Just How Much Mindset Matters in Injury Recovery
Recovering from an Achilles Tear: A Physical Therapist’s Perspective in Portland, Maine
Last month I tore my Achilles tendon.
As a physical therapist in Portland, Maine, I help people navigate injury recovery every day. Now I’m living it myself.
This is not my first major injury. In 2016 I tore my ACL playing soccer while living in Boston. I was in physical therapy school. I had few responsibilities. Rehab felt inconvenient, but manageable.
This time is different.
I am a father. A husband. A business owner. My days are already full. Recovering from Achilles tendon surgery adds a new layer of challenge that is physical, logistical, and mental.
The Reality of Achilles Tendon Repair Recovery
I had my Achilles tendon surgically repaired two weeks ago. I have been non weight bearing and recently transitioned into the next phase of protection.
You can see what that early phase looks like here at my two week post op visit:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pOy4ZWTH-5A
The injury is acute. The limitations are immediate.
What most people do not see about early Achilles tendon repair recovery is how disruptive it is to normal life.
Basic tasks take longer.
Showering requires planning.
Carrying coffee across the room becomes strategy.
You do not move on autopilot anymore. You think through every step.
This is true for many patients going through physical therapy after Achilles surgery. The early phase is restrictive. Progress is not measured in strength yet. It is measured in patience.
The Mental Side of Post Surgery Rehab
Injury recovery is not just physical.
I say that often to patients. Now I feel it.
When you suddenly lose independence, even temporarily, it challenges your identity. Especially if you are an athlete or someone who values movement.
In the early phase of Achilles injury recovery, you can feel:
Frustrated
Restless
Behind
As a PT, I know healing happens in phases. But knowing and experiencing are different things.
The thought I keep returning to is simple.
This is not permanent.
That reminder matters when mobility is limited and the days feel long.
Why Mindset Matters Early After Achilles Surgery
In the acute phase, mindset does not replace rehab. But it shapes how you move through it.
Right now, mindset helps me:
Respect restrictions instead of fighting them
Focus on what I can do instead of what I cannot
Stay patient during a phase with minimal visible progress
This is the same challenge I see in runners, athletes, and active adults here in Portland, Maine. Early rehab can feel slow and unglamorous. But it builds the foundation for everything that follows.
What This Injury Is Reinforcing as a Physical Therapist
Going through Achilles tendon repair recovery in real time reinforces something I emphasize at Engine Room Performance Physical Therapy.
Rehab starts before the first strengthening exercise.
It starts with:
Managing expectations
Acknowledging frustration
Understanding timelines
Building confidence early
The early phase of post surgery rehab is uncomfortable. It is slow. It requires discipline without immediate reward.
It is also necessary.
If You Are Recovering from an Achilles Injury in Portland, Maine
If you are early after Achilles surgery and feeling stuck, you are not failing.
You are healing.
Recovery is not just about getting back to where you were. It is about moving forward with confidence, strength, and resilience.
If you are looking for one on one physical therapy for Achilles tendon repair recovery in Portland, Maine, I would be happy to help.
Book a discovery call and let’s build a plan that gets you back to what you love.
You are not alone in this.
And this phase is temporary.
