boot and see what happens. I wish I had a way to know if my tendon had been healing correctly while in the splint.
I don’t have a treatment plan, just the professionals insinuating I am good to go.

Everyone who goes through this injury already feels emotional as it’s a long recovery but then to not be taken seriously or have the help to recover, it is bs.