Achelies Tendon Dr. Mark

[Esten831]

Yesterday, I came up short on a triple and may have blown my Achelies Tendon. I went to the emergency room and they immobilized it and I have an appointment Monday morning. My question is... am I going to be out all summer from riding? I had a lot of riding and racing planned for this spring and summer. Has anyone else had this injury and if so how long did it take you to recover enough that you could ride again? Any input or advise would be greatly appreciated

[ajfreeze]

Dr. Mark may have stepped out, so.....

Did you hear a pop? Did they do an ultrasound in the ER? Does there feel like a defect in the tendon? How old are you? Smoker? Activity level? Any other health problems? These all play into how long it is until a return to full activity.

If you ruptured your achilles tendon, you are hosed for riding. Return to full activity after repair can take up to 6 months or more(depending on the above factors). Also, just because you are pain free, doesn't mean you can jump back on a bike. When (and if) strength and motion is on par with your good leg, that's most likely when the doctor will cut you loose to ride.....at least that's when I would.....(but I'm not your doctor ?).

Good luck and come back and post whatever images you get, MRI, surgery pics, maybe a big dimple in your achilles. All for the sake of learning my friend.....aj

[ajfreeze]

I forgot to ask....is the bike OK? Which one were you riding? Wouldn't happen on orange, would it? ?

[Esten831]

I did not here a pop, non smoker but not in great shape. I am 44 yrs old and I was riding the YZ 450. I didn't wreck so bike is ok. No pictures or anything yet until Monday. I can move my toes and can push down with my foot a little bit against the Half cast they put on me to immobilize it. I am hoping it is not a complete rupture but there is definate pain in my calf area.

[ajfreeze]

I did not here a pop, non smoker but not in great shape. I am 44 yrs old and I was riding the YZ 450. I didn't wreck so bike is ok. No pictures or anything yet until Monday. I can move my toes and can push down with my foot a little bit against the Half cast they put on me to immobilize it. I am hoping it is not a complete rupture but there is definate pain in my calf area.

There is a trend (depends on where you are and of course, your doctor) towards fixing partial ruptures as well. I'm interested to what's going on. 44 huh? not old yet. As long as you aren't a diabetic smoker that drinks too much, you will most likely will do fine.

Let us know, huh?

Good luck--aj

[Esten831]

Just a quick update.. I took my half cast off so I can take a shower, foot is swollen but I am able to move it up and down. I can stand on it and can put some pressure as if to stand on my toes although it does hurt right above the heel bone when I do that. Doesn't this suggest that it probably is not a rupture but maybe a partial tear or bad strain?

[DrMark]

it does't sound too bad at all.

[ajfreeze]

it does't sound too bad at all.

Where you been old man??

[DrMark]

I had a computer melt down, and just got my internet back on. Its too tedious to do internet stuff on the blackberrry. I can't see the letters without my glasses.

[Esten831]

Yesterday, I came up short on a triple and may have blown my Achelies Tendon. I went to the emergency room and they immobilized it and I have an appointment Monday morning. My question is... am I going to be out all summer from riding? I had a lot of riding and racing planned for this spring and summer. Has anyone else had this injury and if so how long did it take you to recover enough that you could ride again? Any input or advise would be greatly appreciated

Went to the doctor this morning and I have to have surgery Wednesday. There is a piece of bone from my heel that they think is attached to my achelies that broke off. They said 4 to 6 weeks in a cast with no weight bearing during that time, then rehab to get calf and achelies back into shape. They said earliest time back would be 4 month's if I do well rehabbing. Totally bummed out but I guess it goes with the territory. I think my track day's are over it's just not worth it anymore. Gonna stick to the trail's.?

[ajfreeze]

Went to the doctor this morning and I have to have surgery Wednesday. There is a piece of bone from my heel that they think is attached to my achelies that broke off. They said 4 to 6 weeks in a cast with no weight bearing during that time, then rehab to get calf and achelies back into shape. They said earliest time back would be 4 month's if I do well rehabbing. Totally bummed out but I guess it goes with the territory. I think my track day's are over it's just not worth it anymore. Gonna stick to the trail's.?

Sorry to hear that. Just keep it elevated before and after surgery. Skin complications can be a mother with this surgery. Good luck-aj

[bjornstar]

Sorry to hear that. Just keep it elevated before and after surgery. Skin complications can be a mother with this surgery. Good luck-aj

I just had the same thing happen..( or very similar ) I was at a new track and wasn't familiar enough yet, and I misjudged a 3rd gear double. Thought I was hitting a table so I just just rolled up in third..well halfway across the gap it became very apparent that I either should've been barking in 2nd or at least more in it in third.......

After murmurring "mommy" several times in the air, I cased it just barely above the opposing face...Hard. Solid thump to the chest, chinbar etc. But more than anything I knew my right lower leg was toast, just felt like my foot was on the wrong end of a jackhammer.

I will post up some x-rays in a new thread, but I broke both the tib and the fib, but my real concern is the fact that I broke about a 2" piece of calcaneus off and the achilles may be attached to that piece or separated, doc says he'll know better when he's in there. He seems confident, so I'm anxious to go but can't even get repaired till some of this swelling subsides...ugghh

Just wondering if you've gotten back into moto or if you're sticking to more ground based activities. I'm having a hard time with the wife as she's not finding these injuries to be all that entertaining. She's being great with the care, but she's already tried putting the 450 on craigslist...lol.

[Howorks]

I cased a triple riding arenacross on Sunday and ruptured my right achilles. Both ankles (or cankles) are really swollen but no fractures. I'm going in for surgery today @ 3, Really bummed out and little worried about the surgery. I was told six months to recover.

[fitnessguy]

I'm not sure how these injuries differ from my achilles rupture, but I was 6 weeks in a splint and 6 weeks in a boot. I had surgery 6 days after the injury. Then I rehabbed myself. I don't think it's likely you will be doing anything to aggressive at 4 months post-op. I would plan on 6 months before you are at 85% depending on your fitness level before the injury.

Good news is that a successful surgery means you'll live to ride another day. Good luck!