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achilles tendon strain?

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
ok, ok, i know, the ridemonkey is no place to look for medical advice, but i've done some online research and it really isn't helping me out.

on monday i finally started getting back to the gym to get my lazy ass back into shape. i think at some point during the workout i did something to my left achilles tendon because right now it is slightly swollen in a small spot and i get a sharp, shooting pain from time to time when i put pressure on my toes when walking, snowboarding, or climbing. i didn't stretch enough (yes, big mistake) so i know why it happened.

everything i've read online tells me that it's either tendonitis or a tear. tendonitis is from overworking it over a longer period of time, this happened in a day. but if it's a tear then everything says that i should be in tons of pain when i'm walking and i shouldn't put any pressure on it at all. when walking, i only notice it when i'm wearing shoes that have very little arch support or if i've been walking for a while. it did start to bother me today snowboarding after a couple runs and got worse until we stopped for the day and i did notice a little pain when climbing not too long ago.

if anyone has had an injury like this, i'm just wondering if this is something that needs to be checked out by a professional or if i can manage it on my own. i'd rather not head down to the campus medical center for something that seems to not be very serious, not to mention i don't even know where it is.

flame away...
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
i'd like to clarify that i'm not looking for a diagnosis so much as i am looking for advice on recovery and future prevention(like what are good stretches).
 

douglas

Chocolate Milk Doug
May 15, 2002
9,887
6
Shut up and Ride
my doc told me no running, basketball, football, volleyball, diving (it was summer so no mention of snow sports) until it stopped hurting. good news was biking was ok. start doing some stretches/exercises you should find them online. One thing that happened to me is that calf started having issues, maybe from extra work or just the instability of the Achilles? oh, and mine happened April of 06 and still bothers me.

ps: if you don't take it easy and it tears you are seriously f'ed.
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
i'm definitely going to be careful with it, but i'm thinking it is at most a very small tear. i haven't felt the pain all the time even when pressure is being put on the tendon and when i do feel pain it isn't debilitating.

i'll probably end up going to get it checked out when i go home for spring break in a little over a week.
 

tacklespore

Monkey
Feb 3, 2008
102
0
Texas
Motrin 800 mg 3 times a day or Naproxen 500 mg twice a day. You can buy both at Wal-mart. Don't exeed those dosing or take with other anti inflammatories. Taking with Tylenol is safe, 1-2 325 mg tablets every 4-6 hours. Limit activity over the next week. Stretch 2 to 3 times a day. Ice midday and before you go to bed for the next 72 hours. Then nightly for the next week.

Thompson Test: lay or in your case sit on the floor and allow your legs to rest flat on the ground. Try to find someone other than yourself to squeeze your calf. If your achilles is torn your foot will not plantar flex (toes point down).

Some patients have tears of the achilles (gastroc tendon) and are still able to stand on their toes because of the soleus. This is the muscle on the side of your lower leg. The test above isolates the achilles.

Also if you can feel a gap or step off when you run your fingers down your achilles you have a tear.

A lot of General/ Family/ Occupational/ physicians misdiagnos these.

Any of the above go see an Ortho Dr.

If it is tendonitis the above treatment will work too
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
thanks for the info everyone.

i think i'm going to see a professional about this, definitely sounds like something i don't want to be wrong about. i went out and got some aleve today, so i think i'm ok on the anti-inflammatory. now just to play it safe until i see a doctor.
 

SilentJ

trail builder
Jun 17, 2002
1,312
0
Calgary AB
I used to get the odd flare up of achilles pain. Its onset was usually sudden as you've described and then it lasted forever. Docs, nor PT seemed to help and then somewhere along the way I read or someone told me to do lots of negative reps on that calf. Takes twice as long to do calves in the gym, but I haven't had trouble since I've started doing that. I find walking down stairs helps it as well (though it hurts my knee :rolleyes: ). Something to try once you're healed up, anyways.
 

hooples3

Fuggetaboutit!
Mar 14, 2005
5,245
0
Brooklyn
they make a brace that looks like a ski boot.. a big plastic one with velcro that fits on your foot/shin while you sleep. it holds your foot at a 90 deg angle. and therefore stretches the Achilles nicely and slowly for hours. I had a bad achilles at one point. it was hard as a rock to the touch and would hurt like hell after playing ball.. that brace definately saved me from a tear
 

valve bouncer

Master Dildoist
Feb 11, 2002
7,843
114
Japan
Motrin 800 mg 3 times a day or Naproxen 500 mg twice a day. You can buy both at Wal-mart. Don't exeed those dosing or take with other anti inflammatories. Taking with Tylenol is safe, 1-2 325 mg tablets every 4-6 hours. Limit activity over the next week. Stretch 2 to 3 times a day. Ice midday and before you go to bed for the next 72 hours. Then nightly for the next week.

Thompson Test: lay or in your case sit on the floor and allow your legs to rest flat on the ground. Try to find someone other than yourself to squeeze your calf. If your achilles is torn your foot will not plantar flex (toes point down).

Some patients have tears of the achilles (gastroc tendon) and are still able to stand on their toes because of the soleus. This is the muscle on the side of your lower leg. The test above isolates the achilles.

Also if you can feel a gap or step off when you run your fingers down your achilles you have a tear.

A lot of General/ Family/ Occupational/ physicians misdiagnos these.

Any of the above go see an Ortho Dr.

If it is tendonitis the above treatment will work too
This just won't cut it in the lounge as it seems you know what you're talking about. Rumour, innuendo, speculation and the pretense to knowledge are the currency around here "doc" and you'd do well to remember it.:twitch::monkeydance:
 

I Are Baboon

The Full Dopey
Aug 6, 2001
32,383
9,289
MTB New England
I think if it was tear you'd be unable to walk. Not that I've ever torn mine, but I've watched enough sports to see that when someone tears their achilles, they are in a whole lot of pain and are unable to walk.
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
got an appointment at the student medical center tomorrow. depending on what they say i may also head down to a rehab place downtown that sponsors the cycling team, so i can get a free consultation.
 

skinny mike

Turbo Monkey
Jan 24, 2005
6,415
0
so it is most likely achilles tendonitis according to the doctor at the student medical center, but she suggested that i go see a specialist while i'm home over break just in case.
 

valve bouncer

Master Dildoist
Feb 11, 2002
7,843
114
Japan
so it is most likely achilles tendonitis according to the doctor at the student medical center, but she suggested that i go see a specialist while i'm home over break just in case.
Is that code for foot cancer? Get a second opinion mate before you buy a wig. Just a heads up.