Andrew, here’s my break down. About fifteen years ago I landed awkwardly after a drop with only the very end of my foot on the peddle. Snap! Complete rupture. Like yourself I had to find my way down the hill and that sucked a lot.
Now complete rupture meant immediate surgery. I spent two weeks in a proper cast with my foot stretched right out as to take all the pressure off the tendon. Then I spent the next six weeks in an air cast. The boot had an insole that was made of many layers. Every 4-5 days I pulled a layer off to put tension on the tendon to start stretching it. After the boot I moved to a shoe with a wedge in it. Rehab included a lot of pool time and stretching. She recommended the stationary bike, and a fair bit of time on the treadmill (flat grade). In three months I was able to go back to work, placing and finishing concrete. Here’s the worst part, first week my surgeon instructed me to only work 4 hr days not so much to protect it but kind of abuse it a bit, get it fully stretched out. It Fucking hurt like crazy. First couple weeks were complete hell. Keep telling yourself it’s good pain, if there is such a thing. Long story short, I was off the bike for about five months.
Oh ya, even with strength training my right calf is still significantly smaller than my left.
Might want to start out fully suspended. 😂
Jan. 24, 2022, 3:48 p.m. - flatch
Andrew, here’s my break down. About fifteen years ago I landed awkwardly after a drop with only the very end of my foot on the peddle. Snap! Complete rupture. Like yourself I had to find my way down the hill and that sucked a lot. Now complete rupture meant immediate surgery. I spent two weeks in a proper cast with my foot stretched right out as to take all the pressure off the tendon. Then I spent the next six weeks in an air cast. The boot had an insole that was made of many layers. Every 4-5 days I pulled a layer off to put tension on the tendon to start stretching it. After the boot I moved to a shoe with a wedge in it. Rehab included a lot of pool time and stretching. She recommended the stationary bike, and a fair bit of time on the treadmill (flat grade). In three months I was able to go back to work, placing and finishing concrete. Here’s the worst part, first week my surgeon instructed me to only work 4 hr days not so much to protect it but kind of abuse it a bit, get it fully stretched out. It Fucking hurt like crazy. First couple weeks were complete hell. Keep telling yourself it’s good pain, if there is such a thing. Long story short, I was off the bike for about five months. Oh ya, even with strength training my right calf is still significantly smaller than my left. Might want to start out fully suspended. 😂