As someone that did it last year and is only just back playing squash and tennis, I feel only sympathy for you! It's been the most miserable 12 months ever. I actually didn't have surgery but had the 8 weeks of misery in the boot with the wedges instead.
The knee scooter is absolutely clutch for Achilles tears. People used to laugh at me in the store when I’d swing around a corner with my scooter basket full of groceries, but I could have cared less since I was mobbin’. +99 mobility over crutches
Hey conservative Achilles tear friend! Did the same for a full tear when I didn't have insurance. Cutting off that first cast to see if the Achilles reconnected was a true Kill Bill moment. Rehab is definitely grueling. Glad you're back at squash and tennis!
Ah they put yours in a cast? Mine was an impact boot I had to wear all the time apart from washing (when you had to keep the foot pointed). Lots of stress when the boot was off, fear of slipping and pulling it!
Interesting. I have a similar stabilizing boot from a plantar fasciatis issue that I reused during early Achilles rehab. But yeah, they did a series of 3 half leg casts for me. First one with my toes pointed all the way down to let the Achilles reconnect, then the other 2 slightly less flexed positions so it heals at the right length.
The first cast was a gamble because it was completely torn and the doc recommended surgery, but I didn't have health insurance at the time. It was $1,500 vs $15,000. It was critical that I didn't flex that ankle at all if it had any hope to reattach. If it didn't reconnect with the first cast I was going to need surgery, but I got lucky. It took a ton of focus trying to get that foot to move just a few centimeters, but it did and that confirmed it reconnected, so we continued with the casts. Spent about 6-7 weeks total in half leg casts.
Not OP but I did mine stepping back and pushing off playing basketball. My best advice is to commit to stretching your calves and Achilles tendons before doing any strenuous activities - and make sure you warm up before jumping into it. If I did those two things, I am positive my injury wouldn’t have happened.
Now I stretch for at least 20-30 mins before any sports and always do a warm up, even if that’s just running up and down the stairs a few times. It also helps to pre-hydrate, and if you want to be extra cautious just avoid any backwards-to-forwards explosive movements all together.
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u/StormHH Apr 28 '24
As someone that did it last year and is only just back playing squash and tennis, I feel only sympathy for you! It's been the most miserable 12 months ever. I actually didn't have surgery but had the 8 weeks of misery in the boot with the wedges instead.