Week 8: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - Final Wedge Out & Positive Thompson Test!

Week 8: Achilles Tendon Rupture Non-Surgical - Final Wedge Out & Positive Thompson Test! Discussion points:
- Final wedge out and now in neutral foot position in the boot
- When to transition out of each wedge
- How to manage pain

[@flow77788]

Thank you very much for taking the time to do these videos brother, they're so well thoughtout as well as being helpful.

[@ShoreyRealEstate]

Thanks so much for this, I’m exactly at the same place as you were in this video. I can’t wait to take the boot off and try to walk in my shoes. A little nervous but excited about it. I love keeping up with your videos and looking slightly ahead. You’re doing a great service to people like me.

[@jamescrm83]

Hi David, 2 years on how did you get on? Back to normal activities? I'm 7 weeks in no op. Many thanks, hope you're well.

[@ShoreyRealEstate]

@@jamescrm83 hey James, yes was pretty much back to most activity after 6-7 months. I forget it ever happened most of the time now but if I catch my heel on a step going down the steps today, there’s a shot of pain still there nearly 3 years later. Also, my calf muscle only came back about 80% of the previous size. Good luck, the really hard part is pretty muck over for you now!!!

[@jamescrm83]

@@ShoreyRealEstate ah that's great news thank you for letting me know, it such a strange injury

[@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!

[@jerrydesmond2614]

Terrific Job SJ. Thank you very much for sharing. Just another tip that might help others who have knee pain. You can perform straight leg raises in all planes, along with quad sets and Leg extension. All the best to you.

[@satnammann8232]

I got a negative test at week 8, however this is normal. Many thanks 😊 great video service.

[@iantan9517]

Hi SJ. I ruptured my achilles last july 10 playing basketball. I chose the non-surgical route also. Im on week 9. Transitioning from boot to shoes. I find your videos helpful and encouraging. Thanks for it. I hope i can fast track time and be able to run and play sports soon.

[@waynemccauslinmotion5870]

i am on week 8...the ortho did the thompson test for the first time and it didn't move. I am likely in need for another surgery if the MRT shows a postive outcome 😢but the fact that yours didnt move everytime gives me a glimmer of hope.

[@BIBE2379]

Thanks for the videos. I'm at Week 7 and a half.

[@MosAchillesJourney24]

Good vid again mate

[@joehamilton4568]

Great job making these AT recovery videos! Your tip on getting the EvenUp Lift, shower cap boot cover for bedtime, bigger hand grips for the crutches, ROM drill using a towel to strengthen cafe, foot and toe massage and the safety tips (shower departure requires boot, knee scooter balance, walking on uneven ground, and correct fitting of crutches). I’m just hitting the week 6 mark of nonsurgical treatment (walking w/o crutches for 8-9 days now). How many times a day are you doing ROM drills? Did you try any lap swimming using a pool boy buoy between your legs so the ankles and feet wouldn’t move much)? I’ve been hitting the gym 2-3 times a week for upper body wt lifting (20% of 1 lift max, 20-30 reps, 2-3 sets) for three weeks now, and I’ve added some lower body wt lifting too. Cardio workout is something I’m missing though😰. Spin bike class for an hour (with boot), but I can stand on he bike or spin very fast to get my HR up. Swimming with hand fins and the buoy between my legs would seem to offer a great cardio workout. I ruptured my Achilles playing Pickleball 2/21/23. Plus I have tendinitis in my good leg🤯. Concerned about rupturing the good AT once I’m back to cycling, hiking and doing yard work.

[@bennoforster3914]

Hi SJ. I follow your videos since day one of my Achilles rupture. Same like you, I have chosen the non surgery route. I am in week 8 now and my foot is really swollen since I started to put some weight on it a few weeks ago. You didn’t mention anything about swelling, did it not happen with you?My foot is really swollen. Thank you for all your great advise.

[@lindahinkins2566]

I slipped down back steps on Monday afternoon. I have ruptured Achilles tendon. In plaster and not doing too brilliant with crutches. I need to find way of getting down steps and hospital said dont use crutches but shuffle on my bottom. I work in a school full time and wondered how long it would be roughly before I could go back?

[@donschmitt8204]

Thanks for the post, I'm very curious about your Thompson test result. I am at week 8-9 and the Thompson test doesn't seem to be moving my foot (i.e. confusingly, this is a positive Thompson test result -- meaning the Achilles is ruptured). Do you recall what your surgeon had to say about your questionable Thompson test results?

[@NoWomanNoLie]

When did you feel you could drive again? My rupture occurred Dec 16th and now it’s Feb 5th

[@steveklaif1650]

When did you start driving?

[@Lou-oy2xd]

I was wondering if someone can answer this question I have been searching the answer for? At would stage during the recovery from a non surgical decision of the Achilles tendon could someone return to work? A job that requires you to stand and be mobile for 95% of the time

[@dreamypatel1]

At week 3 when you did towel resistance were you pain free? When did you start heel holds? I am partial tear but I can not do full weight bearing at week 3. Also if I do band resistance (similar to your towel) I get sharp pain after. My PT also started me wt seated heel lift hold for 5 to 6 mins throughout the day.. maybe it's too much exercises I am doing at week 2-3 that is aggravating my tendon? I can I plz speak wt you? I have few questions. Thank you for taking time to post. It helps.

[@pasqualemartucci9611]

Scusami carissimo ma tu quando hai iniziato a salire e scendere le scale....grazie salutoni

[@slumdogtrillionaire304]

What week did you get out of the cast?

[@andreguinan459]

Hey man did you feel like you were stepping down a step on your injured foot? I’m in week 8 and just got out the boot and I’m trying to figure out why every time I take a step it feels like I’m stepping down

[@SJachilles]

Hmm. Dont recall that. I just remember it being very fragile at the time.

[@EddyG0rdo]

How I feel now? Sounds like it isn’t fully healed yet

[@gladiatortruckreviews]

Hey buddy! Hope the recovery went well. I’m 24 and had this injury while playing basketball. It’s a complete rupture. Going the non surgical route. How long until you could walk without a limp ? I have a cast for one month. Brace for 6 weeks with wedges. And then I can weight bear. Any insight you could provide would be great

[@SJachilles]

Hi Jay, the limp is not that bad after a few months but it can take easily up to 6 months before its completely gone. I had some achilles tendonitis issues so my limp stayed a little longer. Cast for a month seems too long in my opinion because it doesn't allow to you take it off and do range of motion exercises and it means you have to wait longer before you partially weight bear. I reckon you should be partially weight bear from week 2.5. Might be worth getting another opinion.

[@gladiatortruckreviews]

SJ thank you for your prompt reply! I appreciate it. I’ve got 2 opinions so far and both parties will not let me weight bear. How is your recovery so far at this point in your life if you don’t mind me asking. This injury has gotten to me mentally and I am worried about the ability to get back to normal and living life to its fullest potential

[@SJachilles]

You should check out my latest video which is at the month 8 mark. Everything is going fine and I 'm now running again! I have no regrets going down the route i took but i think its important to note that the research indicates you need to have early range of motion and weight bearing to get the best results. The old school method involves protecting the injury more with a longer time in cast etc.

[@amatteroffact1]

Hi . Best detailed video ive seen thankyou . Im non op full rupture. In pot 4weeks .now ist day with boot on for 4 weeks .not sure how much weight to bare and how much walking is too much .many thanks

[@valtterisivonen2970]

@@SJachilles Hi SJ! Thank you very much for your videos! Did you mention somewhere how long walks (How many meters? How many minutes per day and per one walk? ) did you do with the cast in your foot in week 4-8? I am on week 5 and starting to walk and it is really hard with the boot. I dont weel it so much in my tendon but the cast is pressing against my shin.

[@jarppa746]

Thx about videos. Do not use compressions socks at night.

[@emrahg4031]

Why not?

[@jarppa746]

@@emrahg4031 i am not sure but doctor says to me that do not use them at night. Something do whit blood sirculating🤷‍♂️

[@emrahg4031]

@@jarppa746 Oh ok, im in my last week with the boot on, and i have always sleep with the socks on, but maybe i try to sleep without today and see what it feels like 🤔 thanks for the answer 🙏🏼

[@jarppa746]

@@emrahg4031 I hope you for a speedy recovery💪 Soon u will be on your own feet, remeber to listen u body when train. I did too much training but i recover speedly but i hurt my brevis because toomuch training too early

[@emrahg4031]

@@jarppa746 Thanks! I just do what my physio tells me and do not rush, im increasing my exercises with 1 minute every day 😊

[@kmarshall131]

positive test is abnormal. negative thompson test is normal