Torn achillies tendon

[sealine30]

The latest in a long list of things, I was settled on 10mg pred for quite a while, banged my leg on the caravan step which turned into cellulitis, started to reduce to 9mg without too many problems, had a sore eye in June when i saw my rhumy who got me referred to ophthalmology who diagnosed a dendretic ulcer. That was painful and lasted a couple of weeks, since then I had been ok ish so decided to reduce to 8mg using the slow slow method but at 8mg couldnt get rid of the aches in my shoulders but kept at it for a couple of weeks to see if it would settle. Then I had a really stressful, crappy week at work and ended up in real pain in arms, shoulders and knees and my twitchy eye muscle back which is really annoying if nothing else, so increase back to 10mg becoming pain free again within 2 days. So was walking back from town on Wednesday with hubby and grandson and missed the curb edge and went over on my ankle. Hobbled around in pain for a couple of days then went to A&E who potted me up and sent me off with a pair of crutches, tried to go into work on Friday but never realised how hard using crutches is, and now have pulled muscles in my stomach and both shoulders and am fit for nothing and feeling very sorry for myself! Back at orthopaedics on Monday for a scan od my achillies tendon and further potting, and guess what? Was due to fly to spain in 3 weeks, another great holiday as an invalid. Going to see if I can get a Madge-mobile!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Full sympathy vote from me - I was given Cipro antibiotic as well as Medrol - and promptly developed an inflamed achilles tendon. I realised the problem very quickly thanks to a swift google (a very bad mix of drugs, should have looked it up sooner) and spent the next 9 months requiring crutches. I had a couple of months with the foot in a brace for extra support as I was warned there was a risk of a torn achilles if I even just stumbled on a kerb as you did.

Crutches and PMR are hell on earth - my arms and shoulders were SOOOO sore!

Are you still going to Spain? If your leg is in a pot you will almost certainly need a doctor's letter saying you are fit to fly and this isn't a problem. I turned up at the airport with a cousin whose broken wrist was in plaster and she was turned away - the hospital had said it was fine. Luckily we knew the right people in our local hospital where she'd been treated and called them and they faxed a letter through immediately so she could fly - but that is here where they do things rather faster than the NHS!

Get well soon!

[Megams]

Oh dear, feeling for you in every way imaginable and detect you have a wonderful sense of humour to try and cope - well done, you have every ounce of my sympathies and isn't this web site just the best support in the world?

Big hugs and abundant best wishes go to you for a better day tomorrow the next and many more.

Megams from NZ

[baldbill]

I had a complete rupture of my Achilles tendon and had to have it surgically repaired. This was over 35 yrs ago. It is a 6 month re-hab at least and the PT is painful. If you opt for a surgical repair they may tell you to discontinue the Pred because it slows down the healing process. I had to be off of it for 6 weeks after rotator cuff surgery in Feb 15. I am trying to gut it out by not taking Pred because of all the terrible things it does to your body. Good Luck and God Bless

[sealine30]

Had my follow up at the ortho clinic this morning and I promised to be good and behave etc and they have given me a big bootee thing to wear for 6 weeks with heel raisers to keep my tendon shortened, this way I can still fly in October but will have to curtail most of the walking I had planned but - I am happy to be able to weight bear on the leg and not rely on 2 crutches or a wheelchair as it was killing my shoulders and getting to the point after only a couple of days that I was starting to wonder which pain was worse!

Thanks for your support as always

[PlacidWay]

The Achilles tendon attaches the bottom of the calf muscle to the base of the heel, an area commonly injured in sports such as jogging, tennis, or activities that require fast changes of direction, such as soccer and football. An Achilles tendon repair is usually performed when the Achilles tendon is ruptured, torn or otherwise injured. In the event that nonsurgical treatment such as a cast or walking boot fails to reattach or heal the tendon, surgery is often performed.

Anyone who has experienced a torn or ruptured Achilles tendon may benefit from reattachment or repair surgical procedures. A torn or ruptured Achilles tendon makes it extremely difficult to walk, place weight on the injured limb, or perform daily living activities. Faster recovery time, reduced pain and increased mobility are enhanced through Achilles tendon repair techniques. 

In most cases, individuals suffering an Achilles tendon injury will undergo one of two types of surgery: 

Percutaneous surgery - the surgeon makes several small incisions through which laparoscopic or endoscopic surgical tools are inserted, offering a less invasive surgical approach.

Open surgery - a large incision is made along the back of the calf muscle to access the injured area of the Achilles tendon.

In either type of Achilles tendon repair procedure, the surgeon will access the torn or ruptured area of the Achilles tendon and then sew the edges of the torn or ruptured tendon back together. In some cases, surgery may have to wait several days to a week in order for swelling around the injured area to subside.

Achilles tendon repair may be performed under local, regional, or general anesthesiology, depending on the patient, the severity of the injury, and the decision of the surgeon. The skin over the calf muscle is sterilized, after which the surgeon makes the incision to reach the injured tendon. In some cases, a tendon graft may be necessary, with a piece of tendon taken from another part of the foot or body to repair the torn Achilles tendon.

Individuals may need to wear a cast or some sort of walking boot for up to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of the tear. In the beginning of the recovery period, the person's foot will be positioned downward, gradually adjusting the foot to a neutral position as the tendon heals.