Need advice please - I tore my right achilles and will need surgery, according to the orthopedic. I was able to see him the day of the injury. I was not able to get into my podiatrist’s schedule last week. I’m wondering if I should push for a second opinion? Given that recovery is long and since I won’t be able to drive for 2 months, I want to get this dealt with sooner than later. I have seen both orthopedic and podiatrist in the past for the last few years so I believe they are qualified. However, I have never gotten surgery before and I want to be back to my full mobility once I’m healed.
Calling @Knowsstuff — what do you say? He’s an orthopedic surgeon.
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Thank you! I didn’t know his specialty.
Podiatrists are not trained to handle achilles tears. Go with the orthopedic surgeon, or get a second opinion from a different orthopaedic surgeon.
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Not an orthopedic surgeon, but I am a physical therapist with 25 plus years of experience. 100% agree with 2Devils.
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Hi.
I am actually a Podiatric Surgeon that does sports medicine injury and surgery and yes if trained, Podiatrist do this type of repair. I have been doing it for 34 years and it’s nothing new. Not all Orthopedic do surgery like this and not all Podiatrist do either. Most of the newer trained ones definitely should. They are trained on many advanced techniques that even some orthopedic don’t do. It’s also regional. Some areas are more advanced then. others.
Talk to both and see who you have faith in.
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This just isn’t true and you can see my post. I can tell you about bad results from both.
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There are orthopedic subspecialists who specialize in foot and ankle surgery. You might look to see if there is one where you live.
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Thanks for your reply. My podiatrist is also a podiatry surgeon but I was not able to get into his schedule last week. I have a slight bias towards him because he tends to lean more conservative in treatments in the past for different issues. I wish it was easy to see a new orthopedic or any specialist as a new patient.
I know PT will be an important part of recovery. Currently plan to see PT who specializes with this type of surgery. Thanks for your reply.
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Thanks, your reply is what learned when I googled too. The orthopedic is someone the family has used in the past for broken bones. He’s good and specializes in ankle and foot, but he leans slightly towards recommending surgery for lots of things. The podiatrist is excellent and makes me feel calm whenever I see him because he prefers treating injuries with other approaches first.
I am in my 50s and want close to full mobility for the next 4 decades. I am already going bonkers not being able to exercise at my normal pace and participate in activities prior to this injury. Given scheduling issues, I may have to proceed with the orthopedic.
Whatever works. In my locale most Pods that I know do it. Most orthos don’t. Many are specialized for just the knee, hip etc. Not many do soft tissue injury. I can tell you stories about both. Lol but don’t want to cause panic. If they don’t do it on a more regular basis, that should be your answer. My practice is mostly soft tissue injury /repair. Everyone likes their niche. Good luck 
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I had the same injury last May. My heart goes out to you.
I had an orthopedic surgeon perform the surgery and was very satisfied with the result. I was referred to him by a thoracic surgeon friend. He does several of the same procedures a week which gave me comfort. He was very clear and specific about the protocol for recovery and what I could expect.
People will tell you their war stories and what a tough recovery it is. They are telling the truth but to be honest it is the type of injury that once you are past the first few weeks you improve in direct correlation to the work you put in.
Don’t allow yourself to get dejected you can control your recovery. This is an injury not an illness! You got this.
I am 8 months out and pretty close to 100%.
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Oy, this is why I am in panic, lol. Now I need to ask how many times he has done soft tissue repairs.
My ortho wouldn’t do mine and referred me another who specializes in this. He was candid about outcomes and that the recovery time was long - whether outcome was better, same, or worse than before. I’d definitely talk to someone who does a lot of these.
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Thank you for sharing your experience! I really needed to hear it and esp about your full recovery.
I was told I will be a hard cast for a month after the surgery. Was that your experience? How tall was the hard cast? My boot just reaches below my knee cap which is manageable, but a hard cast may be challenging.
I am scheduled for twice a week PT for 10 to 12 weeks beginning a month post surgery.
FYI, everyone’s experience is going to be different. I don’t use hard casts. Some do but glad to see they have PT scheduled. I have an ortho patient now that didn’t send her to PT for a Achilles tear. She’s 4 months post op . But she also has ankle ligaments that he didn’t want to repair and why it was referred to me. Comparing will drive you nuts as well as the internet will.
Also many newer techniques out there. Don’t confuse newer for better though. Just go with what your doctor is comfortable with.
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First two week post op in a heavily bandaged splint so the stitches were accessible. No weight bearing at all. This was the toughest period. Crutches but as little as possible.
Then three weeks in a cast no weight bearing but you feel much safer and can use the leg for balance while on crutches. I could also workout my upper body just to feel better.
Then 6 weeks in a walking boot with progressively lower heal pads. Immediately at this stage I started PT. I did it very carefully but kept asking what the max resistance and frequency allowable was and did a lot on my own. It didn’t take long to feel like I had turned the corner and had mobility again.
Had several people suggest using a scooter but the crutches worked for me both in terms of being a bit of a workout and getting around our house which has stairs.
Sorry if too graphic but so you know what you are in for. This was 2 weeks post op. Looks worse than it felt at that point. FYI that’s mostly surgical ink and that’s right before they took the stitches out relatively painlessly.
Please let me know if I can offer support as it’s easy to get bummed out. My family came up with a lot of mental games that helped.
Find a dog to help you keep elevated and lots of ice.
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Your realistic feedback is what I was seeking even though I was secretly hoping this will be an easy surgery or maybe I won’t need surgery. The boot has given me false hope; I know I need to get real about this.
The first two weeks of no weight bearing is horrifying to consider. I am really crying about this. I can handle the remaining recovery months in a boot, using crutches, going PT, etc, but to be so restricted the first 2 weeks will be torture. I have been doing lighter upper and core body work outs, sitting on the bench or on the floor, since the injury. I guess that will also have to be on hold.
In the instant injury occurred, I had a strong instinct that I tore the achilles heel. My full body was in a forward motion while my right foot stayed planted on the floor and I heard something like a ripping sound. I just finished reading Tom Lake by Anne Patchett and the main character tore hers while playing tennis. My first thought was I hope it’s not an achilles tear because the recovery for the character was a full year. I know it’s an injury and I will recover, but I’m sad.
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Sorry I certainly didn’t mean to be a downer.
Please don’t get down but instead plan how to make it passable. It’s important you elevate and ice and eventually use compression socks.
My kids put up a pull up bar in the doorway so I could have some physical activity, we got a seat and a leg “condom” for the shower, I got a short haircut so I didn’t need to care for it, picked a dozen movies, and was determined to maintain some work meetings remotely for a sense of usefulness, etc. I felt like I had a plan and it helped.
The time will pass and you will bounce back quickly. The mental part can be worse than the physical so please try not to let it win.
DM me and I will yell at you metaphorically😀
Ultimately you can get a cool tattoo…
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