Week 6: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - 1st Wedge Comes Out

[@BMixMyster]

I full ruptured one achilles in 2018 (indoor rocking climbing - bouldering) and the other 2019 (warped wall in ninja warrior gym). I was in my mid-50s. I got surgery on the first and non-surgery on the 2nd. On the non-surgery one I was full weight bearing in my boot at 10 days… didn’t use my crutches from then on. I did probably 8 physio treatments, but also started rock climbing (bouldering) in my boot at 2 weeks. I had three wedges, and came out of the boot at six weeks. I kept the boot to climb for two more weeks and then started climbing without boot (carefully!) at 8 weeks. I was climbing hard by 4 - 5 months. I had great recoveries on both surgical and non-surgical. I haven’t thought about my achilles for a few years now while climbing.

[@Gillespiematilda]

6 weeks in my achillies recovery journey and these videos have helped me so much. Thank you

[@ltcuffey]

thanks for the update bro...people may not comment as much, but they're watching.

[@jokaulitz2148]

ltcuffey Yep :)

[@theubiquitusgastronaut8273]

Just wanted to say at 4 days in.. watching your vids has helped with the mindset prep. Much appreciated. 👍

[@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!

[@djdanellec]

Thank you from California! Your videos have been extremely informative and helpful for my rehabilitation.

[@maxhatman3218]

Very much appreciate these videos, going through the same situation myself, and this is really supportive and informative

[@petermartyn9701]

Hi, i'm from Uk and have been using your videos to help myself recuperate. I'm 69 so am delaying your protecol by one week to allow for a slower healing. Thanks for posting it's been really useful.

[@karaoke888]

I'm at week 6 now and just removed my first wedge today. I required the surgical route due to the nature of my injury. Thanks for sharing your info.

[@ShaunSmith]

Your videos have been instrumental in my recovery. Thank you for making these.

[@SB-rx3rc]

Just taken my first wedge out went the non operative root. Thanks for all your videos SJ!

[@thestunnaz]

I do my ROM exercises while watching your videos...following along on your journey!

[@ingridx1421]

Thanks for all these videos! I chose to have surgery. Two orthopedists recommended it to me to have surgery because of the way my achilles was ruptured. I had surgery almost 3 weeks ago. I also ruptured my achilles with basketball! These videos are very helpful, thank you

[@randycoblentz9585]

Appreciate your videos. Much more helpful then any others and I've listened to all of them. Lol. Thanks

[@mrmoseek]

I agree with that study! In 2014 I ruptured my left one and on sept 5th 2020 I ruptured the right one. Currently I started my week 3 and my doctor suggested to start walking, currently taking it slow using crutches still. Thank you for these videos!

[@robinlwl9143]

Love love your videos.. tremendously helpful.. I"m ending week 3 and am trying to do the towel exercise. I share a lot of your same concerns and apprehensions..

[@franknokwe2234]

Thanks for the videos SJ,you really helping us out .

[@BMixMyster]

Thanks for posting. These are helpful. I’m out of the boot at six weeks and walking with a bit of a limp but feeling stronger every day. Can stand on one foot for about 5 seconds.

[@librarianofalexandria]

Definitely tore my achilles wearing the Kobe Bryant low tops. If only I could have randomly watched this video beforehand. Good advice, if playing basketball, wear high tops.

[@heidik-lady8135]

This is fascinating. Your due diligence paid off.

[@polmateerfarm]

Great video SJ, I was wearing hightops hen I ruptured mine..lol. I started physio in week 2 and am still doing it. Thank you so much for sharing! RMO exercises are great my surgeon was surprised how much I was able to move my ankle. Im doing some videos showing how the Canadian system is. It is a bit different from yours but close. Thanks again mate!

[@HarborGOOGLECALVEPOB]

Never used crutches, only two canes. Great videos!

[@courtneyw6377]

Hi SJ - it might be a few years later, but thank you so much for making these videos. It’s hard to find first-hand accounts of the non-operative route. I’m on week 3 post-rupture, and I feel like I’m seeing the Canadian version of your doctor (haha). Turns out he suggested the exact same treatment protocol as you are following, right down to the wedges, weight-bearing, even the same answers to my questions about ultrasounds and MRIs 😂 so these videos are super helpful for me to get an idea of what to expect!

[@salpaparo2466]

Hi Courtney, I'm from Canada as well. Did you also go with a 3cm lift or 2cm. My Orthopedic suggested 2cm; 20 degree plantar flex

[@waleedmunawar1605]

please tell me more about the research about rupturing your other leg (good leg) later on in life.

[@stephenawdry3719]

Hey mate , just watched your video . I wish i had seen it a day earlier. I did exactly what you did and reversed my scooter and ran over a shoe that flipped the scooter, and all my weight went onto my bad foot without the boot on. It was the worst pain i have ever experienced, I was on the ground for 10 minutes before I could get myself up. From now on, the boot stays on while i am on the scooter.

[@teamswinchampionships2257]

thanks for making these videos. Great to be able to compare your recovery time to mine!

[@Caly1234]

My podiatric surgeon advised that I went the non-op route. She said I’d be in a cast for 6 weeks then put in a walking boot. 😢

[@dannysosa2650]

How’s your recovery coming along now?

[@prasartpongpet]

My doctor told me to take out first wedge on week4 next one is on week 6 and last on week 7 and on week 8 it is sneaker time! 😊

[@jevaunheslop8145]

are u doing non operative?

[@kingxkobe24]

Currently on week 6 of my recovery process, seems like we’re aligned:)

[@rohankanhai9582]

Does the boot come with the wedges?

[@NonSense-n5d]

SJ, So Helpful... Thank you!

[@mar1max73]

Thank you Sir for these vids....I'm in week 5 1/2...Friday will mark week 6 Just taking my first steps with confidence...wearly tho.

[@TheEdzzaa]

At week 6 did you experience swollen leg around your ankle?

[@josha5266]

Hello, I'm in week 6 post achilles rupture. I've started walking decently on the boot but my foot range of motion without help isnt great. When did you find you were able to freely move your foot ? Thank you 😀

[@gitane6993]

I am 4.5 weeks in my achilles but my first wedge was taken out in week 2 and I should have taken the second one out last tuesday at 4 weeks. So much sooner as you. I am worried this schedule will have consequences for the healing and length of my tendon. Did your doctor have any theory about the wedges?

[@juicytin14]

Hey man, this is an old video series but thank you for sharing. I recently partially ruptured my achilles and I am literally on my 6th week just about to take out my 1st boot wedge as well! It's great to see how others have fared with this horrible injury. I'm 29 and I think I have just been pushing my body way too hard (probably the most active I've ever been prior to injury) while not properly maintaining my body as I get older and older. It's definitely been a bit of a wakeup call for me and I agree that I will definitely take proper rest, care and rehab more seriously.

[@lastnightsmusic6067]

My archillis tendon snapped, when wearing new volleyball shoes for the first time, not sure if it was the shoes to blame but yeah just something I noticed

[@tonybanda3898]

SJ, first many thanks for making these very educative and encouraging videos for those who, like myself, suffer this injury. Second I have two questions: 1. Where can I find your protocol to compare with mine and 2., When you go to the next stage of your healing protocol, did you restart the clock? Allow me to explain. For example, you went from Week 1-2 in the hard cast, and then week 2-6 in the walking boot where you were starting to bear weight gradually, when you got to week 6-8 when the wedges were ready to come gradually. Question: did you -re-start the count, in other words, at week 6, did you start counting again from one to week eight when you saw your doctor? Do I make sense? I ask because my doctor surprised me today when he said that the protocol is not progressive. Thus, at the beginning of week 6-8, I will need to start counting from one to week eight when I will see him! Again, many thanks for your help.

[@SJachilles]

Hi Tony, I used multiple protocols based on my own research. The video series is the best guide to use in terms of what i did at each stage. In terms of how I count the weeks, its from injury date. So when i say week 5 i mean 5 weeks post the injury. Hope that helps.

[@tonybanda3898]

@@SJachilles, thanks, it helps a great deal. BTW, the 'Even Up' is a life saver.

[@petermartyn9701]

Hi SJ, I note at 5 and a half weeks you are walking through [rolling through] with your injured leg. Can you remember when you started to do that. I can walk through if I take a lot of weight on my crutches, 6 weeks, but wary of doing so for more that 100mtrs. Im 3 wedges now so my question is, does it get easier to follow through with fewer wedges? I note where the tendon has re-grown into the 'gap' it is thinner than the two ends of the tendon. Did you notice this and does the tendon at the gap area get thicker with time.? Thanks

[@SJachilles]

I started at the 5.5 week mark but i still didn't walk long distances. It was too difficult. From memory, the reduction in wedges didn't really make a huge difference in walking ability. If anything, you keep healing as you take the wedges out so you probably will improve your walk by then. I don't remember feeling a thinner tendon at the area of rupture but then again, i didn't go poking around that much. I just let it heal. Good luck!

[@petermartyn9701]

Hi Sj, Thanks for the reply. You can see I do tend to over worry and analyse things. Tony

[@SJachilles]

Don't worry I was also over worrying and analysing everything at the start. It's a horrific injury!

[@jorgerosales6646]

How are you feeling now ? I know it’s been 5 years but do you remember when u gained full mobility, im on my first week non surgical

[@robcowan1278]

SJ, many thanks for your very informative reports. I recently ruptured my tendon pushing a heavy engine box, going into week three and about to get a boot fitted. What precautions if any did you take when taking your boot off, say to change socks. I am a little concerned as well as very nervous! Male 62, Canada.

[@trangnguyen4370]

Hi SJ, thankyou for your videos. Well researched , and well presented. It's been several years since you were in CAM boot so maybe a bit of a memory stretch but I have a question I'm hoping you can help. I'm in week 5 with 3 wedges. I can walk on flat hard surface and am trying to walk uphill, finding it quite challenging. At what stage were you comfortable with uphill?

[@b4db0y]

Is there any side effect of having too high of a wedge for the recovery process? I plan on doing this and getting the advice from my doctor when I can start removing the wedges.

[@petercaleca80]

Hi. How long before you were able to play golf again.

[@roshyg4062]

Hey mate, I'm on my 6th week now and my ankle still seems swollen. Do you know when the swelling goes down ? Do you know when your swelling started going down ? Just anxious if I'm not healing properly

[@donsloan2075]

My ankle is still definitely swollen (ankle bone not fully defined) and my doc said 'it's swollen but not as much compared to most'. My foot still turns purple when it hangs down too long. Doc said it'll take 3 months for that to stop happening. I wouldn't sweat it.

[@roshyg4062]

@@donsloan2075 thank you for your feedback. Just came off the boot today so initially was very anxious. I was working on my laptop so had my leg resting down, after a while my ankle started blowing up like a balloon. Ice pack did the trick. Sometimes I don't know if it's almost like a calf cramp sensation or even a sort of pain coming from near the achilles, can't pin point what the pain ahce is, prob me just overthinking because I just want it to heal properly. Any experience of this ? Any comment would be great

[@mariacarmela2749]

My Wedges have been coming out every two weeks?

[@68Ashworth]

Hi. Have watched your videos and they've helped. My Achilles snapped 6wks ago today and have a boot on. I go back to Hospital on Weds to have the angle adjusted for a second time. It's only previously ached on the day I did it and a couple of days after but it's started to ache in the last few days. Did yours hurt during recovery? Is it a good sign? Any info will help! Cheers!

[@hollwoodfields8741]

Yup that's how it happened to me.i was just walking to the store.And heard a pop sound out of nowhere.i had no pain.i kept going but the swollen made me go to the E.R And yup my Achilles ruptured. I couldn't believe it It's been a month since my surgery I'm in this boot with two wedges. Question did you sleep in this boot during your recovery

[@DSounz]

I damaged my Achilles as a result of wearing high top shoes playing basketball. Before I always wore low top shoes and had no issues. High top shoes tied improperly will do a lot of damage by adding more stress to the tendon. Also avoid kyrie Irving’s, they’re poorly designed.

[@dj_colombian_dread9901]

4 years later, are you 💯 % I’m assuming ?

[@thejohnsimienproject7329]

What did it feel like when you finally had the confidence to settle entire weight? I feel the foot after 3 days in the boot settling in but I feel a pull and stretch. I know some is the incision area and just afraid to go all the way down as to not snap the tendon (sounds weird).

[@AlanTrades]

So you don't have a gap at all?

[@SJachilles]

ConditionRed no I haven’t had a gap since a few weeks post injury.

[@AlanTrades]

@@SJachilles ok thx for the support. Which week were you able to do a single heal lift? And which excercise did you find the most helpful for that

[@SJachilles]

@@AlanTrades Week 19 was my first decent calf raise but it wouldn't get all the way to the top. Calf raises daily are the key to getting there.

[@dnvsmith5760]

Thanks for posting these blogs! I’ve been watching them since I ruptured my Achilles on my left.

[@dhannasingh7067]

I ruptured both of my foot tendons, just by walking and twisting my ankles.😢

[@chenhiankiong5962]

hi, i am at week 5, my question is how to know the achelles is attached or not, before adjusting the vacoped angle from 30 to 20?

[@jordans8681]

talk with your DR or surgeon, they usually do the angle change

[@prasartpongpet]

Did you have a partial rapture or a full rapture?

[@reecegilliver5687]

Hey just a quick question, did you sleep with the boot on the whole 8 weeks? I’m approaching 6 weeks and it’s starting to become irritable lol

[@SJachilles]

Yeah i did. Didn't want to take a risk in that first 8 weeks.

[@donsloan2075]

Once I got rid of crutches (Week 6) and pulled the first shim out, doc said I was fine to sleep without the boot. I know this is too late for your situation but maybe help others.

[@danielbarron3932]

How are you feeling with the progress of your decision with non op

[@SJachilles]

Can't be happier. Best decision ever to go non-op. Been quite smooth and my recovery is way ahead of schedule so I don't regret the decision at all. I can't imagine how much tougher the experience would be if there was a wound I needed to think about as well.

[@danielbarron3932]

SJ I went to my specialist today and I’m glad I went non op as well. Felt the tendon bridging and healing so that was relieved. I still can’t move my toes and now that he wants me to start ROM I am having difficulty. How did you push through the fear of hurting yourself

[@SJachilles]

Daniel Barron as long as you don’t go past neutral, you should be able to hurt yourself. You will find after a few days you will get good at the ROMs. Body adapts quickly

[@jiiiigsaw]

I snaped mine running up a ramp, 😭

[@Always_Never]

Ouch man

[@BIOHackingNurse]

Lol I ruptured my achilles wearing lebron soldier high tops