Ruptured Achilles

[armchair fan]

I ruptured my Achilles about a fortnight ago - full thickness apparently.

I was leaping like a salmon in a pre-season line out drill when my lifters decided to take a break I came down like a sack of sh*t. Best theory is that my foot got caught in someone's pocket on the way down and my whole weight went though the ankle. There was a rather nasty pop followed by quite a stinging sensation.

I spent a week in a "temporary" cast before being fitted with an orthopedic boot which I'll be wearing for the next two months. When the boot comes off, I'll have physio which might allow me to drive a month later. My consultant cheerfully tells me that I might get 90% of the tendon's previous strength back in a year's time if I heal well and do all the rehab exercises.

The outcomes for surgery apparently would be roughly the same and so would the recovery times.

Bit cr*p all round really. My wife is not best pleased either given that we've got two kids under three and I'm about much use as a chocolate tea pot.

Any advice lads? Anyone been through this and come out the other side without getting divorced? Anyone played rugby again after this?

[Which Tyler]

Plenty can play sport again afterwards; though I've not come across it in a rugby player (more like netball / basketball).
90% in a year sounds about right - targetting 75% in 6 months or so; but you should be able to reach 99.9% in 18 months if you do your rehab properly.
Must admit, I though the surgical option had better rates than that (though I guess you add on more damage in the early stages, so maybe).

As for keeping the wife happy; you can still move around and do stuff; you're just slower - which is frustrating rather than useless. The only thing you're really excused from is driving and bike-rides. As for dealing with wives - they are all unique and slightly crazy, and all need to be handled differently. Chances are she'll forgive you soon enough, but possibly not your sport.

The biggest risk to playing rugby again is going to be wifely permission (or laziness in not doing the rehab / getting out of the habit), rather than necessarily injury.

[armchair fan]

Plenty can play sport again afterwards; though I've not come across it in a rugby player (more like netball / basketball).
90% in a year sounds about right - targetting 75% in 6 months or so; but you should be able to reach 99.9% in 18 months if you do your rehab properly.
Must admit, I though the surgical option had better rates than that (though I guess you add on more damage in the early stages, so maybe).

As for keeping the wife happy; you can still move around and do stuff; you're just slower - which is frustrating rather than useless. The only thing you're really excused from is driving and bike-rides. As for dealing with wives - they are all unique and slightly crazy, and all need to be handled differently. Chances are she'll forgive you soon enough, but possibly not your sport.

The biggest risk to playing rugby again is going to be wifely permission (or laziness in not doing the rehab / getting out of the habit), rather than necessarily injury.

Cheers mate, thanks for that. I think you're right about the permission thing..............

[Lizard]

I remember my dad doing his Achilles playing rugby when I was wee. He would have had 3 kids, possibly 1 old enough for school.

The match was his old high school 1st XV reunion match. It was his last, I suspect largely due to spousal interference.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

I ruptured my Achilles about a fortnight ago - full thickness apparently.

I was leaping like a salmon in a pre-season line out drill when my lifters decided to take a break I came down like a sack of sh*t. Best theory is that my foot got caught in someone's pocket on the way down and my whole weight went though the ankle. There was a rather nasty pop followed by quite a stinging sensation.

I spent a week in a "temporary" cast before being fitted with an orthopedic boot which I'll be wearing for the next two months. When the boot comes off, I'll have physio which might allow me to drive a month later. My consultant cheerfully tells me that I might get 90% of the tendon's previous strength back in a year's time if I heal well and do all the rehab exercises.

The outcomes for surgery apparently would be roughly the same and so would the recovery times.

Bit cr*p all round really. My wife is not best pleased either given that we've got two kids under three and I'm about much use as a chocolate tea pot.

Any advice lads? Anyone been through this and come out the other side without getting divorced? Anyone played rugby again after this?

One of my Colts did it in the last game of last season, he has been very good and done what our physio has told him in his rehab and will resume training in October properly. He has started very light jogging this last week for very short distances(length of a pitch no more) to just check it for twinges etc etc apparently. I must admit Im dubious he will cope with playing before the new year tbh.

[armchair fan]

One of my Colts did it in the last game of last season, he has been very good and done what our physio has told him in his rehab and will resume training in October properly. He has started very light jogging this last week for very short distances(length of a pitch no more) to just check it for twinges etc etc apparently. I must admit Im dubious he will cope with playing before the new year tbh.

The danger of it going again must be quite high, so best to keep him out of it for a while yet I'd have thought. Frustrating, but not as frustrating as it going when rehab's almost over.

Best of luck to him.