Navigating Your Recovery From Achilles Tendon Surgery

The Achilles tendon is the largest and one of the most important tendons in your body. It forms a connection between your heel and calf muscle and helps you do everything involving walking, jumping, or running. Therefore, rupturing or tearing your Achilles tendon is extremely painful and debilitating, and you’ll need surgery to repair the problem.

A ruptured Achilles tendon is a fairly common sports or athletic injury and often stems from inadequate stretching or overuse. While it’s most common among athletes, a torn Achilles can happen to anyone. Depending on the extent of the damage, Achilles tendon surgery is performed to repair or replace the tendon or part of the tendon.

Achilles Tendon Surgery Procedures

In general, Achilles tendon surgery is fairly straightforward, and there are two types of procedures to choose from. The goal of both surgeries is to repair the damaged tendon and reconnect it to the calf and heel.

Open Repair Surgery

Your first option for Achilles tendon surgery is to have an open surgery where your surgeon cuts a long incision on the back of your calf. Your surgeon will then repair the damaged part of the Achilles if it’s just a small tear or rupture. If there’s a complete tear or you’ve suffered degeneration of the tendon, your doctor will replace all or part of the tendon.
Because open repair surgeries are very invasive, there will be a longer recovery period.

Percutaneous Surgical Repair

Given the option, it’s better to opt for a percutaneous surgical repair of the Achilles tendon. Using this method, your surgeon will make several tiny holes or incisions on the back of your calf and repair or replace your tendon through them. Percutaneous surgical repair is less invasive and results in less scarring and a shorter recovery period.

Post-Surgery: Initial Phase

Achilles tendon surgery typically lasts for one to two hours, depending on the type of procedure you choose. Once the surgery is over, your doctor will likely want to keep you for observation for several hours. In most cases, you can go home the same day as the surgery and start your recovery.

Pain Management Strategies

Because you’re given a strong anesthetic for the surgery, you likely won’t start feeling pain for up to ten hours after you wake up. When it starts, however, the pain can be unbearable, so it’s important to have management strategies in place.

• Take your prescription pain medication as directed
• You can take ibuprofen in place of your prescription pain medication, but not in addition to it.
• Keep your leg elevated above your heart to relieve pain
• Ice your leg three to four times per day through your cast

Potential Risks and Complications

As with all surgical procedures, there are risks involved with Achilles tendon repair surgery.

• Developing a blood clot
• Infection
• Damage to nearby nerves
• Pain in the foot and ankle
• Too much bleeding
• Calf damage or pain
• Anesthesia complications

The Recovery Timeline for Achilles Tendon Surgery

Although you can go home the same day of surgery, the recovery timeline is fairly long after an Achilles tendon repair. It will be slightly shorter for a ruptured tendon versus a complete tear, but it’s lengthy either way.

The First Weeks at Home: Immobilization and Non-Weight Bearing

You’ll need to wear a cast or walking boot that goes from your foot to your knee following the surgery. It’s crucial to keep weight off of your healing leg, so you’ll need crutches, a wheelchair, or a rolator.

Transition Phase: Partial Weight Bearing

The cast or boot will remain in place for at least six to twelve weeks. During that time, you will require physical therapy to rehabilitate your leg properly. You can also start doing partial weight-bearing exercises on your leg, but only with the guidance and instruction of a therapist.
If all goes well, you can make a full recovery in four to six months, but some recoveries can take up to a year.

Post-Surgery Care and Rehabilitation

In addition to taking your recovery slow, it’s crucial to take care of your surgical incision to prevent infection. To do this, follow your doctor’s instructions to a T and make sure that the wound stays clean and dry. Physical therapy will play an important role in restrengthening and rehabilitating your leg, as will investing in a recovery vitamin IV therapy. Between the restrengthening and hydrating benefits of IV therapy and PT, you can make a full recovery.

Living Life After Achilles Tendon Surgery

As part of your recovery, it’s important to go to all your doctor checkups for ongoing care and monitoring. They will need to remove your stitches and your cast, as well as check your wound for infection. During this time, it’s important to take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Recovering from Achilles tendon repair takes a long time, and you may become frustrated or depressed during the recovery period.

Returning to Physical Activities

In most cases, you’ll be able to resume most normal activities within four to six months. However, it’s important to take it slow because it will take time to regain strength in your calf and tendon area. Additionally, you should be realistic because some people never regain their full strength following Achilles tendon repair.

Navigating Potential Setbacks

In addition to being realistic and patient during your recovery, it’s also important to watch out for signs of complications. If your pain doesn’t go away after several weeks or you’re worried that your incision site is infected, you should call your doctor immediately. Other signs of complication and reasons to call your doctor include the following.

• Tingling, numbness, or weakness in your leg
• A dull, throbbing pain that won’t resolve
• Changes in foot color

• Your stitches open
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Excessive bleeding

Summary

While the surgery to repair your Achilles tendon isn’t overly long or invasive, there is a brutal and lengthy recovery period that follows the surgery. During that time, it’s important to be patient, take your recovery slow, keep your foot elevated, and follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.
You may benefit from concierge medical care, where you get caring medical assistance in the comfort of your home. Concierge care can help you keep your wound clean and dry and get you started with light physical therapy exercises. This is a great way to prevent complications and speed up your recovery period.

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