Week 10: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - Best Week So Far!

Week 10: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - Best Week So Far!
Discussion points:
- Transitioning from boot to shoe
- Started walking in flat sneakers
- Showering and sleeping with no boot
- Playing sports with kids again
- Started walking barefoot
- Dynamic vs static stretching
- Seated calf raises too easy
- Foam rollers
- Don't need physio all the time
- Expensive injury

[@dancingkokonut]

I know this video is 5 years old but its so helpful! Thanks so much for keeping them up, really appreciate it! 💯❤

[@MsCeeBee]

I never comment on KZbin videos but I’m just over 4 weeks in to non-surgical route recovery for an Achilles rupture and I’m finding your videos super helpful! I only found these last night and have just watched week 10. Watching these has giving me great tips and they’re making me feel so much more positive about the journey ahead. Thank you!

[@yesreneau]

For people in the comments who might be going stir crazy not being able to do sports… I found it’s been super helpful to have a fun pull-up goal to work towards (so that you can feel like, in some ways, you’re getting stronger even with the boot). I’ve gone from 5 to 11 pull-ups since I got this injury 10 weeks ago, but aiming for 20 before I go back to sports!!

[@anneochana782]

Hi, I’d just like to thank you for making these videos. I ruptured my Achilles at the same time as you, and so it’s good to go through this process with someone else. You explain the process really simply and seeing you get better gives me encouragement. Keep up the good work.

[@SJachilles]

Thanks Anne. How is your recovery going? Was your protocol similar to what I'm using?

[@anneochana782]

Hi SJ, I’m a little behind you because I had surgery in January, but our protocols look very similar. My surgeon takes an aggressive approach to rehab because he wants the my tendon working again. My surgeon says that the more tendon is used the stronger it will heal with a reduced chance of re-rupture. Early movement also reduces the build up of scar tissue, The day after the surgery I was in a boot and I was walking PWB on it as tolerated. The transition to FWB to shoes was straight forward. I am 7 weeks post op. I am still doing ROM exercises with my ankle. No dorsi flexion until 8 weeks after surgery. Seated heel lift exercises as much as possible. I have a heel riser in my shoe. I was told that this keeps the tendon short and reduces the stress on the tendon when I am walking. For the same reason I have been told that when I am going up and down the stairs I am still to go one step at a time with bad leg leading when descending and the bad leg following when I ascend. My physiotherapist also massages my scar to increase blood flow and to break down the scar tissue. Thanks again for the videos, they are really helpful.

[@SJachilles]

Looks like a great protocol. Definitely agree with the aggressive rehab!

[@ibrarulhaq5348]

you're awesome mate, watching most of your videos and wanted to send you my heartfelt thanks

[@nickygy1]

Super encouraging! Thank you for the great enthusiasm 🎉

[@robertsarbo7795]

Thank you so much SJ for your videos. They have been a blessing to me I have watch them over and over. I pray that many great blessings come your way for the help that you have given many of us who have torn our Achilles tendon.

[@obiecrenshaw]

SJ is a life saver! I appreciate you for taking the time, while going thru the pain, to make these videos. You helped so many people (as i read in the comments), and myself. I am in my 12 month recovery and i feel fine, just some stiffness, due to me going back to normal life around month 4, and i stopped stretching as much. thanks you so much, and for the newbies that just tore, FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS, Stay a couple weeks ahead (still follow week by week) of SJ videos, and YOU WILL BE FINE!

[@clh1612]

Hi SJ, thank you so much for your videos, I am in the UK and had a right leg ATR 10 weeks ago, when my consultant told me that I could come out of the boot to sleep in and when at home it took me 3 days to get the confidence to come out of the boot. Your videos really helped give me the confidence to do it. Happy to say I am now at week 10 and walking confidently in shoes at home, albeit with a slight limp but thats to be expected. I’m working on exercises to strengthen my ankle now, seated heel raises, heel slides, towel foot stretches and big toe pushes. Being assessed by my physio for going back to driving at week 14, fingers crossed!

[@s1lvermere]

Thanks SJ Found these past two videos incredibly helpful. I've also been transtioning boot to trainer, altho i had surgery. The safe exercises suggestions to build strength and improve balance have been invaluable. Given me confidence i am not overstretching the tendon too soon and I've made massive progress returning to near normal walking in a few days as a result. 😊

[@curtesyofbraxton]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know how helpful your videos have been. I have been following you since I tore my Achilles on 10/19/21 and you help even more than my doctor.

[@apa_athlete]

You are the best man

[@josephmwansa7077]

Following your journey has helped so much my man!! I'm currently on week 10 and I just had the boot removed which, like you said in your video is the best week by far but again it's annoying walking around with the limp but it is a long process and your videos have helped me so much.

[@beauchapman4155]

Been following you week by week as I progress. Thank you for making these. I’m on week 10 and just started walking without the boot. These videos really keep me going. Thank you again!

[@nategeorgy74]

Any updates?

[@kevinorozco5110]

I tore my achilles 10 weeks ago (may 2021) and these videos have been super helpful and encouraging during my recovery. Thank you!

[@nategeorgy74]

Any updates?

[@wmj731987]

looking great mate!! I'm 5 weeks behind you!

[@SJachilles]

Thanks mate. You'll improve a lot over the next few weeks!

[@slimduncan8022]

I've been watching since I tore my achilles on Halloween. I just received my boot and immediately I was able to take one of the wedges out. During my first 8 weeks I rarely mainly kept it elevated and worked on range of motion. I did use the tens unit after 3 weeks. But since I received my boot I have been walking. The day I got my boot I took a 2 mile walk and didn't have soreness in the area in which there was damage but my hip flexor thigh and calf were sore obviously from lack of use. I am going to a walk in Ortho due to me not having insurance but up until this point i haven't had any set backs and I only had about a 75% tear... I did utilize certain friends who work at a college to use their ultrasound machine to see how severe the tear was...

[@andybloodworth5019]

Great videos. I'm in week three - had boot for 3 days. What is so useful at this stage is seeig the way forward and a light at the end of the tunnel. I am in the UK and i have a Vacoped boot which is similar to yours but has an adjustable hinge that can gradually reduce the angle to neutral over the rehab period. The protocols for the boot suggest quite an an aggressive approach and your videos have given me confidence to trust it. Good luck everyone!

[@zakariamaster7717]

Hello Andy I’m on week 7 post achilies , How is your recovery . I’m more or less out of vacoped now and walking with a limp but pain free at the moment first physio appointment Tommorow My rupture was 1st April

[@andybloodworth5019]

@@zakariamaster7717 Hi Sounds like you are doing well! I am in week 12 and have another ten days before first physio. I have not been avbised to walk without boot and spend most time on crutches partial weight bearing. My Dr has given next to no advice on how to progress - initilally he refused to even assess my injury when I was in hospital having boot adjustments - they were just reading instructions from a protocol taped to the wall from another NHS trust. I have a copy of my own I could simply read it and action myself - I feel like simply trusting my own research. I am in no rush as I want to get it right bu t feel totally frustarted with care/advice given. Are you in the UK or elsewhere? Keep going! Andy

[@spencerfarrow2963]

Just in the transition to shoes this week. These vids have been helpful to here a fellow patients prospective. Thank you for putting this all together.

[@slimduncan8022]

When did you injure yourself? Was it a complete tear?

[@spencerfarrow2963]

@@slimduncan8022 September 25, 2020, yes complete rupture. 3.5 months out now

[@slimduncan8022]

@@spencerfarrow2963 ok I ruptured mine on Halloween and it was a 75% tear. Had a hard time finding an XL boot until someone suggested amazon. I'm going to give it about a month before I try to transition to shoes.

[@spencerfarrow2963]

@@slimduncan8022 I hope you have been following with a physician and therapist, and employing an early weight-bearing and ROM protocol. I hope you heal well. I finally achieved a single leg heal raise, my goal was 12 weeks but didn’t get it until 15 weeks out.

[@captainandrewcrabtree6535]

5 weeks in nonop, and starting full weight bearing in the boot soon... excellent idea about the half roller for the squats, will have to try that in the future. 🤙🦀🌴

[@karinchivers7494]

I just started wearing a regular shoe and am doing several of the same exercises. Also glad to see we have similar limps. ;-) I thought I should be more smooth in my walk but it’s only Week 10. Thanks!

[@recklesselia]

Hey I also went into normal shoe after my cast I hope that is ok . Mine was surgical.

[@elizabethmanke8162]

Oh my goodness!! That’s EXACTLY how I felt!! I was sooo relieved & happy to see my walk was normal when beating myself up for not walking more smoothly. Gosh it’s so encouraging to have others that have gone through this. ❤️🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@armaya33]

Hi, i just got diagnose of partial rupture about 3 weeks ago. Been to 2 doctors with different suggestion. Surgery and no surgery, but the last doctor was very convincing so I follow the non surgical one. So now it's been my 7 week and I'm having progress like yours in this video. I'm so thankful that ur making all of this video. Seeing u makes me feel that I'm not the only ones that having this painful thing. And seeing u recover and able to do sports that u like is like giving me hope that recovery is on the way and I just got to be patient and go trough the process. By the way what other exercise u do to keep u in shape during this fase?

[@SJachilles]

Hi, good to know your recovery is going well. To be honest, I don't really exercise much in my normal life outside of my weekend sport and daily walking. But from about week 7 I started doing sit ups and push ups but even lately I've gotten lazy with them. Anyway good luck!

[@mrst1230]

Hi SJ, thank you so much for your videos, they are so helpful. Im now at week 9.5 and just wanted to know, did you have any swelling in your calf? My calf seems to swell up in the evening, and my mid calf is fairly sore in the mornings.

[@jessemiller3930]

Your videos are SO helpful! Thank you. I am a fellow bald headed athlete lol. I am at week 10. I have been in shoes for four days, and your are correct. Life is feeling so much better. My tendon feels great, and is clearly getting much stronger, along with the calf muscle. My tendon feels really good, but is about 3x the thickness of my uninjured right. I think it’s ok, but wondering how your was?

[@markshields6997]

Excellent, v helpful. Did you receive physio throughout your rehab process? Many thanks.

[@jpfree5864]

Good work love the videos. This injury is different but u learn a lot about the body natural ability to heal n repair itself with non op. How’s the pain from week 8-10 ?

[@L.F.C.66]

Hi im on my 9th week of recovery like you said it feels much better,i can walk around but still limping,i like your video,it all makes sense,my question 2u is that,there is a gap where the rupture is,is that gap filling up as time passes,i can feel the joints are slowly meeting up,i feel much better i thought it would take longer,thanks for the exercise tips as im not seeing a physiotherapist .. Thank you!

[@tttaronno]

Just a Thank-you for efforts here. It’s devastating for an active person to have to sit around so much but your update particularly for week ten is so encouraging. I’m at week 5 but feel I have hope. One question. I am an avid golfer when do you feel you can manoeuvre around a course bunting the ball around until you get to week 10 plus.

[@SJachilles]

I reckon you can play with a cart from about week 12. You will be limping but its not too bad.

[@markrmgliberia4548]

I am in week 6 post op and I am in the boot with one wedge removed.... partial weight. I mistakenly lifted up the garage door and it put pressure on my ankle... it swelled up immediately. I am putting ice on it now.... hope it didn't do anything bad.

[@walidmasri5020]

I'm into 2 weeks of my recovery. Can't wait to reach 10 weeks

[@EddyG0rdo]

Walid Masri how are you now?

[@obiecrenshaw]

SJ is a life saver! I appreciate you for taking the time, while going thru the pain, to make these videos. You helped so many people (as i read in the comments), and myself. I am in my 12 month recovery and i feel fine, just some stiffness, due to me going back to normal life around month 4, and i stopped stretching as much. thanks you so much, and for the newbies that just tore, FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS, Stay a couple weeks ahead (still follow week by week) of SJ videos, and YOU WILL BE FINE!

[@emrahg4031]

How long did you limp when you moved on to normal shoes?

[@joedunne1134]

Hi SJ ,great imformative videos . I am now 7 & a half weeks after a complete achilles tendon rupture & have chosen the non operative route as well . I was wondering where you got your rollers from & what make are they ? Thanks Joe.

[@SJachilles]

Hi Joe, are you based in Australia?

[@joedunne1134]

Hi SJ I'm actually based in the UK. The protocol here on the NHS is not to operate unless you are a top altlete or sportsperson .You can of course decide to go down the private route ,but I was more than happy like yourself to follow the non operative path. It's actually 8 weeks today (2nd June) that I completely ruptured my achilles tendon in a motorcycle accident. It's been hard,I've been in 3 casts since (non weight bearing ) & moved into the boot 4 week's ago . It was such a relief to finally get fully mobile & weight bear on my injured right leg! Having done an Internet search ,I have purchased a set of foam rollers pretty much identical to yours from physique.co.uk they arrived yesterday & am very pleased with them . Thanks for posting all your videos they have been a great source of information & have helped a lot in my recovery up to now.

[@leelanarayan1652]

Thank you for the great video. I just got diagnose of rupture achilles, how long after non-surgery can I go back to tennis.

[@SJachilles]

Probably 9-12 months.

[@CoachPAbbott]

How bad was your tendonitis while doing these

[@graym5820]

Where did the foam rollers come from?

[@denisegrove3556]

Did you get any swelling coming out of the boot?

[@sjsworld3490]

My name is SJ too

[@elizabethmanke8162]

Thank you SO much for sharing hour journey!! 😃🙏🏼🙌🏼 It has given me so much needed encouragement. Even just watching your walk, I was cheering because my walk is much the same though I’m given a hard time I’m not walking better. My torn Achilles was 9 weeks ago, and I can’t afford PHYSIO so I’ve done nothing, not knowing what I should or shouldn’t do. Then I decided to search on here for help & am so grateful to find some. Can I ask you, if I’ve done no stretching or exercises so far, but I’ve been limp/walking for a couple weeks, what should I START with? I’d be so grateful if you could let me know. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@jterry414]

Any update on your recovery

[@pjknots4]

Do you have an email for me to share my thoughts on your videos with you? (Currently Recovering from my ATP)

[@2522703]

Thank you for the video. Do you have to sleep with the boot on after 10 weeks non surgical? Thanks

[@aarompricd5672]

I got surgery 3 weeks later I retore myachillies trying to get in shower smh I’m on day 2 not surgical now

[@SJachilles]

Sorry to hear that mate. Thats one of the reasons I never take the boot off in the shower. I put a plastic bag around it and shower like that.

[@borinean2036]

HI, when you were at 10 weeks, did you still have the divot in your tendon at the site where the tendon ruptured?

[@mikelau2003]

I have it, since this question was from 2 months ago, what did your doctor say? Did the divot go away?

[@AlanTrades]

Are you still healing?

[@imranrefai4045]

hey SJ, At 10 weeks were you in shoes exclusively or go back to your boot if you were to be on your feet for a while? How far could you get in the shoes? Did you take a walk around the block or were you worried about the change in surface levels stretched your tendon? I'm starting my transition to shoes tomorrow but my doc told me I may need to be resorting to the boot often until 12 weeks because the tendon is vulnerable, did you experience that? I know you have little kids, so do I , did you get nervous about your kid prompting you to run or jump somehow?

[@imranrefai4045]

Correct: I'm at 9 weeks and starting to transition. I wonder how I'll be at 10, I hope to be as far along as you were at 10 weeks.

[@SJachilles]

Around week 10 i reckon it was exclusively in shoes by then. Transitioning from boot to shoes took around 2 weeks. But i agree you are definitely vulnerable until week 12 and probably a little further than that. its the key re rupture period so you need to be careful. In terms of walking distances i just kept increasing the amount of walking each day or week and built on it like that. Also i definitely was nervous about the kids so i always kept the shoes on at home and once they were asleep i went barefoot.

[@patrickmcmahon3822]

Hi SJ, Thanks so much for that useful advice. Looking at my protocol I am due to wean off the boot from weeks 8 -10. I also noticed that is said avoid walking in bare feet until at least week 12?

[@jkevonj10]

Anyone still have stiffness week 10?

[@presendieu22]

I’m in 9 weeks and still stiff. I hope you are doing better now

[@lislejune]

im sorry but thats terrible... you would be running right now if you did the surgery

[@dontpanic00xx]

That is absolutely not true. Whether you get the surgery or go non-operative you are definitely not running until the earliest months 3 to 6. Not sure where you got that information from.

[@jonsumner9692]

Thank u so much for sharing your recovery 🙏🏻 I’m at week 10 now, I’ve bought some of the things you advised and made such a difference.. still waiting for physio which is frustrating ! But doing everything I can to support recovery ❤️‍🩹 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿