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.

Purchase: U Shape Sponge Leg Elevation Pillow

U Shape Sponge Leg Elevation Pillow

Provides substantial elevated leg support for injured leg.

Shopee Online Store Price:

P270 ($5)

Week 00: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 02 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 37 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 02: 1154am Stitches

Week 00: Post-Surgery Toe Movement

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 02 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 37 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 02: 851am Slight toe movement at approximately 23 hours after nerve block.

No feeling yet on leg. No pain.

Day 36: Surgery Day

Pre-Surgery Hand Preparation

Post-Surgery Images

Day 35: Burn / Skin Maceration Healed for Surgery

• Burn / Plastic Surgeon gives go-signal for surgery as foot has healed satisfactorily for Achilles tendon repair surgery.
• Nine (9) days healing from start of burn treatment
• Surgery scheduled for next day, November 18

Purchase: Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot & Walker Boot Options

Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot (2nd Hand)

Carousell Online Marketplace Price:

P2,300 (Used) ($42)

Shopee Online Store Philippine Price:

Thuasne XLR8 (Brand New) $143 + $3 (Local Shipping) = $146 (P8,000)

Walker Boot Options:

Thuasne XLR8 (France)

Aircast AirSelect Walker (USA)

Ossousi TRB-430 (China)

Amazon US Price:

Aircast (Standard) $83 + $32 (Shipping US to Manila) = $114 (P6,500) 

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Shopee Online Store Philippine Price:

Thuasne XLR8 (Brand New) $143 + $3 (Local Shipping) = $146 (P8,000)

Ossousi TRB-430 (Brand New) = $40 (P2,200)

Information: Cast Alternative Method

Read More: Cast 21

Information: Boot (Functional Bracing) or Cast for Achilles Tendon Rupture

Report: Plaster Cast vs Functional Bracing for Achilles Tendon Rupture 

Day 31: Orthopedic Doctor Shift - Surgery Recommendation and Decision

• Consulted a different orthopedic surgeon / sports medicine doctor
• Ultrasound confirms 2.55cm gap after 31 days from injury
• Initial decision to go non-surgical is still an option but foot cast is needed to put foot in equinus position.
• Foot cast is no longer an option as macerated skin needs to heal
• Routine surgery option is good for 6 to 8 weeks from day of injury otherwise the surgery will now be reconstructive (good tendon harvested and scarring removed).
• Non-surgery at this point will still make tendon healing possible at 85-90%
• Surgery timeline recommended till the end of the month, November 30
• Patient decided for surgery as soon as possible dependent on healing of macerated skin in foot
• Go signal needed from burn / plastic surgeon before achilles repair will proceed.

Purchase: Shower Chair

Shower Chair

Shopee Online Store Price:

P1,500 ($27)

Day 28: Sleeping WITH a Boot

• To protect the injured leg
• Aircast boot lent by a friend

Purchase: Thuasne Wedge Kit / Walker Boots Options

Thuasne Wedge Kit

Shopee Online Store Price:

P2,100 ($38)

Description: 

• Helps maintain the foot in a comfortable plantar flexion when on a a walker boot.
• Offloads the Achilles tendon during rehabilitation along with the use of the Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot.
• Has a 5-level height adjustment that can easily be adjusted anytime.
• Compatible with both the short and long versions of the Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot and other walker boots.

Day 28: Burn / Skin Maceration Healing Progress

• Treatment working as blackened layer of skin is being removed
• Four (4) days since removal of cast

Day 25: Burn / Plastic Surgeon Vist

• Foot Status: 937am  (November 7, 2023)
• 24 hours after cast removal
• Burn / Plastic surgeon needed to assess damage to the skin. The black skin needs to be removed with treatment to determine extend of damage that may necessitate skin grafting. Timeline is two weeks.

Day 24: Burn / Skin Maceration

• Foot 'burn' confirmed
• After cast removal (10 days in a cast)
• Doctor theorized "excessive sweating" as cause of maceration*
• Doctor baffled why skin blackened. Normally, macerated skin will appear whiter than usual.
• Doctor recommended for patient to see a burn / plastic surgeon for diagnosis

*Maceration - is the process of skin softening and breaking down due to prolonged contact with moisture that is usually not present on the skin. Skin maceration can be caused by many types of moisture, such as water, sweat, urine, or the fluids escaping from an open wound.

Day 24: 3rd Visit to Orthopedic Surgeon: Removal of Cast

• Narrated pain and slight fever.
• Requested for re-casting.
• Doctor puzzled by occurrence of pain as extra padding was put.
• Doctor agreed to remove cast for replacement.

Purchase: Waterproof Protector for Shower

Waterproof Protector for Shower

Shopee Online Store Price:

P390 ($7)

Day 20: First Time to Go Out

Full weight-bearing on injured right leg (cast with heel) recommended by doctor.