Insertional Achilles Surgery, Anyone?

Achilles snapped in 2010. Took many months before I was able to walk normally and several months more before I could ride again. Even now the calf is noticeably smaller on that leg. Surgeon said I'd wish I'd broken my leg instead as that'd heal much quicker, like I had a choice!

Prepare for a long recovery. 😑

I have snapped Achilles in both my legs and one re-rupture all on the bike. The first time(11 years ago) we went down the conservative treatment which caused the re-rupture 5 months later. They then had to take the muscle from my big toe and use that to connect the tendon. Another 12 weeks on crutches with no load bearing,back on the bike at 6 months riding round the park and eventually back down the Golfie at 8 months.
The second time(5 years ago) it was straight to  surgery but completely different recovery. Fitted with a boot and load bearing after 4 weeks being encouraged to walk without crutches in 8 weeks but still off the bike for 5 months then normal riding after 6 months.
Your Achilles will never feel normal again but it’s just something you have to live with. The injuries haven’t curtailed me in any way. The first time I done it I was 44 and 18 stone so if your younger and lighter your recovery could be quicker.

thought I’d update the thread. Surgery was yesterday, 80% achilles detachment, polish up of heel bone, calcification clear up, re attachment of achilles.

Nerve block is wearing off so am laying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Hope to be walking again in 8 weeks and on the bike in 12. Racing this winter may be a stretch.

anyone recommend any good box sets!?

thought I’d update the thread. Surgery was yesterday, 80% achilles detachment, polish up of heel bone, calcification clear up, re attachment of achilles.

Nerve block is wearing off so am laying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Hope to be walking again in 8 weeks and on the bike in 12. Racing this winter may be a stretch.

anyone recommend any good box sets!?

I had a subcalcaneal osteotomy (sp?) for insertional achilles tendonitis in January 2020.

It took me 18 months to recover fully but it is 100% solid now. I ran a 33m21s 10km on it at the start of this year.

Unfortunately, the massive load I put through my other leg during the injury and in the R&R period has resulted in arthritis in my other hip. FFS...

S**t, I'm similar in that I've had insertional achilles problems for 10 years.

Haven't been able to run at all without majorly flaring it up for ages, nor hike anything remotely interesting.

Did so much physio over the years as I was so desperate to get back into the mountains on my feet but no luck.

Biking is fine fortunately, otherwise I don't know what I'd do -- my mental health was pushed to the limit by it as it was.

Really good luck with the recovery -- I know it's a lot of down time, not sure I could hack it myself.

TV, I recently watched Silo and it was really excellent.

Better Call Saul, if you liked Breaking Bad (it's actually better, somehow).

Breaking Bad if you haven't seen that.

Edit: Andor is excellent. Totally different vibe to the normal Star Wars stuff, but same universe.

I also just listened to The Expanse audiobook series (free on Galaxy Audio player). Brilliant. The TV show is good, but another thing that was discontinued for seemingly no good reason.

Unfortunately, the massive load I put through my other leg during the injury and in the R&R period has resulted in arthritis in my other hip. FFS…

The reason I've got chronic insertional achilles issues on my right side is because my left ankle was already chronically wreaked...

Damn these fragile bodies

Ruptured mine playing badminton, go to be pushing for 20 years ago now.

It’s a long road and can’t really recall the times, something like about 3 months in plaster at varying angles the another few on crutches.

As a positive it healed well and I got back into cycling after a long time away as part of the recovery. Helped massively and I’ve had no issues since, just a lot poorer 😁

Good luck!

Thanks all! @finbar - how long before you were light jogging? And back on the mtb?

I'm lucky enough to have been able to schedule the timing - wanted to enjoy the summer and allow myself 15 weeks until ski season. I figured some gentle rides in zwift watopia to ease me through autumn into winter once the boot is off.

<p style="text-align: left;">I got back on the bike just gravelly paths, not any out of the seat pedal mashing after 12 weeks post op. But i was already struggling to begin with. Had orif tibial plateau May 2013 then ACL and meniscus removal December 2013 on the left then Achillies tendon repair April 2014</p>

Not the same thing, but I ruptured my achilles mummy last year. Best thing I did was to ditch the cast, and the awful NHS boot, and get a vacoped boot.

https://oped-uk.com/products/vacoped-boot/

I’ve got the vacoped boot waiting! I’m two weeks in a backslab til the stitches come out and then the new boot is on!

@markg868 - I’m with you…. I had a partial menisectomy on the same leg last September. After years of no medical requirements I seem to be racking them up over the last 12 months.

Well I thought I would update this after 11 weeks, and being in a worse position that before I went under the knife.

I am now convinced, seeing the xray, that the surgeon hasn't removed enough bone. He has merely cleaned up the tendon and left the underlying cause of the pain (bump of bone on the heel). He insists that this isn't the cause of the pain (oddly told me before the surgery that they remove as a matter of course. And then didn't). He's offered me PRP injections at a cost of around £4k now a "well maybe this will work" option.

Second opinion booked in two weeks. Have been unable to get on the bike or do anything ankle related since August. Beyond depressing.

I guess I am posting in the hope that someone else had a prolonged recovery and magically all the pain went away all of a sudden. Am fast giving up hope. I'll take walking at this point.... return to sport can wait.