Life after an Achilles rupture

 February 21, 2025

It has now been 159 days since I did a full rupture on my left Achilles.

At the time of the injury I was playing soccer. There is no scientific evidence that you tear an Achilles from any particular action or movement. It is almost like it was decided before you were born.

I learned a lot about injuries and the Achilles tendon since Sept 2024. It is not your average everyday injury you just spring back from. In comparison to a sprained ankle or broken collar bone. I would imagine major knee injuries being tough to come back from.

If you have never experienced such and injury let me fill you in. From the moment I had no idea what just happened. Yeah it is Exactly that. You have no idea what the hell just happened. You know what I thought happened to me? I was playing soccer. I get a little cheeky at times when the guys start bitching about a little rough play like we are geriatric league. So I just finished giving some guy lip about how much I hate the grown ass man whining that happens. We need some excitement to keep the fuel to play. Well no kidding on the next play. The ball comes flying over and I run to jump and catch it on my chest. The ball bounces a few yards away and I ran over to it. One touch on the ball and down I went. Down hard!. The team thought that was odd? Nic tripped over is own god dam feet. But when I never got up everyone knew. Cause I always get up. In fact I pride my self in getting up. 

To explain the discomfort. Turn around and admire that painting on the wall. Now someone take a seven foot bamboo stick and whip you on the heel/calf when you are not expecting it. The sound, oh the sound. It is incredibly loud and players heard it an easy 25 ft away. Like a gun shot. It took about 20-30 seconds for the pain to kick in and I could not understand what the hell. I was touching my leg looking for a broken leg while accusing the guy I was just beeking off to about the whining that he kicked me. Lucky for me my pal Steve ran over right away and asked some questions about what I was feeling and checked movement. He also mentioned "dude, you were all alone. No one kicked  you". I could not believe it. what the hell just happened. (Steve is just over a Achilles injury himself)With my head hung low I was carried off the field soon to be on my way the the hospital.

The morning of Sept 15, I woke early. It was an average morning and routine. I was in the middle of a new fence at my rental unit. I had to complete before the winter was going to set in. That morning I finished digging post holes and setting in the post ready for concrete. The time flew by and before I knew it I was in need of some beef Ichiciban noodles and a coca cola as a pre game meal. Salt and sugar. It was perfect. Maybe not. Cause I suffered the most handicapping injury of my life and I still had a fence to complete. So 12 days in a soft cast the surgeon allowed me into walking cast. A week later we finished the fence. My boys helped me.

October 25,2024

I started physio November 18. I never really did a great job of documenting the recovery. I have mile stones in my head, but I find myself looking for words to describe the stuff in between. Get your self a bag of compression socks. Life saver for swelling. 

           

November 07,2024

I was out of the Air cast December 04,2024, I guess there are two major factors on how the surgeon decides on your progress plan. A lot has to do with none medical reasons. So provided the healing process is on track your fitness level going into it and your attitude coming out. I found my willingness to get back to normal helped my progress. I was also the strongest and fit I had been in the last 3 years of my life. So my platform for recovery and mindset were all aligned. The biggest shock to me was the loss of total strength and function. It is almost literally Zero. My first strength test I was on a leg machine on my back sliding like a zero gravity bed. I only had to push what I could no body weight. 6lbs was I could could push.

January 2025. Working on strength and mobility. By this time over the holidays I went from 217 daily to 229. Yikes. It was getting uncomfortable and effecting my quality of life. I was now able to start basic exercises outside my rehabilitation plan. Stuff like body weight squats and assisted lunges. Until this time I was focused on healing. I was not still working what I could on the upper half. The time I had on my feet was limited as swelling became to uncomfortable. So it began in January and it felt amazing to move again. 

February 2025. Progress is coming along. I have really good mobility improvements and after a wicked session with physio getting the fibers and muscles sliding properly it alleviated a lot of swelling and allows me to move more freely. Strength gains have jumped due to my ability to move the tissues and joint more naturally.

If you have any question or comments please do not hesitate. I would love to talk about your experience or answer any questions you may have. I have a few details I can share in the next post as well as progress to date for the month of February.

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