Inspiration: The Road Back (Achilles Recovery)

Video: Kobe Bryant: The Road Back (Achilles Recovery)

Illustration by: Tavo Montañez

SUMMARY: Achilles Tendon Rupture Journey (Surgical Route)

IMPORTANT: Orthopedic Surgeon / Doctor may have a different surgical protocol. The default patient protocol is to follow what doctors recommend as they know all the information of the patient.

Week 14: OFF the Boot (FWB) - Back to Shoes

Week 14 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 103 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 138 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 103: Doctor gave approval to get off the boot and walk with regular shoes. Rehabilitation continues for 10 more weeks. Status will be monitored until return to normal physical activity.

Timeline:

3 months and 12 days: 103 days (from day of surgery)

4 months and 19 days: 138 days (from day of Injury)

Week 13: Pilates Rehabilitation Session

Week 13 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 127 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 92 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 77: 1215pm

Pilates Rehabilitation Session (1st)

Doctor endorsed Pilates rehabilitation program.

Compilation of Pilates Exercises 

Week 12: Walking Up the Stairs WITHOUT Boot

Week 12 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 89 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 124 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 124: Doctor allowed walking up the stairs with no boot.

Week 12: Walking WITHOUT Crutches and Cane (Outside)

Week 12 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 85 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 120 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 120: Walked without the aid of crutches outside. Walker boot still has to be worn. 

Cane or Trekking Pole now optional but recommended to use when walking on uneven terrain.

Week 12: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 12 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 85 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 120 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 85: Stitches & Macerated Skin

Week 11: Therapy - Completed

Week 11 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 83 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 118 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 83: 1034am

12th Session (of 12) of Therapy

Next: Pilates Rehabilitation

Information: Achilles Rupture Recovery Update (NFL Jaelan Phillips)

Jaelan Phillips (NFL Linebacker) Achilles Recovery Update

• Day of Injury: November 25, 2023
• Day of Surgery: November 29, 2023
• Walked without a boot for the first time since surgery: February 8, 2024 (Week 10 on the 72nd day)

Blogger Achilles Recovery Update

• Day of Injury: October 14, 2023
• Day of Surgery: November 18, 2023
• Walked without a boot for the first time since surgery: January 23, 2024 (Week 09 on the 68th day)

Patient Protocol: 

Respect the process. Respect the timeline. Follow your doctor.

Related Post: What an Achilles Rupture Looks Like

Week 11: A Shot for Hope

Week 11 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 78 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 113 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 78: 833am

First Shot in 3 months and 22 days from day injury (Oct 14, 2023)

Love to our cancer warriors, survivors and lost loved ones.

Week 10: Therapy - Compilation Video of Rehabilitation Exercises

Week 10 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 112 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 77 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 77: 832am

11th Session (of 12) of Therapy

Compilation of Rehabilitation Exercises 

Week 10: Driving Allowed (NO Restrictions)

Week 10(Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 77 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 112 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 77: Driving allowed by doctor with no restrictions.

Related Post: When Can I Drive Again?

Week 09: Physical Therapy - Heel Raises 1st Time

Week 09 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 105 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 70 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 70: 906am

9th Session (of 12) of Physical Therapy

1st Time to do heel raises

Walking with no boot

Week 09: Walking WITHOUT Boot (at Home)

Week 09 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 68 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 103 (Day of Injury day tracker)

 

Day 68: Doctor allowed walking without boot at home.

Video shot at clinic (5th visit since surgery)

Week 09: Sleeping WITHOUT a Brace or Boot

Week 09 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 67 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 102 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 67: Doctor allowed sleeping without an ankle brace.

Information: Shoe Leveler Ideas

These shoes and clogs may be an option to the ShoeLift as the soles are 1/2 inch to 2 inches high. 

Benefits of a shoe leveler:

• Adds height to compensate for a shorter limb length when wearing a walking boot, cast or fracture boot.
• Improves uneven gait and balance.
• Eliminates low back pain and hip pain often associated with a walking cast.

Related Post: Purchase: Shoe Leveler

Week 08: Driving Allowed (WITH Ankle Brace)

Week 08 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 60 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 95 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 60: Driving allowed by doctor. Recommended use of ankle brace to protect leg.

Related Post: When Can I Drive Again?

Week 08: Walking Cane or Trekking Pole

Week 08 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 57 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 92 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 57: Doctor allowed use of walking cane or trekking pole instead of crutches. Crutches are essential when climbing the stairs and when outside the house.

Article: Trekking Poles as Alternative to Walking Canes

PWD (Temporary)

Even without a PWD card or PWD car sticker, gracious, kind-hearted and concerned staff and personnel of establishments offered assistance, parking spaces and priority access when they saw the patient in a walker boot and in crutches or walking cane. 

Note: By law and city ordinance, vehicles with issued PWD stickers, IDs or car tags are allowed to park at designated PWD parking spaces. PWD IDs are required to avail of priority access to services.

INFO: BP 344 - Accessibility Law Philippines (1983)

INFO: Republic Act 7277 - Magna Carta of Disabled Persons (1992)

INFO: PWD Philippines: 4 Important Things To Know

Week 07: Walking WITHOUT Crutches (at Home)

Week 07 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 54 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 89 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 54: Doctor allowed walking without the aid of crutches at home. Walker boot still has to be worn. 

Crutches are essential when climbing the stairs and when outside the house.

Week 07: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 07 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 50 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 85 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 50: 219pm Stitches

Week 06: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 06 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 43 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 78 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 43: 1144am Stitches

Week 05: Physical Therapy Start

Week 05 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 42 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 77 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 42: 720am

12 Sessions of Physical Therapy

• 2 Hour Session
• TENS Machine
• First time to walk without crutches (held on guide rails for safety)
• Upright stationary bicycle for cardio

The first step

Purchase: Soft Rubber Crutch Hand Grip

Soft Rubber Crutch Hand Grip 

Replacement for hard plastic on forearm crutches. 

Shopee Online Store Price:

P140 ($3) / pair

Week 05: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 05 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 36 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 71 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 36: 449pm Stitches

Week 04: Sleeping WITHOUT a Boot

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 31 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 66 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 31: Doctor allows removal of walker boot when sleeping. Ankle brace worn to immobilize foot during sleeptime.

Purchase: TENS Machine

TENS Machine 

For home use after hospital rehabilitation. 

Shopee Online Store Price:

P170 ($3)

Purchase: Ankle Protection Braces

Ankle Braces

To be worn when doctor approves sleeping without the walker boot. Ankle brace keeps foot at a generally fixed position.

Amazon Price:

Zamst A2-DX  P3,600 + Free (Shipping US to Manila) = P3,600 ($65)

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Shopee Online Store Price:

Zamst A2-DX  P5,600 ($102)

No Brand Ankle Brace  P260 ($5)

Week 04: ON the Boot (FWB) with Foot in NEUTRAL Position and Return to Court

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 29 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 64 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 29: Full-weight bearing (FWB) on walker boot. Foot has naturally returned to Neutral position after ten (10) days NWB on the boot and after three (3) days FWB on the boot.

Crutches are still essential.

Highlight: Stood at the half-court line and threw up a token shot attempt. Feet did not leave the ground. The ability to FWB and just stand on the half-court line felt good.

Week 04: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 29 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 64 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 29: 641am Stitches

Week 03: ON the Boot (FWB) and TENS Machine

Week 03 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 26 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 61 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 26: Full-weight bearing (FWB) allowed only when wearing walker boot. Without walker boot, non-weight bearing (NWB) is still enforced.

Crutches are essential.

Note: Doctor said that foot will naturally go to neutral position so boot wedges will not be needed. More so that weight will now be applied while in boot.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) Machine used.

Link: TENS Machine Information

Week 03: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 03 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 25 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 60 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 25: 641pm Stitches

Purchase: Shoe Leveler

Procare ShoeLift

Shoe leveler to help offset the additional height from a walking boot and help reduce body strain.

To be worn when doctor approves full weight-bearing (FWB).

Amazon US Price:

Procare ShoeLift  $24.57 + $14.12 (Shipping US to Manila) = $38.57 (P2,300) 

EvenUp Original Shoe Balancer  $38.55 + $14.12 (Shipping US to Manila) = $52.67 (P2,900) 

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Items not available in the Philippines so Amazon US purchase necessary. 

Benefits of a shoe leveler:

• Adds height to compensate for a shorter limb length when wearing a walking boot, cast or fracture boot.
• Improves uneven gait and balance.
• Eliminates low back pain and hip pain often associated with a walking cast.

Related Post: Shoe Leveler Ideas

Week 02: ON the Boot (NWB)

Week 02 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 19 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 54 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 19: Put on the Walker Boot with Non-Weight Bearing (NWB).

Boot can be rested on floor but no weight is put on foot when walking. 

Crutches are essential.

Note: Boot wedges not used as doctor said that the foot will naturally go to neutral position from the plantar flexion (-). 

Week 02: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 02 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 18 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 53 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 18: 634pm Stitches

Week 01: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 01 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 12 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 47 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 12: 941am Stitches

Information: What An Achilles Rupture Looks Like

Jaelan Phillips Achilles Injury

NFL linebacker Jaelan Phillips suffered a torn Achilles on his right leg with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in the Miami Dolphins Week:12 34-13 victory over the New York Jets.

The Kick and Other Symptoms

Although it's possible to have no signs or symptoms with an Achilles tendon rupture, most people have: The feeling of having been kicked in the calf. Pain, possibly severe, and swelling near the heel. An inability to bend the foot downward or "push off' the injured leg when walking. An inability to stand on the toes on the injured leg. A popping or snapping sound when the injury occurs.

The Flat Tire

Standing on the foot immediately after a rupture may cause a person to fall over as the foot has a sensation of having lost all air like a flat tire. 

Source: MAYO CLINIC: Achilles Tendon Rupture

Information: When Can I Drive Again?

When can I drive again following an Achilles rupture?

This depends on the type of car you drive, and which foot has been affected.

If your left foot has been injured, and you drive an automatic car, you are in a better position as your right foot will be doing most of the work. We recommend you wait until around 2-3 weeks post injury. If you have injured your right foot and you drive an automatic, you will need to wait around 8-10 weeks.

If your left foot has been injured and you drive a manual car, you need this to control the clutch and won’t be able to drive for around 8-10 weeks. Additionally, if your right side is injured, you need to be able to do an emergency stop, so it will likely be longer than ten weeks.

It is important to check with your consultant, physiotherapist and/or car insurance company.

Source: Complete Physio: Our Top 5 Tips

Week 00: Weight Bearing Grades (NWB, TDWB & FWB) and Develop a Hobby

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 03 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 38 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 03: No weight bearing but foot can rest on the floor. 

Information on Weight Bearing

Weight Bearing Grades:

• Non-weight bearing (NWB) means the leg should not touch the floor or support any of the body weight.
• The patient uses one leg, and crutches are essential.
• With touchdown weight-bearing (TDWB), the toes of the foot can touch the floor to maintain balance only. At no time should the individual place weight on the leg.
• Full-weight bearing (FWB) means no restriction to weight bearing.

Link: Weight Bearing Information

Tip: Develop a hobby to while away the time as it is safest to stay indoors to protect the injured leg for the next few weeks. Keep yourself busy as non-activity can make your mind wander.