View Full Version : Torn achilles - advice?
badinfluence
08-23-2006, 02:37
Hello all... depressing year - I tore my achilles last year at Katahdin. Never really healed right - cast and all.
Question I have is this: Has anyone here had a similar injury? Did the Planar howevertheheckyouspell it on my left foot - but that seems to have healed a bit better and is mildly hikeable.
Went up the trail with my 8 year old son, camped out at Chimney Pond and then bam - few days later noticed the pain.
Bad news - I can't hike for a bit.
Good news - my son is hooked on hiking!
Just curious of anyone elses injury - as the docs are driving me absolutely nuts!!!
Thanx,
Jonathan
orangebug
08-23-2006, 09:51
What about the docs is driving you nuts?
An Achilles tear can vary in severity. Did you fracture the whole thing, or have a partial tear? Did you have an attempt at repair, tendon graft or some other procedure? Did they simply attempt repair with rest and casting?
My personal trainer had a total achilles tear and was back making life miserable within 6 monhs, but he tolerates pain and is extremely focused on his PT.
Footslogger
08-23-2006, 10:03
Not clear on what is bothering you at this point ...lingering pain in the achilles area or plantar fascitis on the bottom of the foot near the heal. They can be related but are distinct problems.
Torn achilles tendons require significant rehab. There isn't much of a blood supply to the tendon itself so the healing is relatively slow. Then comes the stretching which rebuilds the normal range of motion.
Plantar fascitis is an inflamation of the myofascial fibers that line the undersurface of the foot (beneath the skin) near the heel. Once inflamed, this condition can take a long time to heal because normal use of the foot under load bearing conditions aggrivates the problem. For some people the use of an orthotic is used to help.
It's (plantar fascitis) is an illusive problem and I can understand why dealing with physicians on the cure can be frustrating. Hang in there and be patient. Touch base with a good physical therapist or exercise physiologist for some rehab suggestions.
'Slogger
Mother's Finest
08-23-2006, 18:29
torn achilles. extremely painful and long heal time.....I am not a doctor...i am a certified pedorthist.
as for your achilles tendon problem, the normal course of action is to have some type of heel lift added to your shoe gear, to relieve pressure on the tendon. It may be just a few mm in height, but can make a great deal of difference. other considerations include a shoe or boot with an extremely strong heel counter (the part of the shoe that wraps around the back of the foot and heel)
as to Plantar fasciitis, I concur with slogger, some type of arch support is key to the healing process. the medial arch acts as a suspension bridge and when you are in weight bearing, pressure is exerted at the base of the heel....never go barefoot on hard, flat surfaces, get some quality arch supports (either otc or custom, probably best to start with over the counter product) and do proper stretching for the achilles/calf muscle complex likely best to follow recomendations for stretching from doctor for injured achilles...
peace
mf
badinfluence
08-24-2006, 01:25
Thanx for the info all the way around.
Plantar Fasciitis is on the left, torn achilles is on the lower right foot - which I think is part of the frustration because the healing time is doubled.
I had to wear the cast for 3 months - which seemd to only make that ankle worse - as my whole ankle ended up swelling like a softball.
Given the advise here - I think I'll see if the insurance covers a sports therapist of sorts - since I think they'll have a better grasp on the situation. The surgeon keeps running towards the knife - but I guess I want a second opinion, since I can't bear yet another season of the trail!!!
One thing that may have agrivated the injury though, boots. I thought I did the right thing getting my boots. Good boots, good support and all. Good overall fit with thicker socks and all. It seems that even though my toes fit right in the boots, I didn't concentrate on the overall tightness on the boot. Seems my hells were too tight and that didn't help the situation any.
Next time - I'm getting sized up correct!!!
Never had these problems for over 20 years hiking - I guess I'm getting old!!! - and I'm only in my mid 30's!
Thanx again all, more decent info here than I had all year.
Jonathan
Badinfluence,
Did you have any signs or symptoms about your Achilles injury--any twinges or the like? I've had some pain/discomfort in my Achilles for a couple of months now. My family doctor said, 'it may be tendonitis, but then again, it may be a sign of a potential catastrophic injury." It wasn't real comforting.
I've sprained that same ankle several times in the past and it is much weaker than the other. I figure on any long-distance hike, that foot just may be my 'Achilles Heel' for trip-ending injuries.
I hope your rehab goes well and you're back up near 100% as soon as possible.
Tom
badinfluence
08-24-2006, 13:33
I did have one symptom, that I didn't think much of it at the time.
Most often, when I first wake up - I'd feel this pain in my heels for the first fifteen or so minutes until I was up and about. Didn't think much of it at the time - this went on for a couple of months.
According to the Doc - it could've been the first sign that something was wrong. At the time, I simply thought it was insignificant since it went away after a few minutes.
Doc did say, as previously stated above, do not walk around on hard surfaces barefoot. From the time I wake up til the time I go to bead, I'm wearing something with some cushioning on my feet.
Lately, I've been wearing the Merrell clogs - they feel considerably better. I was thinking about a pair of crocs for around the house (I'd look a bit tacky in public with them things!).
Jonathan
Mother's Finest
08-24-2006, 15:52
hey bad influence....glad that you are feeling better....
that said, you may want to invest in a pair of sandals with a cork footbed that will be much more supportive on your arch than the merrel's or crocs.
check out brands like Finn Comfort or Haflinger. You will easily be able to locate these on the net. both those brands have a very strong cork arch built into the shoe, and raise the heel a bit. try to stay away from birkenstock, as they tend to drop the heel more.
peace
mf
Blissful
08-24-2006, 23:48
Doc did say, as previously stated above, do not walk around on hard surfaces barefoot. From the time I wake up til the time I go to bead, I'm wearing something with some cushioning on my feet.
Lately, I've been wearing the Merrell clogs - they feel considerably better. I was thinking about a pair of crocs for around the house (I'd look a bit tacky in public with them things!).
Jonathan
Good thing to do. I tore up my ankle two years ago and if I don't wear something on my feet, even in the house, my tendons acts up and get inflamed. So I wear my Payless fake crocs around the house.
But I think nothing can replace good rehab. And slowly allowing the tendon to strengthen and stretch with exercises. Being diligent with it. It does take a very long time to heal.
I had plantar fascitis once, and it got better from walking barefoot on hard surfaces. Instead of stepping onto the heel I came down on the outer forefoot (under the littele toe). It was very painfull, so I walked slowly, but it seemed to strengthen the fascia.
It still took a few months to heal.
-dirtnap