[Jlomb436]

So here's my situation, thank you for reading this ridiculous novel.

I've pretty active. I play softball, enjoying hiking, biking, jogging, gym, etc. So in late December, I thought I had strained or pulled a small muscle in my leg while playing softball, but it wasn't painful. I tried to strecth out what I thought was a muscle, but nothing seemed to work. So i played as normal.

Come 45 days later, I started noticing pain in my heel and achilles area while playing basketball. It was minor pain, but notcible, as it's really something I haven't experiened before. I went to the doc, didn't tell me what it was, but sent me to physical therapy. Guy there said that it's most likely achilles tendonitss, and proceeded to give me 4 weeks of therapy. Gave me exercises, ultra sound, and massages.

I did that, and a few weeks after, even did the exercises on my own. However, the pain seemed to worsen. Went back to the doc, and he gave me a anti-inflammatory cream, and I applied that for 4 weeks. Still getting worse.

Now, it's been 5 months now, I walk differently now to avoid excessive use of my heel, and have a small lump that I noticed recently only when i put my leg in a certain position. I'm going to ask my doc if a MRI is ness, and if a heel inplant for a shoe would help.

Anyone have any advice? I feel like my doc cares less about my injury, but I almost NEVER go to the doc unless I have a "real" issue. This is 5 months, and I cannot exercise, hike, do anything physical. It's driving me insane. Im going to ask for a referral to a specialist, but curious if anyones ever encountered this before. I know the achilles takes long to heal, but at this point it seems I'm making it worse...

[CollinsE90]

i would recommend a doctor over here on the east coast that is the one of the best ortho docs in the business, but you are on the west coast...but with my athletic past, i think your docs did what needs to be done first to cancel any other possabilities, most strains can be fixed with theropy and anti-inflamatory meds, but it sounds like yours is a little more serious, if you are willing to come over to the east coast ill tell you the doc if ya want

[Alexander]

You definitely should do an MRI, it can't hurt. Also ask about using dye.

[Jlomb436]

Originally Posted by Aonarch

You definitely should do an MRI, it can't hurt. Also ask about using dye.

As in the dye that's injected in you to getter a better image scan of the tendon/muscle? Sorry, I'm a wizard with numbers, not words!

Probably not gonna head over to the east coast to get it looked at, but thank you for the offer. It's beyond frustrating though.

[JayKay335i]

I suggest you find another doctor. Particularly one who specializes in sports injuries as they will be the most versed in injuries of that area.

[stimpy]

I'd start with going to a different doctor.

[CollinsE90]

http://www.onsmd.com/Paul-M-Sethi-MD/

he was the la dodgers and lakers ortho consultant, achilles isnt a tendon you want hurt man, that could be a life altering injury...id go to a real doc lke the one above

[JayKay335i]

The problem with an injury to your achilles is that its constantly pulled taught and keeps some of your calf muscles from shooting back up into your leg. Hard and long injury to heal.

[aus]

It sounds like the achilles and since you have the bump, it may be a partial tear. You need an MRI and to see an ortho doc. Since it's been so long, you'll probably need a boot to help relieve the tension on the achilles. You could also try some heal risers to help take the tension off the achilles without the boot.
Bottom line is, if it is the achilles, you need to rest it... for a LONG time. It sucks. A guy on my basketball team partially tore his 5 years ago and started playing again, but re-injured it again. Getting old sucks.

[ben14142001]

I have lots of experience with this, as I've messed up my achilles multiple times and am in med school/ have physicians for parents. It's always useful to get an MRI, you definitely do not need any dye involved with that, that is mainly used for joints, or places that the picture may not be especially clear. Your original doc was incorrect in what you do for it. Basically, as previously stated above, the achilles basically attaches all of your calf muscles to your foot. So, whenever you actively use your calf muscles (all the damn time) you are stressing your achilles. You do not want to stretch it or do PT, it just needs to rest. Tendonitis is a tricky thing. My worst times I've gotten tendonitis in it, I was on crutches for a couple weeks, and taking lots of Advil. You basically need to rest, ice, and take anti-inflammatories. Again, an MRI never hurts to confirm the diagnosis (I had mine MRI'd).
Basically, the more you use it/ move it, the more you're going to piss it off and the worse it's going to get.

[Jlomb436]

Originally Posted by aus

It sounds like the achilles and since you have the bump, it may be a partial tear. You need an MRI and to see an ortho doc. Since it's been so long, you'll probably need a boot to help relieve the tension on the achilles. You could also try some heal risers to help take the tension off the achilles without the boot.
Bottom line is, if it is the achilles, you need to rest it... for a LONG time. It sucks. A guy on my basketball team partially tore his 5 years ago and started playing again, but re-injured it again. Getting old sucks.

This scared the hell out of me. My biggest fear is that I'm damaging it and it will tear. I think regardless, no matter how long time passes I'm going to ALWAYS have this in the back of my head when I'm exercising. This will suck.

I'll ask my doc to refer me to a specialist, damn HMO's. The bump did scare me, as I thought I destroyed muscle or it's a partial tear. And it's funny you mentioned my calf. No doctor ever mentioned the calf, and sometimes my calf will hurt at the bottom of the calf. I'm not sure how I did this guys, and from the sounds like it, the 5 months I've been out is only the beginning...

[JayKay335i]

Your calf shouldn't necessarily hurt due to the tendon beginning to rip. It may be due to you trying to avoid putting pressure on the portion that actually does hurt. Anywho, yes, specialists, immobilization, less use, etc.

[xraymd]

Dude, you tried conservative therapy and, if anything, you're worse.

You need an MRI.

No IV contrast (dye) for an Achilles.

[turb0]

woops

[Peanuto]

Originally Posted by Aonarch

You definitely should do an MRI, it can't hurt. Also ask about using dye.

Dye is for bone scans. Had many done. Wouldn't help with achilles. I currently have a class 3 high ankle sprain which also affected my achilles. Was in boot for 3 weeks, and am in an aircast for the foreseeable future. Fucking sucks.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by Peanuto

Dye is for bone scans. Had many done. Wouldn't help with achilles. I currently have a class 3 high ankle sprain which also affected my achilles. Was in boot for 3 weeks, and am in an aircast for the foreseeable future. Fucking sucks.

At least you have spankwire.

[Peanuto]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

At least you have spankwire.

I am terrified to ask. What the fuck is spankwire?

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by Peanuto

I am terrified to ask. What the fuck is spankwire?

You havent experienced the internet yet my friend.

Add a .com to the end.

[Peanuto]

[Seminole]

My dad ripped both his Achilles when I was back in middle school. I've never seen someone in so much pain. He went to the team surgeon for the Dolphins and they did great job fixing him up.

[Jlomb436]

Hey folks. Doc is gonna referr me to an ortho. However, he's sending me over to get an x-ray not an MRI, so i'm not sure how much that is going to help. As soon as I get to the ortho I'm going to ask if a MRI is necessary and that at this stage i'd prefer one.

[JayKay335i]

$$. Pass on the x-ray. Go to the ortho.