That video is sort of cool. Follow your rehab instructions well. They know what their doing to get you back to full strenght again. I’m fully recovered with my achilles being 99.9% and just a bit of muscle redistribution in my calf.

Louis

Below is a computer animation of the surgery I had done at OrthoCarolinas in Charlotte, NC. They call it PARS surgery and is apparently highly successful to get full tension back in the achilles. I am 40 years old and pretty active at gym 4-5 days a week and run 5-10k’s a few times a year. Hadn’t played basketball in several years and snapped mine during my third game of the night. Same feeling of being kicked in the leg - but not a lot of pain unless I put weight on it. Hopped to the door and drove my self home after it happened. Getting old stinks. I must say I am a bit nervous about putting weight back on the tendon but will do whatever my surgeon tells me in order to fully recover. Too much life left to live! Good luck with your recovery!

http://www.arthrex.com/resources/animation/sjjcVvkEEeCRTQBQVoRHOw/pars-achilles-jig-system

In my case, yes I am happy I did not have the surgery. I started playing squash in December, just 4 months after, and was playing full force 2 months after that. During the summer, I rode my bike every day (skipping squash during that time). Here it is a year and a half later, and you’d be hard pressed to tell that I ever had that injury. I’m actually amazed that it worked out this well for me.

I’m in my 50’s so that had a bearing on my decision. Surgery has higher risks for older people. But I was in good shape and knew I would religously follow my physiotherapy instructions.

Check out the lastest information and studies online and see what you think. They may in some places still tend to recommend surgery for younger athletic types since some feel it may heal stronger and have less chance of rerupture. That’s why I was especially surprised that my doctor (who would have been my surgeon) wasn’t willing to make the decision for me.

Louis