Journey on returning from Achilles surgery to my right foot....gnarly post op pics....and now PT!

[farmer]

Wow, that's great news! Still in rehab?

[justasgood]

Haven’t started rehab yet?

[Hawkeye77]

Maybe start a new diet with the recovery and post up some sandwich pics!

[justasgood]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> Maybe start a new diet with the recovery and post up some sandwich pics!

 

Thanks for bringing your incredible wit and insight to this thread.

 

Mom not home to make your lunch yet?

[Hawkeye77]

> @justasgood said:

> > @Hawkeye77 said:

> > Maybe start a new diet with the recovery and post up some sandwich pics!

>

> Thanks for bringing your incredible wit and insight to this thread.

>

> Mom not home to make your lunch yet?

Well that was snarky. Just thought some nice food pics would offset a little of the gruesome stuff, which I encountered when clicking on this thread while eating lunch, lol. Never mind.

[PowderedToastMan]

> @justasgood said:

> > @Hawkeye77 said:

> > Maybe start a new diet with the recovery and post up some sandwich pics!

>

> Thanks for bringing your incredible wit and insight to this thread.

>

> Mom not home to make your lunch yet?

This reminds me, I need to call my mom.

 

 

[justasgood]

So now we are at the Physical Therapy stage. 7 weeks post op and according to the Doctor I am at 70%. So PT twice a week begins. Still need to wear the boot but I have been able to walk around briefly with a normal shoe. Still a little swelling but the PT will address that with massage, flex action, heat and ice.

 

I have Zero pain and I must say that for 3 years I forgot what it felt like to not have pain.

 

Range of motion - 100%

 

 

[youraway2]

I'll try to post valid information about my Achillies tendon surgery and maybe someday returning to golf. 

I play (ed) golf every day and fought heel spurs and tendon inflammation for many years. Two-years ago I thought the answer would be to start riding until the tendon could heal, but it never did. Not only was my right tendon so painful I frequently limped, but the left was also catching up. I just played on. I was simply stupid. 

 

I visited a pediatrist and he said I needed to be in a boot for 6-8 weeks and if unsuccessful, surgery was an option. I took the boot, went home, stored the boot, and returned to playing, all the while believing ice, messages and quality shoes would help, they didn't. 

 

Fast forward limping along and playing the game, I came home after 18 and went to step up onto a 1-foot step stool. I heard two loud snaps and then I hit the floor.  I saved that boot mentioned earlier, and my wife retrieved it. I put it on and was able to get up.

 

The initial pain was severe, but then numbness. I went to the ER and ultra-sound tests indicated it was severely torn or maybe ruptured. I saw orthopedic surgeon the next day and he referred me to an orthopedic foot surgeon. He said the tendon was totally ruptured. Three days later I saw the foot surgeon and he said the only option I had was surgery. I could try to let it heal but that it would always be weak and being able to walk was all I could hope for. I would never play golf or do anything physical again. 

 

I'm 77-years old and going through this surgery isn't recommended lightly. I knew it would be difficult, I just didn't know how.  Remember an old man's body, full of arthritis, bad back and not those strong presents additional shortfalls. The doc said it would hurt him at all. 

 

I elected surgery; I want to play again. Today is day three, and it has been very difficult. The pain, even with drugs, has been eructating. However, I think the pain is starting to weaken a little. I hope so.

 

So, three weeks in a soft cast, the 6-8 weeks in a boot, and then if I have progressed enough, I can start physical therapy. My doctor says I will play again, but it will be a long road, perhaps over a year. 

 

A couple suggestions, crutches are a safety hazard, they work but. A simple walker is a must. This provides stability when needed and is easier than crutches. The best positive is the knee scooter. It definitively helps get you around. I hope to use it when I get stronger. 

 

3-days in - and looking forward to playing again someday. Maybe not well, but maybe being able to hit the ball and play will be worth it. 

 

 

[youraway2]

Updating my above post - 

 

So, I elected surgery, went through three days of pain, but the meds definitely helped. Then the next couple weeks I was in a splint, and it was very difficult to be mobile, the knee scooter was the answer, crutches were nothing more than a safety hazard.  After three weeks I progressed to a boot and was amazed that I was able to place weight on the foot fairly quickly, even 100% after a few days and then walking with the boot and minimal use of the scooter.

 

At seven-weeks, almost eight, I started PT. I was afraid and as I had worried, it was aggressive. After two sessions things weren't going well. I felt pain and redness around the lower heel and tendon was present. Contacted the surgeon and after a visit, stopping PT for a couple weeks and back in the boot. 

 

So that's where I'm at, but here's what I want to express. During the first few weeks I felt all was lost and I became very depressed. I felt if I ever I'd never walked correctly again or be able to play golf.  But now I know that isn't the case. With this newer surgery, that is permanent sutures securing the tendon to the heel with screws, has the best potential for a quicker and better recovery. 

 

Today I'm back-in a shoe again and walking without assistance.  Hope a little information helps any going down the same path. 

[bill.ig]

Good luck to you and hope that you’re smashing drives soon.

 

[justasgood]

Youraway2,

 

I never completed the follow up progressions but as a Recap: Prognosis was recovery of 8-10 months. After 6 months, I was given the clearance to do any and all activity. I have been playing in an over 40 Basketball league(I'm now 59) once a week, outdoor sand volleyball once a week, and walking(I carry) 18 holes 3 times a week since I was cleared. I have been pain free and there are no residual issues other than an occasional numbness from a few nerves in the area.

 

Stick to your rehab and push yourself. Overcoming the fear of doing damage to the repaired area is the toughest. Trust your body and your doctor.

 

You'll be back sooner than you think!

[bafana87]

Found this thread as I too was just seeing the doctor and talking surgery versus non surgery option just 7 days ago. Some comfort seeing other die hard golfers share their stories, thanks to all. Decided to opt for no surgery, 1 week down in a boot with 5-7 more to go as others have mentioned. 

[Priceyd]

just been reading all of this. Im currently around 11 months since I tore mine, Im 34 and pretty healthy, recovery has been slow, im close to being able to run again and starting to jump more. I went to england last summer which looking back I believe slowed my recovery down and delayed it. PT is happy though and according to trackman im hitting it slightly longer then last year so hoping that will continue onto the course. 

 

Cant wait to play football again (soccer) hopefully again soon, as an injury goes its awful and not a quick recovery, I wish you well 

[bafana87]

Following up here, non operative route 5 months later. Played a few rounds in a cart, recently walked 45 holes holes without a problem using a push cart.

[youraway2]

UPDATE: It's been a while, and all has not gone as expected. After surgery, I had difficulty with crutches due to pain in my left side. Well, somehow, they broke two of my ribs. They eventually got better. But the big surprise was during PT while riding the bike, I kept get jaw pain. I thought it was my neck, but after a few sessions and jaw pain symptoms regular, I went to the ER, and yes, I experienced a myocardial infarction. Immediate coronary bypass surgery and eventually back to PT. Then a graph failed and back on the table to get a stent placed inside one of the graphs.

Long story short, all is not bad. I've never been able to complete any PT but am back to playing golf every day. I am riding since I am afraid to walk. I have walked 9 holes without pain.  My biggest problem is playing well again. I'm not sure that will ever happen. I cannot seem to shift my weight and constantly have a reverse weight shift which I didn't have before. My single digit handicap is now around an HI of 15. Really weak calves but what did I expect. The body atrophies quickly. 

 

So, I'm here, I'm playing golf, and my foot works. 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by youraway2
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