The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body. You use your Achilles tendon to run, walk, jump, and move your foot in every direction. An injury to your Achilles tendon is painful and can be a long healing process to full recovery. A common Achilles injury is Tendonitis, which causes pain and discomfort but no real damage to the tendon. Tendonitis usually gets better on its own after a few weeks of icing and rest. More serious damage to the tendon, such as a rupture, can require a much longer recovery time. Achilles’ tendon surgery is not always necessary and typically only performed as a last resort. Should you need to undergo surgery for your injury, the healing process can be lengthy and may involve rehabilitation. A faster recovery time will depend on the seriousness of your injury and how well you care for yourself post-surgery.
Post-Surgery Incision Care
Achilles’ tendon surgery involves making a small incision in the back of your leg to repair the damaged tendon. After surgery, you should expect your lower leg and ankle to be swollen. You may experience numbness around the incision site on the back of your leg and your ankle and shin may be bruised. Icing and elevating your foot will help to reduce swelling and bruising. If you have a bandage over your incision, be sure to keep it clean and dry to prevent infection. Leave the bandage on until your doctor tells you it’s okay to remove it. If you have a splint or cast, you’ll likely be wearing it for 6-12 weeks after surgery. It’s important to keep your cast clean and dry. Moisture is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that can cause infection. If you don’t take proper care of your cast, your incision could become infected and cause complications in recovery.
Diet and Nutrition
After surgery, you should be able to return to your normal diet. For a faster recovery, stick to a nutritious diet including fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. These foods contain the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to repair itself more quickly. Your body uses these nutrients to rebuild skin tissue, repair tendons, and fight off infection at the incision site. Without proper nutrition, your body is not as efficient at healing itself. Dietary supplements can aid in providing the nutrients you need to heal when a balanced diet isn’t possible. WoundVite is an all-in-one dietary supplement that contains 21 different essential vitamins, minerals, and supplements that are proven to aid in wound healing. WoundVite was formulated by Tampa Bay based veteran pharmacist, Devan Patel, and a group of industry leading wound care physicians. The unique formula is backed by science to provide the best, natural healing benefits to patients recovering from surgery. With adequate nutrition, your body can heal itself faster and more efficiently.
Exercise
Although it generally takes about 4-6 months until you can resume your normal physical activities, rehab exercise is an important step in Achilles’ tendon surgery recovery. Rehab exercises will help you to regain flexibility in your foot. They can also help keep scar tissue from hardening around the tendon. Your doctor will likely refer you to a rehab program 2 weeks post-surgery. By week 4 you may be able to bear weight on your foot and practice walking normally with the help of a physical therapist. Learning how to walk again normally is an important part of your recovery process. But don’t jump the gun and try to do too much, too soon. Listen to your doctor and follow his or her instructions for when you can resume normal activity. You don’t want to risk potentially injuring your foot even more and causing more damage to your Achilles tendon. Be patient and follow your doctor’s orders as instructed.
In Summary
Injuring your Achilles tendon is painful and can sometimes require surgery. Full recovery from Achilles’ tendon surgery can take anywhere from 4 to 6 months, though every surgery is different. You may be able to speed up your recovery time by taking proper care of your injury and feeding your body the nutrients it needs to repair itself. Dietary supplements can be taken to speed up wound healing as well. Rehabilitation exercises may be key to normal foot function post-surgery and should be done according to your doctor’s orders. With time, patience, rest, and a little bit of self-care, you can make the healing process much easier after your Achilles tendon surgery.
Devan Patel 