Martha Stewart Says Her Achilles Tendon Injury Required A 3-Hour Surgery

Jul 02, 2021 by apost team

If her social media updates are any indication, cooking and homemaking guru Martha Stewart seemed to be having a great summer full of plenty of sun, margaritas and quality time with her grandchildren. That is, until Stewart ruptured her Achilles tendon. In a July 1 Instagram post, Stewart took to the social media platform to let her more than 1.4 million followers know that she had badly injured herself after accidentally stepping into a hole while getting out of the car.

The television star explained that while she tried to get the ruptured tendon to heal on its own, she eventually had to visit Dr. John Kennedy at New York University’s Langone hospital to undergo a three-hour surgery that would repair the damage.

Beyond her successful television career, which includes the VH1 show “Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party,” Stewart has accumulated a large following on social media, where she posts life updates, family photos and selfies.

In July 2020, the 79-year-old star posted a pool selfie that went viral on Instagram with over 200,000 likes and hundreds of replies commenting on Stewart’s beauty. People Magazine even interviewed Stewart about the photo, cementing her status as an unlikely social media influencer.

Stewart, a self-made billionaire, got her start in 1982 with the book “Entertaining,” which sold over 600,000 copies. Since then, she has built a media empire, publishing countless cookbooks, starting her own magazine and becoming a television icon. Today, she’s known as one of America’s most prominent media moguls and TV cooking personalities.

Even at 79, Stewart still lives a busy life as her Instagram account shows. Unfortunately, however, she’s going to have to slow down after suffering an injury this summer.

“Not the prettiest photo nor the happiest back story. Bad timing all around. Ruptured my Achilles’ tendon a while ago. Tried to get it to heal on its own to no avail,” Stewart wrote on July 1. “The great @drjohnkennedy @nyulangone performed a three hour operation yesterday to repair the damage. Recuperating at home I have been ordered to lay still with leg elevated for two weeks. After that another two to four weeks of crutches. Then maybe some more normal activity. Most such ruptures occur when dancing or playing sports. Mine was caused by a surprise step into a hole in the dark getting out of the car. Thank you NYU for attempting to make me whole again.”

Stewart’s post, which depicts her leg wrapped in bandages, has since received an outpouring of support from fans, friends and fellow celebrities.

“Glad to hear you are on your way to a full recovery !!! Lots of love from your favorite fake doctor ❤️,” Ellen Pompeo of “Grey’s Anatomy” commented.

“oh my dear!!! so sorry for that ! get well soon,” celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian wrote.

According to Mayo Clinic, most people rupture their Achilles tendon while playing sports, though it can happen to anyone.

“If your Achilles tendon ruptures, you might hear a pop, followed by an immediate sharp pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg that is likely to affect your ability to walk properly,” Mayo Clinic explains.

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“Surgery is often performed to repair the rupture. For many people, however, nonsurgical treatment works just as well.”

Luckily, the University of Michigan’s Health website reports that most people — around 80 out of 100 — are able to eventually return to all the normal activities that they were able to do before the injury. The recovery period can last as long as six months, however.

A day after Stewart’s initial post, the 79-year-old celebrity chef posted a photo of herself relaxing on a heated mat — part of the star’s recovery regime.

“It is a full size heating mat with fine restorative qualities. Perfect for tired, wounded , recovering or ill patients,” Stewart wrote. “The mat heats to 158 degrees Check it out!!!!”

Stewart’s most recent project is a new Discovery+ series titled “Martha Gets Down and Dirty.” The show, which premiered the same day that Stewart announced her injury, teaches viewers and special guests like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian how to garden with her 150-acre Bedford, New York farm as the backdrop.

"I've lived on this farm for almost 20 years — don't let the manicured lawns and picture-perfect gardens fool you — there's always SO much to do," Stewart says in a press release, according to People. "I'm going to take you behind-the-scenes as I get my hands dirty around my property, as well as help my celebrity friends and surprise some unsuspecting callers."

Given Stewart’s busy schedule and gardening talents, we’re hoping for an especially swift recovery for the star. Get well soon, Martha!

Have you ever injured your Achilles tendon? And what do you think about Stewart’s social media presence? Let us know, and pass this article on to friends and family members.