Aftercare for Achilles Tendon Surgery

If you will be undergoing Achilles tendon repair surgery in the city of Houston, then you have reached the right place to learn about aftercare tips. This post lists the detailed guidelines that will help you recover after the Achilles tendon surgery. You will get to know what to expect in terms of healing and getting back to normal and how long a full recovery would take.

Immediately After the Surgery

After the Achilles tendon repair surgery in Houston, you will have a soft cast that runs from your knee to your toes in order to keep the foot in the appointed position. You will use a knee scooter, crutches, or a walker for the next few weeks. Make sure that you do not put any weight on the treated leg. You will have some notable pain in the first few days. You will have to elevate the affected leg as much as possible and also apply ice behind your knee.

Cast Removal

After the cast is removed, any and all sutures will be removed if your healing is progressing. This will be done in about three weeks, and you will be given a walking boot including a heel lift to prop your foot and ankle into the right position. You may have to take crutches anytime you need to bear weight on your foot and may start mild rehabilitation exercises.

Physical therapy

You need to continue with the rehabilitation exercises and become more aggressive with them after about one month of the surgery. You will still be wearing a walking foot, but the heel lifts will be adjusted to put your foot in a more neutral position. You will need to start exercises that promote ankle mobility and help strengthen your calf muscles. Physical therapy can also help you learn to walk properly with the boot.

After 6-8 Weeks of Surgery

6-8 weeks post-surgery, your rehab appointments will slow down, and you will be able to stand for a few seconds at a time. You may also not require the boot and start to introduce more activities. However, you still need to avoid high-impact activities or exercises. But you can go swimming or ride a bike. The doctor may recommend techniques and therapies that can speed up recovery and also help with the pain and swelling of the Achilles.

Your doctor may also recommend exercises like straight leg raises, straight-legged bridges, side-lying hip abduction, light active dorsiflexion of the ankle, proprioception exercises, and intrinsic muscle strengthening. You can slowly increase the intensity and ranges of Achilles’ isometrics.

Complete Recovery

You will be able to return to full activity after about 4-6 months. However, you should still be cautious as complete recovery is not experienced until a year after the surgery. Moreover, some people never get their strength and full function back to 100% prior to the injury.

To Conclude

So, if you have a degeneration of the soft tissue or injury to your Achilles tendon, it will require surgery. You can look for a trusted team of experts to repair the damage. The best foot surgeon will walk you through the entire postsurgical process and even give you comprehensive instructions about your successful recovery.

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