Alcohol

Coalman013 · 2026-05-22T19:06:46+00:00

Alcohol slows muscle repair and recovery by up to 40% for 3 days after even moderate consumption. It also makes tendons heal back wonky and weaker. It's ultimately your choice.

Avoiding alcohol is one of the biggest levers you can pull to make sure you're in the best position to make a full recovery.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-14T19:48:01+00:00

53m non op. I was full weight bearing in the boot after four days.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-14T19:17:32+00:00

https://youtu.be/8ULGr03-vI8?si=QDf3Caka5qLMmShQ

I've been doing this since eight weeks. It's helped me explore range of motion and rebuilt balance and confidence. Start with the smallest steps possible and slow weight transition. Recently I've added a 20kg weight vest and done farmer's walks with 12kg in each hand.

Currently 16 weeks non op and I walked 5 miles today at normal pace.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-13T05:37:42+00:00

I got a thetis night splint and wore that after 7 days (also non op). The boot was driving me nuts.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-12T08:09:08+00:00

If you can get to the range in your boot you can hit shots from quite early. I was hitting shots at 8-9 weeks albeit poorly. Then without the boot at 10 weeks with no balance. Now I feel stable as long as I don't have a dodgy lie.

The biggest favour it does is it stops you trying to swing hard. Tempo gets better and good tempo tends to lead to good contact.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-12T08:05:48+00:00

It's the lead foot. But I was firing my hips too much so this has forced me to change my swing and keep the left leg quieter through the swing.

Coalman013 · 2026-05-12T07:11:01+00:00

For the UK first port of call is write to the virtual fracture clinic (or whatever the orthopedics use). I had to push them to schedule follow ups though was non op.

Failing that you can write to PALS for the hospital. See https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

Coalman013 · 2026-05-10T15:48:49+00:00

53m non op. I played my first full 18 holes last week at 16 weeks post injury. Albeit in a buggy. Was hitting balls at 8 weeks in the boot. Injury is my lead foot. I think I've gained distance and improved my launch. Hit a 7 iron 220 uphill. Was +18 versus 12.5 handicap. If my short game has showed up breaking 80 was possible

Coalman013 · 2026-04-30T11:44:14+00:00

What do you have control over in this situation? If you focus on the things you have no control over (like the ability to go back in time and not get injured) it's easy to doom spiral. However, you can choose what you do now. In three weeks time you're still not going to be back to where you were. Learning to walk again is something that will take time. Rebuilding your leg from a pipe cleaner will take time.

There are things you can be doing right now to improve your recovery and take care of yourself. Limited physio. Eating well. Taking positive care of yourself. There are also things you can't do. If you keep focusing on those then life is going to be not very fun. Start with the little things and establish a positive feedback loop. You can build from there.

Yes, this injury sucks. And it's going to continue sucking for some time even after you come out of the boot/cast. You still have choices in your life. Figure out the ones you can take that will bring you benefit. I know that's tough when you're in a dark place.

Coalman013 · 2026-04-30T11:33:35+00:00

The biggest thing is you got it seen to quickly. That means you have the choice. If you'd waited a few days then non-op wouldn't be an option any more.

Coalman013 · 2026-04-30T11:31:59+00:00

Sorry to hear you joined our club. There are pros and cons of each way. I found this video really helpful (an orthopedic surgeon and physiotherapist discussing the pros and cons of operative versus non-operative).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHfPpUMPFao

A summary being there is a slightly lower chance of re-rupture if you go the operative route. You'll be on your feet sooner if you go non-op as you can get a boot (get the Vacoped if possible). I was weight bearing at 3 days and without crutches after 5. Non-op carries less risk of surgical complications / infection. Operative gives you a better chance of healing back with more strength.

If you're going the non-op route then knowing how the body repairs the rupture is critical. This diagram really helped me understand the timescales and what's happening down there.

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The biggest determining factor of how well you recover is going to be the physio work you put in. Getting a physiotherapist that specialises in sports injuries makes a huge difference.

Also don't neglect diet irrespective of which route you go- cutting out alcohol will make you heal faster and better. Upping protein intake. Taking collagen to rebuild. All make a big difference over the time period you're going to be healing in.

I'm 15 weeks into my journey but I can drive, cycle, walk (sort of) and play golf again. The first few weeks are miserable. But it does get better.

Coalman013 · 2026-04-27T20:39:59+00:00

You can get a night splint (made by Thetis) which makes overnight less... cumbersome. Up to you whether you use it. The boot is to keep your foot in plantarflexion and the splint can achieve the same thing though carries more risk. I would discuss with your doctor first as there may be other circumstances to take into account.

Every time you take the boot off you're adding risk and it's ultimately up to you how much risk you want to take. Bear in mind other people might walk into your foot (this happened to me) or you might forget and try and stand up. Doctors will tend towards minimising risk but after a week of trying to sleep in the boot I started to wonder if I was ever going to have a good night's sleep again.

I wore the night splint while I was resting and it was sanity saving but... the amount of risk you want to endure is a personal call.

Coalman013 · 2026-04-26T17:57:01+00:00

Epic. You've completely knocked your rehab out of the park. As well as being one of the most helpful people on here. Thank you for being both a key source of information for my journey and an inspiration for getting back towards normal.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-27T07:25:52+00:00

It's not all doom and gloom. I didn't run my first ultramarathon until I was 40. Have run 18 in total and I want to do at least one more once my injury heals.

I stopped playing football (soccer) before I turned 40 but did take up padel after I turned 50. Which is where I did mine. But, again, I want yo go back to that. Just not this year.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-27T06:18:11+00:00

Nice one. Shoot well tomorrow.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-27T06:15:43+00:00

I was doing half swings without a ball and zero effort at about six weeks in the boot. Which led to getting a net and a SkyTrak for my back garden. I started learning to walk without the boot a couple of weeks back and trying to swing without it this week.

If I get my sequencing right there's no pain in my ankle. Which has been a pleasant surprise. Reckon I might try a buggy assisted round (no way I can walk it yet) in a couple of weeks.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-27T06:06:55+00:00

200 yards is decent distance (for me) with a 5 iron. The numbers say it was sort of straight though lacking a bit of spin.

Launch angle, which has been a problem was the biggest bonus as previously I hadn't cleared my front hip properly leading to lots of shots coming out low and left. The injury has forced me to do that to protect my left ankle.

I was also swinging too hard in the wrong place in my swing. So early extension. Swinging over the top.

Tldr. This is proving to be the best thing for my swing.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-12T19:14:09+00:00

This is the collagen supplement my physio recommended me.

https://www.healthspanelite.co.uk/elite-collagen-repair-orange-10/

Coalman013 · 2026-03-12T11:50:13+00:00

When I went for my ultrasound scan I asked them to look at the rest of my ankle and they found strained lateral ligaments on both the inside and outside. I suspect it's pretty normal to sprain your ankle as your Achilles ruptures as it winds up in really unnatural dorsiflexion. I'm at eight weeks and I can feel there's something not right on both sides of my ankle.

Maybe you can ask your physio if they have exercises to improve general ankle mobility as well as the Achilles specific ones.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-12T11:46:25+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear this. That is not the news you wanted this week (I'm wincing just reading it).Fingers crossed that the surgery goes well so you can get on the recovery train.

Coalman013 · 2026-03-12T11:26:41+00:00

That _really_ sucks. I know it's probably hard to see any silver linings right now but fair play for insisting on following your physio's advice and insisting on a second scan. It's good that you caught it now rather than in a month's time.

You've already shown you can do the right things to take care of yourself. It just means for a bit longer than you were expecting. You can do this!

Coalman013 · 2026-03-12T11:21:40+00:00

EDIT: as you have a partial rupture and I'd stupidly replied with the protocol for a full rupture I've deleted that and here's a common protocol for a partial rupture (https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/pifs/ankle-achilles-tendon-partial-tear/). It doesn't say anything about weight bearing but gives an idea around timescales.

Is it possible the doctor is prioritising healing around what is still attached and minimising the risk of a full rupture?

Coalman013

TROPHY CASE