Achilles Rupture - Surgery or No Surgery? Best Outcomes Debate (Week 1 Recovery)

Week 1 Non-Surgical Recovery: Early Functional Rehab = Best outcomes!!
Week 1 of the come back from an Achilles Tendon Rupture. Why I decided to go non-surgical for my recovery. Studies show early weight bearing with functional rehab in plantar flexion has best outcomes! Injury Dec 10th 2019. Today Dec 17th 2019.)
Links:
Early Functional Rehabilitiation:
1. www.baycare.net/media/2163/no...
2. Fowler Kennedy Protocol (link... fowlerkennedy.com/wp-content/u... )
3.www.aco.org.nz/pdf/achilles-te...
Studies/Meta Analysis
1. www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.k...
2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
3.www.researchgate.net/publicat...
4. achillesblog.com/files/2008/03...
5. crimsonpublishers.com/oproj/p...
6. www.uptodate.com/contents/ach...
Thanks to the people who posted on Achillesblog.com, and for youtubers SJ, Agnes, and Evan Brown!

[@bikepacker9850]

I think that Money has a lot to do with what you are advised to do.... I snapped my tendon in Thailand where all medical is private. They told me Surgery was the best option and quoted me around $10k. I flew home to Australia where we have public free health.... They told me the best option was non surgical. In countries that do not have free public health, my guess is there is more money in surgery... I am 6 weeks into the non surgical, I am totally amazed at how my 57 year old body is healing, its like magic.

[@marcpupillo83]

After recovering and moving on I haven’t checked this channel. My Achilles is still fine. I did not go back to playing competitive soccer as I was almost 38 anyway after recovering, now 41. Skiing, running, exercising and casual soccer, basketball, and other sports have been totally fine. Occasional soreness has happened here and there if I play more aggressive for longer than typical but has been mild. Hope everyone has had great recoveries!

[@renicaccamo6791]

Thank you for doing this. Excellent and glad to have the documentation all the way through the journey. I am at month 6 non surgical.

[@The_Engineer_Naturopath]

I did not do surgery I did 14 sessions of therapy. The message helped. 6 months after the injury, I made progress but my foot is still stiff. I don’t have the initial flexibility yet

[@ActsDriven]

Thought you might want to hear from someone who had non-surgical repair about 30 years ago. I was in my mid thirties at the time. Full leg hard cast initially with toes pointing down (ballerina style LOL); followed by recasting every few weeks for a total of 8 months! Each recast brought angle upward. Full recovery after PT about one year. Over the years I occasionally experienced pain when I stressed Achilles by running. As a result, activity level had been tempered to avoid injury and possible re-rupture. Today I still have discomfort from time to time but overall believe I made the right choice for me.

[@TheSaltyAdmiral]

Thanks a lot for this video. I'm a Norwegian that ruptured my Achilles yesterday. Got into the ER, did some examination and then just wrapped me up in plaster and sendt me on my way, "see you in two weeks!" :D I was under the layman's impression than a rupture required surgery, so it was quite surprising. Since we have universal HC in Norway I started wondering if they perhaps did this as a cheaper "second best" option, to surgery. I guess the flip side to that is that a for-profit HC system would wan't to do the most expensive option Anyway so I began researching on my own(which is how I found this channel by the way), and it really seems like(as you say) the results of non-surgery is basically on par with surgery, without all the complications of surgery. So I just wanted to thank you for your contribution and spreading knowledge and awareness on the issue.

[@mammyroar]

Good morning! I am now 15 weeks after rupturing my achilles. I did not have surgery., was put into a boot initially with raised heal, then 2 weeks in a plaster cast with my foot pointing down as the tendon was retracting. 12 weeks in a Vacoped boot where the physios could lower the incline every 3 weeks. My ankle still looks swollen and tender especially at the end of the day, and burns! BUT all of this is normal after tearing according to the brilliant physiotherapists. I hope you will recover well. Really great seeing other people’s stories x

[@wetnosepublishingltd8260]

I snapped my Achilles over 25 years ago and chose the non surgical method. I have climbed the Matterhorn and many other alpine mountains since and have never had a problem since. A wise retiring surgeon recommended it to me…the nurses told me to ignore his advice and go for the surgery. I’m so glad for his advice. 😊

[@A_Class]

Did you have a complete or partial tear? Mine is partial and I'm debating the two treatments

[@bikepacker9850]

Thank you for the hope.

[@wetnosepublishingltd8260]

@@A_Class Mine snapped in two. Complete snap. Absolutely nothing now. Just climbed the whole Cuillin Ridhge on Skye including the four climbs in one day at 61 years old.

[@A_Class]

@@wetnosepublishingltd8260 That’s encouraging

[@terrencepickett7580]

Thank you sir you just gave me hope on my Achilles injury

[@vanislvanlife]

thanks Marc,

[@topotone]

Thanks...very helpful for me, having just ruptured mine yesterday ☹️ I prefer non-surgical, for sure. I’m into visualizing the tendon splicing like the imagery in avatar, when they join their braids with the animal’s.

[@renicaccamo6791]

Was the knee issue on the same leg as the rupture? I had a ACL tear playing footie and it was on the same side.

[@SageFord]

Hi Marc. I don’t find any of the links you shared still work. Could you point me in the direction of active links

[@starthadon]

I have a slight indentation/gap in my left leg/calf insertion point but still can point my toes and stand on my tippy toes? I rolled my ankle laterally and it hurt but I felt no calf pain and still no heel pain to this day and it’s been about a month. I heard a snap but it was more like an ankle roll. Had some swelling for about a week but I was back to playing basketball after that week with no problem. I pass the Thompson test, and have still been able to run and jump fine with minimal soreness after. Why is there a small gap when I point my toes? what’s going on?

[@gmoo1376]

My ortho doesn't do surgery unless it's 1 1/2 cm' s or more. My was 3-5 mm estimate with my MRI. I'm at 5 1/2 months and about 70% + my max walking speed is at 2.5 mph.

[@edgarrocha8436]

My its 3mm , 3 weeks already, without surgery, I think I recovery at 30 %, my disability in my work, it's for a month in a half, do you think it's in off? My work it's a lot physical..

[@whatup]

Thanks so much for these vids. Similar situation to you. 1.8cm gap. Surgeon said I should get surgery. Believes non-op is far inferior. Scary to go against advise, but I wanna go non-op. Can always get an op later I suppose.

[@audaciouscrossfit4819]

How's your recovery going? 2 weeks ago, ruptured it...2cm gap here now.

[@whatup]

@@audaciouscrossfit4819 tendon is healing great. Got really bad tendinitis though in my heel. Been painful for months… just get a really good PT and don’t push past the point of pain

[@audaciouscrossfit4819]

@@whatup Gotcha, thanks!

[@marcuseakins2024]

The bottom of my foot is partially numb is that normal. I tore mines 4 months ago . Never went to a doctor, just tough it out .

[@philam1973]

Rupture mid September in the US. Return to Philippines and did surgery mid October. Stitches should come off tomorrow (I hope). Happened on my right foot. Can’t see natural healing over months since I wouldn’t be able to drive or ride my scooter for months. Stuck at home for months? No thanks. The last 2 weeks were hell. Only good point is I’m losing my dark tan (Hispanic blood).

[@A_Class]

How's the healing coming?

[@philam1973]

@@A_Class i seem to have a tightness in my tendon. I do daily stretching. Some days it feels as normal as pre-injury, other days, it feels sore. No connection to how much activity i do. I just chalk it up to age (69). I also have nerve irritation. Feels like a sharp needle and usually lasting only seconds. Not associated with the injury because it is on my left foot too. Hasn’t bothered much lately.

[@A_Class]

@@philam1973 Would you do surgery again or go non surgical route if you did it over?

[@The_Engineer_Naturopath]

Hi. Did you recover from your injury? I just had a torn Achilles and my orthopedic surgeon suggested non- surgery, my brother an MD suggested not to risk it and do surgery. I have a bunch of question but eager to recover,

[@captainandrewcrabtree6535]

What did you end up doing and how are you doing now?

[@josea.ferradal2399]

17 months after rupture Achilles with 5 cms. gap, nowadays the recovery : I have instability walking, plantar position down stairs in the affected leg and the doctor say me to do an FHL (endoscopic transfer Flexor Hallucis Longus), what is your opinion about this?. Indeed my 81 years old is the problem.

[@ajaykumara7158]

Better go for it but under very expert Orthopedic surgeon

[@joeyandowenthebreamslayers9059]

Did you end up having the surgery?

[@todaywaspretty6309]

Hello, I’m a MRI student in school finishing next year, and had an ATR in late July. I went non surgical, but was curious how has the injury affected your work if at all? I had to take an injury leave for my other job (working in a cultivation lab). My only concerns going forward is how it’ll affect my career, I know it’s probably time to take it easy on sports.

[@marcpupillo83]

I only missed about 6 days of work. With the boot it was pretty easy. I stand and walk all day usually at work. At first I did sit a bit more for a while but it wasn’t too much of a problem. Good luck during your recovery.

[@FATBOTB4life]

how are you now man? I just ruptured mine I'm sure. I didn't go to the ER, but I went to a local clinic that referred me to a specialist and I'm going tomorrow. I didn't want surgery either.

[@hooks210]

When did you rupture yours?

[@FATBOTB4life]

it's been like a week and a half ago, full rupture, but the doc wants to do it without surgery. It's going to be a long road but I think all will be okay. Sun still rises.@@hooks210

[@kawaiipotatolewis9507]

I tore mines 2 weeks ago as well. I chose the non surgical route. I’m currently wearing a cast until November 3rd then I’ll have to wear a boot with the heal wedge for another month.

[@FATBOTB4life]

@@kawaiipotatolewis9507 I think I get the boot in about two more weeks

[@hooks210]

@kawaiipotatolewis9507 I know every orthopedic can be different. Mine put me in a cast for 2 weeks. Supposed to get a boot this Friday if all looks well.

[@kempercor]

marc what % of "normal" do you expect to be after one year?

[@blinked025]

90-95% if you don't have any complications ie re-rupture

[@arturofernandez725]

38 year old male. Jumped. Rupture ensured.

[@alwaysreturnNurgirl]

Same here, same age

[@solonrosenblatt6763]

Too much talking! Get to the point!! When were you put in the correct cast in plantar flexion? How did you remain non weight bearing? When can you start weight bearing? Stop rambling!