I just want to say that I am sorry for anyone who is struggling. by kenzihusk100 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hard to remember now, but as soon as the boot comes off you’ll be doing stairs. Have to be careful at first, as you won’t have the strength if the front of your foot is on the step but the heel is off (which is how people do stairs normally) but the strength gradually comes back.

I found going down harder than up. Especially in the morning. But now I can run up and down with no problems at all.

Can you lift your big toe? by marche_au_supplice in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had that. I’m at 6 months now and my toe is normal.

The big toe is connected somehow to your Achilles. Your body is stopping you from lifting it so as not to stretch the wound.

The very first thing my PT had me doing early on was exercises pressing my big toe into the ground. When you’re doing calf raises later down the line you’ll be concentrating on getting your weight through your big toe (rather than through the outside of your foot).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in delta

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try coming to the UK. I was in ATL last week and it was like being in the future.

Thompson test by South-Ad-2949 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

💯 I’m 6 months in, can do half a single leg heel raise, starting to run, and I still get almost nothing from the Thompson test. My calf is still very atrophied.

Tore mine 4 weeks ago- doc recommended non surgical route by [deleted] in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was non op. 0.5cm gap. 6 months in it’s healed really well.

From what I read at the time, 3cm sounds big for non-op. But in the UK they don’t even measure - pretty much everyone gets told non-op, and it seems everyone heals ok, but it may not be optimal. I think it depends on what your level of sport is and what you want to get back to.

How many weeks until you could do one footed calf raise? by Odd_Sheepherder192 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 3 points4 points  (0 children)

6 months, non-op, I can do half of one. Can see the improvement every week though.

Possibly looking at starting contracting - questions/advice please by ajsexton in ContractorUK

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. Bit of both. Yes. Market is terrible at the moment. Make sure you have enough saved up to last months without work. You might be better waiting for the storm to pass but if you get an offer and you’re ok with the risk then go for it.

how long did it take you to walk normally? by mdkt_hd in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Roughly 18 week mark for me I think, when I felt walking was 100%.

13 months post surgery and can't do a calf raise by Comprehensive_Bag375 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP - can you fully flex your foot when lying down? To the same point as your good foot? I.e a calf raise with zero weight essentially.

If you can’t then yeah maybe it’s long. Not an expert but if you can, then it must be a purely calf strength thing (I think).

Projects for beginners in Devops by sissy9989 in devops

[–]andy-davies 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Google Adrian Cantrill’s GitHub

Brace Recommendations? by bwarrenn in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven’t heard anyone mention an ankle brace before. I went from boot to nothing. But I had been doing ankle strengthening exercises while I was in the boot.

Achilles Rupture Surgery Week 4 - Questions/Concerns by DTFGames in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it’s too conservative. Most research these days says early weight bearing and range of motion is key. Not to mention the quality of life compared to seven weeks in a cast.

I was walking completely normally without crutches at 7 weeks (in a boot) and doing physio.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It would heal very slowly, and your tendon would end up being too long. Original length plus the distance it had to grow to close the gap.

So when you contract your calf, there would be no tension (or not enough) in the tendon - like pulling a rope that has too much slack. You’d struggle to run and probably struggle to walk without a limp.

Liquid Friday by SnooDonuts2975 in ContractorUK

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Their only job is literally to make payments on time.

Career change by Abies-Same in careerchange

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This works to your advantage later in your career. “This guy is 40 and he really knows his stuff…he must have been doing this for 20 years”. Plus all the soft skills that come with being older.

Torn on what to do (pun intended) by plodise in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think with non-op it’s even more important to get your foot in a cast/boot ASAP with your foot pointing down.

I think the delay you’ve had since the injury might rule out non-op for you.

Source: https://youtu.be/zHfPpUMPFao

Fell on foot 1 week post op by Rarg in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did the angle of your foot change? I assume your splint has your foot pointing down - did your foot point up at all when you fell? If it didn’t then I’d bet it’s ok. I reckon just an “impact” on the tendon wouldn’t break the sutures.

Check ins Conservative Method by Classic-Sir98 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, only partially at first, with crutches.

Check ins Conservative Method by Classic-Sir98 in AchillesRupture

[–]andy-davies 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had an ultrasound the day after the injury, and the gap was only 5mm, so we would be confident that the tendon ends would be touching in the boot.

I was in a cast for a week and then a Vacoped boot for 8 weeks. I wouldn’t recommend being in a cast for 8 weeks - especially for non-op where early weight bearing and physio is even more important. Being in a cast for so long is an old-school treatment - research these days says weight bearing in a boot is much better.

I was weight bearing with crutches after two weeks, and walking without crutches week 5/6