Tore my achilles on Sunday, having surgery next Thursday. What are the chances I can ski greens with my kids on spring break if I take the physical therapy seriously? My Dr. seemed optimistic but that seems very aggressive for a timeline to me. Will be the first time 3 of my 4 kids have been skiing so I won't be having to "keep up" as I am a relatively experienced skier and grew up skiing blues and blacks and the occasional double black. So I will be able to take it easy so to speak but skiing is still hell on your legs and I have to think on your achilles as well. Maybe ski boots are designed somewhat similar to a walking boot and give good support to your achilles so maybe it works out, I'm just pretty concerned about re-injuring myself and having to go through this process again.

Also, got my boot today, what does everyone recommend for wearing on my other foot to make walking less awkward (boot makes my left leg about 2 inches longer than my right)?

Sorry to hear that.
Time line will be hard to say but you have 6 months and really my concern would be your quad and hip strength coming back fast enough to be safe skiing. It's not the runs id worry about but the ability to dodge all the yahoos out there.

You could go with a Hoka type shoe or they make these things:
https://www.amazon.com/EVENup-Shoe-Balancer-Leveler-Small/dp/B08FXDNDY2/ref=asc_df_B08FXDNDY2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693659335580&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2435712683697899887&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1026305&hvtargid=pla-1253102598904&psc=1&mcid=ea37f9774f9d36bead67cce10189cd23

Surgical repair date?

I was back in the gym 3 months after my ACL/meniscus surgery but pretty limited in what I could do, with gradual reductions in limitations. An Achilles potentially takes quite a bit more loading running and jumping BUT a ski boot specifically restricts much of that type of movement in the ankle. You do need some strength to flex the boot but range of motion is quite limited. I can see how it might work if you are very dedicated to the physical therapy in recovery.

If you can use machines to keep your upper legs exercised, that will help.

Surgery date is 10/17

ugh. achilles always seems like one that is awful to come back from. Good luck.

MouthBQ98 said:

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An Achilles potentially takes quite a bit more loading running and jumping BUT a ski boot specifically restricts much of that type of movement in the ankle. You do need some strength to flex the boot but range of motion is quite limited. I can see how it might work if you are very dedicated to the physical therapy in recovery.

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This is what I was thinking. It may not feel great at times, but I don't see how you could injure it more. I am just spit balling though. I am sure it will be a game time decision. Can you ski in the late spring?

Trip already booked for spring break

5 month recovery would be very much on the short side. Being in a boot does help your situation with respect to skiing. It's a long recovery and the calf almost never returns to normal size of the other leg.

I'd recommend doing as much working out as you can - one legged stuff. You won't lose as much on the hurt side as you would if you didn't do anything. Workout your upper body, do one legged machine work (eg. leg curls, lifts, leg press, etc.). In this case, machines are your friend.

No advice, just sorry you're going through this!

So I tore mine about two and a half years ago. I think March 2022. I was fairly overweight and trying to get back into playing rec basketball from a fairly sedentary life. Went up for a rebound and pop. Had surgery about a week later, went splint for a bit, then they cut the stitches, then hard cast, then boot.

My biggest recommendation is do everything you possibly can to keep moving. I went from fairly overweight to extremely overweight till I was in the boot and allowed to put weight on it and get out and about. Once PT comes around, hit it hard, do your ankle alphabets, do your toe pointing with a resistance band and start working on that strength and mobility. Once you're allowed in a shoe, start walking and build up the calf muscles again, and then you'll get into eccentric loading, balance, bounding, etc. By the end of it, I was down 50 pounds, and full cleared to return to all activities 7 months post op.

I'd recommend getting some shoes that have a high amount of foam padding on your good leg and adding a heel lift, you can get it off amazon. Odds are you're gonna have some amount of hip unbalance after it's all said and done. I went to a chiro and go that fixed.

Also, disclaimer, not a doctor but the injury for me was kinda a wake up call. Needed to turn my lifestyle around so I took it pretty serious and got the results I wanted. It's gonna be pretty rough the first couple weeks when you start to realize how many things you actually need both legs for.

Edit: If you're into running, or just for general everyday use, buy a pair of brooks ghost when you get back into shoes. They have a very high heel drop compared to most running shoes and keep you from putting your Achilles in compromising positions.