Ruptured achilles tendon

[Alex]

Hey all, I have likely fecked the above tendon. Does anyone know when it would be safe to resume caving? All the literature talks about other sport such as running etc, but not caving. I know I can't go caving with this boot on the NHS has fitted me with, well I assume I can't but has anyone else suffered from this and can give me a timeline, is it 6 months as I have been led to believe, I think I will go insane if I can't cave for that long!?

 

[Jim MacPherson]

When I did mine (40 years ago) I was walking in the Lakes/N.Wales after about three month, not entirely the same as caving, it was OK but quite tiring and I wasn't too keen on leaping across streams etc (primarily caused by the 'what if' syndrome) although I managed on Aonach Eagach after 6 months. The only 'issue' was the calf muscle had lost a bit of definition and has never fully recovered, suspect diligent physio at the time might have dealt with that.

Jim

 

[darkdescender]

I did mine coming off Mull about 7 years ago and not realising how serious drove back to Bury. Wore a pneumatic boot for two to three months then carried on without it. Walking the Dales and Lakes and lightish caving but always being aware not to jump and jar. Did go to an excellent Sports Physio in Clitheroe who I'm convinced really helped to speed up the healing process. Not had any problems since.

 

[Alex]

Have you got the physio contact details, I am not too far from Clitheroe, I assume you went to him after the boot came off?

 

[Steve Clark]

Bit of a shout out for Andy Mcvittie (process physiotherapy). He did an evening talk for our club last year. Climbing-focused but very straight talking and down to earth about getting things fixed.

I think he’s based around boulder uk, SW Preston.

 

[darkdescender]

Alex, it was Denise Park. She is the Accredited Physio to the Fell Runners Association. See her website.
I have no connection. If you want to PM me re what's involved.

 

[topcat]

Here's a tip based on my recovery from a broken leg....... start back with a hard cave with lots of flat out crawls. This is counter- intuitive but makes sense: you don't want to be staggering about 'easy' streamways! Lots of flat out keeps you off the injury.

Don't ask how I know this ....

 

[Alex]

Thanks I will look them up when I can drive again, I may as well stay with the NHS for the first set as it's their boot, I have on

Yes Topcat, I realise I can crawl around my house easily. I can think of a few all crawling cave.

 

[Pitlamp]

To answer your original question; it very much depends. I presume you only have a partial rupture. If it was a complete rupture you would need to have had surgery. Assuming the rupture is partial, again the recovery time depends on the degree of tearing. But whatever, it will not be a quick job. (Tendons are poorly supplied with blood vessels so healing is much slower than muscle injury.) If you don't follow medical advice to the letter you risk greatly extending the recovery time and / or ending up with a permanently weak tendon.

The achilles tendon is arguably one of the most important in the body. It's also the strongest, as it transfers the force from your calf muscle to the calcaneum (heel bone). When you are walking each achilles has to support the full weight of your body briefly every stride; in my case that's around 80 kg. But a caver also needs to carry a rucsack or tacklebag, so add on another, say 20 kg or more.

Do you really want to put 100 kg of tension on a badly injured tendon every single stride before it's properly healed? Even worse; it's perpetual on and off tension. How many reciprocations do you think you'll manage before it fails again, leaving you in an even worse condition?

You really need to think long term with this one. My advice would be to accept that fate has dealt you a bad hand, sack off caving completely for a few months and find something else to absorb yourself with. Besides, just think how keen you'll be when you're ready to explode back onto the caving scene!

 

[hannahb]

Alex I've had really good treatment from NHS physios at musculoskeletal clinics if that's an option for you. In my experience the sooner you are able to get going with physio, the better.

How did you do it? Running?

 

[georgenorth]

Hi Alex,

I’m not a doctor, but I have suffered from my share of bouldering injuries over the years. My advice would be to think carefully about what kind of caving activities you partake in.

Repetitive actions such as pulling drag trays, or carrying heavy tackle sacks are to be studiously avoided, because this will only aggravate your injury and slow down your recovery. With this in mind, stay well away from any sort of long-term digs that look unlikely to go in the next few weeks.

That said, the psychological aspect of recovery is not to be underestimated! The endorphins released by exploring new cave passage will only aid your recovery. Make sure to make yourself available if anything looks ‘practically wide open’ ahead. Never forget your injury though - it’s probably best if you leave your tackle sack at home for such trips.

HTH, George.

 

[Loki]

Sorry to hear about the injury Alex. I think it’s probably one of those times to focus on a different activity for a time. Perhaps one new to you that’s tendon kind but keeps you fit. Physio’s will be well used to runners needing this advice.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Way too early for this, so just putting seeds in the back of your mind for later. There's a concept "so good... we stopped doing it". For example sensitive teeth toothpaste, someone has some mild sensitivity so they use sensodyne (or whatever) after a month or two they don't have sensitive teeth.. it worked. 6 months later or something they run out one day and start using an ordinary toothpaste and never get round to buying sensodyne because they don't have sensitive teeth. A month later the problem returns. The phrase "So good... we stopped doing it" refers to a cycle of doing something for a long time that works so well after some time then person forgets the underlying issue and stops the action leading to return of the original problem.

Commonly due being an injury that has a reputation for recurrence and the lack of being able to get younger (a high risk factor for Achilles injury) or no longer male (another risk factor) most people - follow your physio advice - need to do a little preventative exercises for life. Not much but some stretches and lowering down (negatives) heel dips etc, etc, jokingly called "prehab".

Prehab is definitely one of those "so good... we stopped doing it" things. So when the time comes and you get to the point when you are better but do prehab... Don't stop doing the prehab or it will trouble you again.

First lockdown, lots of hill sprints... Ouch ouch "bother" . Now I have to do prehab. As long as I do prehab all is good, but if I stop: a while later ..

 

[tamarmole]

I ruptured my Achilles new year 2015/2016. My consultant said that I shouldn't go caving again full stop. I was digging after five months and back to SRT in ten. The real key is to do all your physio and keep doing it, can't stress this enough. Take it easy, don't rush it and listen to your body.

 

[Pitlamp]

Look on this as an opportunity to clean and mend all that gear you never quite got round to, read lots of caving journals to identify future projects, write up all the good stuff you've done in recent years for a caving journal or Descent, draw up surveys from data lurking half forgotten somewhere on your PC, enjoy a good break to recharge your psychological batteries, decide on a few items of new caving gear to treat yourself with (to cheer yourself up), etc, etc, etc . . . .

That way, when you do get back in the ring, you'll be mad keen and fully prepared.