Week 7: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - 2nd Wedge Out and New ROMs

Week 7: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - 2nd Wedge Out and New ROMs
Discussion points:
- 2nd wedge out of boot
- New range of motion (ROM) exercises
- Preparation for moving from the boot to shoes
- Dangers of online forums

[@librarianofalexandria]

The basketball in the video is rather ominous...nice reminder of how many of us got here. Excellent videos. Thank you.

[@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!

[@tylathomson6889]

Thank you so much for these videos SJ! I am week 7 now and I feel like some surgeons are so vague and having someone in the same boat is just awesome 👏🏼

[@metalwolfwarrior6271]

I am at week 7 now. Glad I stumbled across your videos. They are very helpful. Thank you😊

[@keanukardashian3101]

I’m hooked on your videos. Going thru the same injury I find these videos very helpful! Thank you!

[@mrabab1958]

I Ruptered mine on 25 of november, and I did follow your Schedule. Thanks for that. Because if I followed the hospital I still be in 50 procent weight barring.

[@zoehicks8111]

Thank you so much for these videos they’ve been a massive help. I’m over in England UK on week 3 but they’re keeping a pot on for 4 weeks but I’ve got private physio booked for when I get a boot. Thank you for sharing your experience it’s kept me going

[@facts-GPT]

Thanks for the in depth videos! Week 2 here for me. Great info

[@musskader562]

Brandon Balcer thank you very much for the information it has been great also what really helped me lot is swimming twice a day the improvement is amazing. You have made the situation so much easier thank you

[@KevinSmith-ri6ul]

Really appreciate you talking how you find your centre of gravity to be off. I’m in week 6 (non-operative) route, and find that I get a bit dizzy from time-to-time and couldn’t pinpoint it.. Once you said, you find your centre of gravity being off as well, it almost brought tears to my eyes because I wasn’t sure if somethings was wrong with me! Lol.

[@UNignorantpod]

These are great videos and so informative. I'm in week 5 partially rupture Achilles. Thanks!

[@Wie24]

I like your clear communication.

[@hesterhamley1760]

Thank you for doing this video it’s really helpful 😊

[@MosAchillesJourney24]

Going through your series here. Some good tips. Will have to try that move with the ball once ready.

[@nickfreeman1049]

Hi SJ. Been following your videos. I ruptured my achilles playing oz tag a bit over 6 weeks ago. I got down to neutral in the boot a week ago but had the same thing happen to me that happened to you where you had the immense pain and couldnt weight bear without it hurting out of nowhere. I'm seeing an osteo and he mentioned it was likely the lack of strength in the plantar fascia that contributed to the issue. Anyway I went back to 2 wedges and got back down to neutral within 5 days. Ive found you have to be very aware of where the actual rupture occurred. Ive found since going to neutral the pains in and around the area really come on and 99% of them are muscles, ligaments and tendons getting used to working again. I'm trying hard to get back to golf so it was nice to see you were back around week 12. Hopefully I'm out of my boot next week and on my feet and well on the road to it getting better. Thanks again for all the info.

[@SJachilles]

Yeah i completely skipped the neutral boot part. Didn't work for me so i went from one wedge to shoes with a heel lift and it was all fine!

[@emmalouise9799]

I will be 7 weeks this Friday thankyou

[@megatoothster]

Hi SJ, thanks once again. Great vids every time. I’m starting week 4 conservative and I bought most of the gadgets and gizmos that you have. Did you ever consider the Vacoped boot? I have this now and not only is the liner washable, but it has built in ankle articulations when you get to that time. I’m at 20 degree angle with boot locked. Seeing specialist in a couple of weeks and will go to 10 degrees with 15 degrees articulations. There are clinical studies that support the Vacoped accelerating recovery by up to 3 weeks.

[@nicholaskizito2924]

Bicarbonate of soda is the best thing in the world with regards to the smell. i cant explain how relieved i was when i tried it. just sprinkle a little on the pad or inside of the boot for some time. Works wonders

[@antonsehl]

Hey, great video! Do you have a link or the full name of the shoes you are using? Can't find them on their website

[@mohankrishnayadav7353]

Please provide more videos Sir 🙏🙏

[@XxAfriCaNKinGxX]

I am at the end of week 6, my physical therepist does not want me to do any ankle movement(except for toe excercises) she says it's not good because it will put a stretch on the achilles(especially the one where you push the ball of your feet down) but in almost all the videos that I see people are moving there ankle for better range of motion around this time period 6 a 7 weeks.

[@AlanTrades]

Do you still feel a small gap in your tendon or is it fully reattached?

[@mar1max73]

I'm at week 5 post op. Do you wear the boot all day every day. I've removed my first wedge of my boot but I cant walk w/o crutches. Physical therapy begins after the 3rd wedge is removed ( 1 wedge a week)

[@dowanallen5287]

Great job with the videos been really helpful. One question did you have any swelling after week or during week 7 or after you remove wedges?

[@bennoforster3914]

I have quite some swelling around my foot since I started to put weight on at about week 5. I am at week 8 by now and swelling didn’t go away.

[@zakariamaster7717]

Great vlogs sj ! I am on week 6 I feel like I can walk without boots , and I have been doing this for short distance especially in the house . I am supposed to leave boot on two more weeks which I will when outside but want to kee the movement going currently in neutral and slight dorsi flexion .

[@EddyG0rdo]

I’m on week 7 and walking normally, with a limp. Doing PT to strengthen the calf now.

[@Toasxy]

How is it now a month later ? I’m about to end week 7

[@EddyG0rdo]

Toasxy I’m at 3 months now and doing pretty well. Still have a limp but I’m back in the gym and on the bike. Muscles are slowly coming back

[@barduljakupi3165]

@@EddyG0rdo is it normal that i m at 7 week now and at week 6 a took of my plaster from my foot and never wear a shoe,but i feal good a start walking in my foot withouo any help

[@imranr80]

Really appreciate your videos. I fell victim to the horror stories and it's only added to my depression. How far can you walk at this stage without any pain/difficulty?

[@irenenakabonge-lugude6447]

OOH man, I am sorry to hear that imranr! How are you doing with your recovery?

[@ryannewman2082]

I got 2 boots. Washed 1 while wearing the other. Especially living in the northern part of Australia.

[@alanchan743]

How hard did you push yourself to stretch it after taking out wedges

[@9ntice]

Week 7 non op here and I've been walking on my feet for a week already (alot easier with vacoped boot ofc)

[@jterry414]

Any update

[@9ntice]

@@jterry414 heya, i tore my tendon in september of 2021 and of february/march of 2022 i was walking without my vacoped boot again. still being very cautious not wanting to tear it again and making sure i did my calve exercises. now almost 2 years later i still need to do a lot of strengthening in my weaker leg

[@jterry414]

@@9ntice thank you for your reply

[@johnnyo6416]

Did you take wedges out from the bottom or top first?

[@taraevans1166]

Hi SJ- great stuff. I ruptured July 21, and now in week 5.5. Non surgical. As per surgeon, one wedge now out, walking a bit, still using crutches as needed. A couple of things- I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol , the kind you find at you local pharmacy, in a spray bottle and it works pretty good at keeping the boot smell really down. Remember alcohol kills bacteria! Spray Every day when sock change- spray lots! Do you have info on another option to the even up? Did you try a heel lift- the kind you put inside shoe? As I am walking a bit now my back is hurting. Trying to wear my higher sole "old school' nike airs....but can't wear those everywear!

[@SJachilles]

Why do you need another option for the Evenup? I'm pretty sure its available everywhere. Yep had a heel lift in my sneakers for ages. It seems like you are out of the boot quite early! I wasn't out until after 8 weeks.

[@taraevans1166]

Hi- Still in my boot, meant for the good foot, throwing off my back! I don't like the even up....!!

[@marior6948]

Quick question, how would one know he’s healed “long”

[@marior6948]

D4amaz Ing From my experience, I am now a year since my Achilles tear and I too felt a gap in the beginning stages. I healed well and it’s like nothing ever happened. Good luck!!

[@larrymontgomery2160]

Your videos are giving me encouragement, I am at day 2. 😭 I do have a question did you sleep with ur boot?

[@nz_as3234]

Hey, I'm at week 5 and have started sleeping without the boot about 2 weeks ago. You might want to try sleeping with the boot until you're confident you won't injure your tendon accidentally while you're in bed

[@larrymontgomery2160]

Anna Stimpson thank you i have been careful. Day 10 feeling a lot better swelling has gone done a lot. Thank you for your reply

[@birdiebands]

@@larrymontgomery2160 brother how are you holding up today? Are you back 100%? And did you do surgery

[@user-fb3zf1cp9c]

Hi if anyone sees this and wants help with the stinky boot: the odor eaters doesn't really work. Put tea tree oil and any other essential oils you like in a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. Spray all over the insert and the boot, let it air dry or use a fan. I've had my boot on for 7 weeks, no smell.

[@alanchan743]

Did it hurt when you started taking wedges out

[@followeroftheway5310]

Any update ? Much appreciated

[@geetaschallig6880]

Has anyone tried driving with the boot on?

[@harajly23]

Week 1 they have me in a cast in a weird position. I hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I’m sacred and nervous.

[@Nathan51348]

Hey Joe, I'm almost done week 7 (day 48). If you haven't already started, I recommend you keep a journal, and write down your progress. It's incredible how far you'll come in the first 7 weeks. The first 3 weeks is the hardest, but it gets better. I'm fully walking around in a boot that's been recently adjusted to flatten my foot and I stand in the shower. It's not much but it's PROGRESS! Take the wins where you can. Ofcourse, everyone is different, but hang in there, end enjoy your time off! Also, my orthopaedic surgeon gave me a cookie cutter recovery protocol. I'm 27, and have been active my whole life, so I don't fit the protocol. I've been following SJ's protocol instead, while listening to my body, and following research from credible sources. I'm ahead of where I should be according to their protocol; I attribute to early weight bearing (in the boot).

[@jhayrtvceroy1036]

Can I borrow ur boots I super my ACL ruptured