Yes, it is true. On Thur. this week I am having surgery to repair a tendon on the top of my foot, ruptured before IMCDA last year, (which I raced), and having my achilles tendon removed and reattached to lengthen it which will hopefully solve some issues I am having in my feet/ lower legs. Then in the middle of Aug. they will be going in to fix some minuscus damage in my left knee.
Would you have your achilles cut off and reattached if it would make you less prone to injury? My Dr. says it will help with shin splints and help prevent the injury I am suffering from in the first place.
I have been thinking about this one since I found out about it. It will be nice to get back to regular training. I have run only 6 days this past year, because the after effects of a run were just not worth it the next day. My Dr. says that I will lose some speed and power for the first year, then things will come around again. Well, I never had any speed any way.
My boyfriend’s achilles snapped a few years ago while he was playing raquetball. While he felt totally disabled for a while (having to crawl to get upsatirs), he made a full recovery and was able to run the Bay to Breakers 7 months later. No long term ill effects…kj
Do you “need” this surgery? I.e - are you in pain and/or need to have it repaired.
I’m coming off my nearly 2 months w/o running b/c of a torn calf. Things felt good the last couple of weeks, so I’d consider it healed (knock on wood).
However, there was certainly a period of time when I figured it might be permanent situation. I was all ready to ditch the running and become a fulltime cyclist…
With that said…off the cuff I’d say “no”, but I would need more info. (recovery time, success rate, etc)
I can run, but it is not pretty the next day or 2. I have shin splints pretty bad and I am a huge heal striker. Both these things can be improved by the surgery. My achilles does not hurt but the top of the foot does hurt, and reattaching the achilles will help reduce the tension on the tendon on the top of the foot. I am 39 and have been having some troubles with my joints and tendons.
I go into the Dr. Wed. for a consult on the R elbow. I have some popping and clicking with pain and reduced function. He mentioned a surgery to put a grove in the bone where the tendon runs. Some times people don’t have a large enough groove and the tendon slides out and rubs on the bone. If its not one thing it is another.
My goal is to continue doing Ironmans/ triathlons. But the big thing is to keep the job as a firefighter.
It sounds a little unusual. For one thing, usually if you are lengthening an Achilles it is not taken off it’s insertion, but lengthened in the substance (often percutaneously). Maybe that is what they’re doing? It could theoretically help the medial tibial shin pain by decreasing the pull of the soleus, but is a fairly drastic way to do it.
It sounds a little unusual. For one thing, usually if you are lengthening an Achilles it is not taken off it’s insertion, but lengthened in the substance (often percutaneously). Maybe that is what they’re doing? It could theoretically help the medial tibial shin pain by decreasing the pull of the soleus, but is a fairly drastic way to do it.
What tendon is it on the top of your foot?
Deke
That sounds right. They said it was to be lengthened. It will not effect my recover time from the other surgery, just add some pain during recovery. I cannot remember what the name is, but it attaches above the big toe and runs up to the lateral said of the shin just below the knee.
The tendon in the foot will take any where from 6-13 weeks to heal. It will depend on what they find. If is is a simple trim and sew it will be short. If they have to cut the tendon off at the insertion and drill a hole in the bone and pin it from the back side will the bone grows back around it, it will be around 12 weeks. This is not some thing that is done a lot but is very successful. There is always the normal down sides. They could severe a nerve and I could have some numbness. It could not heal well and they would have to do some thing different.
But to be honest, I just want the pain to go away and start swimming and running again. I went to IMCDA this year to watch some friends after racing there last year and I am ready to go at it again. I will take next year to do 2 half IM’s ( sorry I just can’t call them that other thing), and some sprints to get ready for IMCAN, of IMCDA in 2007.
March - sounds like your anterior tibial tendon. You really need some more details. This posterior gastroc recession or achilles lengthening is not often done with the opposite phase muscle tendon repair at the same time. Also, there should be a pretty definite plan from your MRI. If the anterior tibial is ruputured, you will know. Late repairs of this are difficult as it tends to retract up under the extensor retinaculum (dense band on the front part of the ankle - makes a nice goose egg near the front of the ankle). Both of these tendons heal very well usually, but have drastic, long-term biomechanical effects. Unilateral achilles tendon lengthening in ANY runner/triathlete would be very suspect for whatever reason because of the loss of power. Sure, your anterior muscle group would not have to work as hard to overpower your tight posterior muscle group, but some good stretching/PT, etc. almost always solves this. A ruptured and retracted tendon is another thing all together and needs to be repaired pos haste.
More details would be great - I’m also always leary of any patient that can’t name exactly what surgery/procedure is being done to them (no offense - some of my patients can’t either, but I try my damnest to make sure they can). Please tell me you are not having a “Murphy” procedure. Lastly, if the guy/gal is doing the elbow and foot work, I’d also be suspect.
I tore my achilles last year, and the rehab pretty much sucks. Not real cool having to stretch that thing back out. That said, it seems to have healed ok, so if you need to have it done, it may be a workable idea.
My opinion on elective surgery is only as a last resort. I would attempt physio, and lots and lots of drill running / weight work to improve what was wrong with my running gait causing such problems first.
But, if you’ve already done that other stuff, then I guess you oughta get things cut up.
march - if you haven’t tried it already, I would strongly recommend you try some ART treatments first. I had terrible achilles problems and after just a couple of treatments and regular stretching, all was well. Has helped with a number of other problems too. I’ve even got a couple of my co-workers (1 athlete, 1 not) to take the 3 hour drive each way with me for treatment and they are quite pleased. Both who were on their way to surgery.
Also, I was a terrible heel striker, but didn’t need surgery to change to midfoot strike. I suppose it’s possible, but I just can’t imagine the need for surgery to change your running form. But, if your condition is that bad or unusual…??
Best of luck with your decision and which ever route of recovery you choose!