How to reduce swelling and rehab a partially torn achilles..
While simply stretching (wall lunge) during a recent workout, I felt a pop followed by severe pain and swelling as the day progressed.Since I have no insurance I waited 2 weeks before going to ER where I was treated for a “sprain”. At five weeks I made an appt. with a local Ortho Surgeon who had done multiple knee surgeries on me for the past 15 years. I was advised my achilles was partially torn, but a test showed not completely.My questions for Physical Therapy are:1) I have a disturbing amount of edema in mostly my foot. Ice and elevation help, but within an hour of being down the swelling returns. Is the something I can do like massage or soak it in ice water to reduce the swelling?2) I avidly work out and really want to return, but am not sure what to avoid and what to emphasize? Thank you a lot for this forum!Rob
3 comments
Mom
Twenty years ago my Achilles (calcaneal) tendon went pop that meant a partial rupture that required surgery, months in a cast with crutches followed by months in a walking cast, followed by two years favouring that leg. Options, appartently none at the time. It was surgery to I wouldn’t walk, etc. since the tendon had “rotted” due to inadequate blood flow. The surgeon had to reroute an antery. I haven’t had a problem since, but I am careful to avoid abrupt landings on that foot. I took up t’ai chi for fitness and really have enjoyed that training over the years. My 13 year old just felt an ankle pop yesterday, strained m. plantaris tendon that runs next to the Achilles. The ER doctor put a cast on the leg to inmobilize the ankle for three weeks (minimum) time will tell. From our experience, keep the ankle elevated as much as possible, ice is good initially, but keep an eye on the circulation. Don’t force the heel down (forget those lunges), avoid weight bearing so get some crutches and advice on how to fit them to your size and how to use them properly. Keep in touch with your doctor. Good luck. : Since I have no insurance I waited 2 weeks before going to ER where I was treated for a “sprain”. At five weeks I made an appt. with a local Ortho Surgeon who had done multiple knee surgeries on me for the past 15 years. I was advised my achilles was partially torn, but a test showed not completely.: My questions for Physical Therapy are:: 1) I have a disturbing amount of edema in mostly my foot. Ice and elevation help, but within an hour of being down the swelling returns. Is the something I can do like massage or soak it in ice water to reduce the swelling?: 2) I avidly work out and really want to return, but am not sure what to avoid and what to emphasize?: Thank you a lot for this forum!: Rob
Rob
I am now nearly 8 weeks, can weight bear in a DOn Joy walking splint, but still extremely unstable and constantly swollen. Thanks for your reply and help. This forum brings me some piece of mind because this is the most frustrating injury I have had. I broke my cuboid in the same foot and hurt no where near like this. I still have a very painful time using my clutch and hope this is not causing rehab delays or further damage but I need to work-30 miles away in traffic constant on clutch.Anyway, ice helps, but this is frustrating.Rob
Cory Renner
I am a freshman in highschool and I have bad achilles tendents. The only time they hurt is wene I play basketball. I have this brace thing I jsut got but it isnt working very well and I still have alot of pain on my tendent. It is a real sharp pain and sometimes it stays for a while and soem times I have to coem out of games because the pain is so bad. What can I do to fix this or help it?