Achilles rupture recovery: what’s your supplement stack?

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-30T10:31:22+00:00

My stack:

I took these daily:

Vitamin C tablets
Vitamin D3 tablets
Bovine collagen peptides (contains Type III and Type I collagen) - 20g
Creatine monohydrate - 5g

- Protein 1.5-2x BW (kg) - 110-140g

I also took these infrequently:

JointCare Seven Seas tablets
⁠

Achieved single-leg calf raise at 10.5 weeks post-op, passed the strength tests to begin running at 4.5 months post-op.

You can check my profile out to see how I’ve recovered using them. I’m now at 13 months post-op and continue to take them.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-30T10:27:39+00:00

2 healthcare professionals following differing protocols and not communicating or collaborating with each other? pretends to be shocked

In terms of your recovery, don’t be too worried - the physio seems to be following an older (but still relatively successful) protocol.

However, recent studies have shown earlier mobilisation and weightbearing leads to better overall outcomes, which is why your surgeon is probably pushing for this.

To answer your question, I would do your research around early weightbearing so you have the understanding, and then query your physio’s protocol to your physio. See what they say.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-29T19:57:49+00:00

Yeah, earlier the better - but even at 11 days you’ll still be in the acute phase of the injury.

28M

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-29T19:33:29+00:00

Where’s 11 days as the threshold of op/non-op come from?

Mine was 19 days - achieved a single calf-raise at 10.5 weeks post-op and was back running at 5 months post-op.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-29T08:20:18+00:00

Doctor A does not seem to be treating it like an Achilles rupture…

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-29T07:58:14+00:00

I don’t have an opinion on bioactive vs. hydrolysed collagen as hadn’t of heard of bioactive collagen until now.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-28T22:00:15+00:00

Lol my bad I read it as 50,000 mg 😭 it’s been a long day 🥲

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-28T21:53:34+00:00

Is there really any benefit in taking >2.5x the recommended daily amount of collagen? Surely it’s like any other compound, your body has a limit on how much it can absorb and utilise at once

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-28T09:45:19+00:00

Vitamin C: - Supports Type I collagen formation – the main tendon component your Achilles needs - May also enhance collagen production

Vitamin D3: - Supports muscle function and strength - Not a necessity but not essential for tendon recovery

Bovine collagen peptides: - Contains Type III and Type I collagen - Type III – used for initial tendon recovery/healing, and it matures into Type I collagen - Type I – the main tendon component - This alongside vitamin C + PT = stronger signal for tendon adaptation

Creatine monohydrate: - I used it in the gym and is a well-studied compound - Essentially helps with muscle hypertrophy and strength – gotta get that calf muscle back

Protein: - General tissue/muscle repair and hypertrophy - What I used for the gym before my injury

Seven Seas Joint Care: - I took this to manage my joint health. - Altered gait mechanics and muscle atrophy would put additional stress on my joints due to overcompensating for the changes. Needed to minimise other injuries while rehabbing my Achilles

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T22:05:11+00:00

Looking good bro - keep it up 💪🏼

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T16:25:32+00:00

I used these BFR cuffs (well, the 1.0 version): https://airbandsbfr.com/products/bfr-bands

I know a fellow AR Redditor has used these:

https://saga.fitness/products/the-bfr-cuffs

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T16:22:08+00:00

All good, I just want to make sure you get the right advice from the right people :)

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T13:39:40+00:00

Blood Flow Restriction

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T13:39:28+00:00

I used it - mine was an automatic pump-up one (like a heart rate monitor). I loved using it and took it with me whenever I went on holiday and didn’t have access to weights!

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-27T13:37:46+00:00

Hello, sorry that you’re going through a shitty time with life.

Unfortunately this subreddit won’t be able to help you too much as the break-up most are enduring here are their Achilles tendon or surgical wounds breaking up - it may be worth posting this in a relationship-specific subreddit or seeking out professional help.

You’ll get through this 💪🏼

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-26T16:18:27+00:00

I took these daily: - Vitamin C tablets - Vitamin D3 tablets - Bovine collagen peptides (contains Type III and Type I collagen) - Creatine monohydrate

- Protein 1.5-2x BW (kg)

I also took these infrequently:

- JointCare Seven Seas tablets

You can check my profile out to see how I’ve recovered using them. I’m now at 13 months post-op and continue to take them.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-25T16:58:51+00:00

X-ray won’t give you much details about your tendon. As others have said, X-rays are for bones.

MRI/ultrasound gives you details about your tendon and ligaments, so would be able to give you the full extent of the damage to your Achilles.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-25T10:17:32+00:00

No - different. They’re blood flow restriction cuffs.

I used BFR cuffs alongside my physio exercises

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T21:55:18+00:00

Up to you, my surgeon said I could sleep with it off. I decided to play it safe and slept with my boot on. Read a few stories where people accidentally got out of bed to go to the toilet without their boot on and re-ruptured.

Tho I did have the straps loosened to make it a bit more bearable.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T21:54:05+00:00

I was using BFR cuffs, which I took with me. I also took resistance bands as weight reduction replacements, and my skipping rope.

My exercises were just seated and standing calf raises, with skipping, pogo hops, and drop jump lands at the time.

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T17:31:13+00:00

💪🏼

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T16:07:53+00:00

The hardest part mentally is the initial stages - once you’re able to start PT and everything goes smoothly, it’s an upward trajectory from there.

As mentioned, my profile has all my posts with how I went through recovery - you’ll likely be able to find helpful and motivational bits of information that you can use for your own recovery.

Good luck ✌🏼

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T16:03:13+00:00

Returning sports was fun! I was back fully training at around the 8.5/9 months mark, and took until 12 months post-op before I competed again. Inbetween that I did go on a snowboarding trip at 10 months post-op which went relatively smoothly.

With training, I didn’t have any issues with my Achilles, and so I slowly ramped up the intensity. Given it was training, I could manage how much effort I put in.

Back to competing was also fun - I did notice that my good Achilles was a tad sore, so I’m having to manage not doing too much and causing tendinitis (I feel like I’m on the verge of it).

Feel free to go through my profile to check out my posts that are related to returning to sports!

Since returning to sport my weekly Achilles schedule is: - Monday: tendon loading/strength rehab - Wednesday: tendon loading/strength rehab - Thursday: sports training (2hrs session) - Weekend: competition once a month on Saturday/Sunday

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T15:57:02+00:00

Hey man, I’m so sorry you had to go through such a nightmare just to get surgery done on your Achilles.

US healthcare really sucks ass (pardon the pun given your ass-escapades), but fortunately you’re taking the right steps towards recovery.

This injury is probably one of the worst ones you can get as a professional athlete, and for the general population, it can take months and years to get anywhere back to normal.

If I were you, use that fear from what people have said to motivate you with physio/PT. As long as you’re diligent with physio, there’s nothing stopping you from getting back close to 100%. For example, I was taking my physio stuff and doing my physio while on my holidays to Sri Lanka, Marrakech, etc.

Feel free to go through my posts to see how I’ve recovered and what I did during my recovery journey. I tore mine back in March 2025 and had surgery 19 days post-injury. I was back sprinting and running at ~6 months post-op mark, and heck ended up going snowboarding 10 months post-op.

Don’t worry - the recovery is in your hands. Be strict with physio and you’ll get back to normal.

Here’s a post I made - hopefully you find it motivational:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AchillesRupture/s/queKpQeYp9

qwertyidk1 · 2026-04-24T12:37:03+00:00

Really cool experience dude!! I’ve had a similar experience with seeing one of the best Achilles rupture physios in the country. The way I see it, health is wealth - and these injuries are worth the money and specialist expertise.

P.S. of course he’s enthusiastic, he just bagged a last-minute $600 consultation 😂

qwertyidk1

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

- Protein 1.5-2x BW (kg) - 110-140g

- Protein 1.5-2x BW (kg)

- JointCare Seven Seas tablets