Author Topic: Torn gastrocnemius, not ruptured Achilles tendon (Read 16996 times)

Wowbagger · « **on:** 19 August, 2014, 01:21:17 pm »

That, according to the doc, is what I did yesterday. He's referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon with the word "URGENT" appended to the note, but told me there was a good chance that I would be healed before I saw anyone.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/achilles-tendon-rupture says 6 to 8 weeks for a recovery. This is a monumental pain in the arse, or, more precisely, about 30 inches below it.

hellymedic · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 August, 2014, 01:28:50 pm »

Heal well and fast; get sorted soonest!
This is the sort of problem that needs to be fixed PDQ.
I'm afraid it's a long business.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 August, 2014, 01:32:08 pm »

It would appear that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have a higher incidence of this than do the world at large. So do people on cortiscosteroids It wasn't clear from the website I looked at whether that RA is the cause, or that the two sets do tend to have quite a large subset. I have had steroid injections for my arthritis, but not for quite a few years.

hellymedic · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 August, 2014, 01:42:17 pm »

It also occurs more in the over 35s.

mcshroom · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 August, 2014, 02:38:40 pm »

Sorry to hear that Wow. Hope it heels up quickly

Wowbagger · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 August, 2014, 02:46:06 pm »

How humerus!

hellymedic · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 August, 2014, 02:49:40 pm »

He cracked up over that but they've nailed it...

andrewc · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 August, 2014, 05:08:07 pm »

Ouch! GWS Wow.

cycleman · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 August, 2014, 09:25:51 pm »

Gws wowbagger

Psychler · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 August, 2014, 09:52:00 pm »

Get well soon!

TimC · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 August, 2014, 10:20:25 pm »

Sounds nasty, Wowsa. Hope it heals without surgery and that you're back on the bike without losing too much of your race fitness!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 August, 2014, 10:58:14 pm »

The doctor asked me if I had been involved in a race.

barakta · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 August, 2014, 12:39:57 am »

Ouch, hugest sympathies and I am sorry we won't be able to see you this weekend but no matter what the tempting people say I think you have made the right decision given the newness of your injury and that camping is physically a lot more demanding than usual life...

Lady Cavendish · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 August, 2014, 01:57:18 pm »

Ouch. Hope its not hideously painful.

It seems strange that they've just sort of sent you away though.... Don't they either normally plaster it, or surgically repair it, not just leave it?! Surely it can't take 6-8 weeks to see a surgeon, or can it?! I snapped mine years ago and was sorted out the same day. Surgical repair then put in plaster.

Kim · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 August, 2014, 02:07:00 pm »

I suspect that's the difference between being triaged as "athlete" vs "old fogey", combined with the usual NHS random luck factor.

Domestique · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 August, 2014, 02:07:49 pm »

When I did mine some 25 years ago now, I was told to rest it on a bag of frozen peas twice a day.
Hope you recover well.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 August, 2014, 02:18:06 pm »

I'm wondering about the diagnosis. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/achilles-tendon-rupture refers.

shows where the Achilles tendon is placed, and according to that diagram the calf muscle starts just above the ankle. My pain is from considerably higher up - from two or three inches above the ankle and up to the point where the calf muscle swelling begins.

From the same website:

Quote

There are two options for treatment. One option is an operation to repair the tendon surgically. The surgeon sews together the torn ends of the Achilles tendon, and perhaps may also use another tendon or a tendon graft to help with the repair. A plaster cast or brace (orthosis) is needed after the operation.

The other option is to allow time for the tendon to heal naturally, resting it in a brace or plaster cast. This is called conservative treatment. If the tendon does not heal on its own, a surgical repair can then be done later.

Both options will involve having a plaster cast or brace for about eight weeks, to protect the tendon while it heals. The plaster cast or brace is positioned so that the foot is pointing slightly downwards, which takes the strain off the tendon.

I would have thought that a tendon rupture would have given a lot of pain. As it is, I have no pain at all as long as I am sitting or lying still. The symptoms the doctor saw - unable to put weight on, can't stand on tiptoe - are those described in the above website. However, surely that would also be true for a torn calf muscle, where the same directional forces apply to the muscle as to the tendon?

As LC says, it's a bit off that the doctor, having diagnosed a rupture, hasn't sent me off to have it plastered or something. He prescribed cocodamol but I haven't needed to take them.

hellymedic · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 August, 2014, 02:56:46 pm »

I suspect this is a calf muscle tear, rather than a ruptured Achilles tendon
but I have not seen you.

You really need to see an orthopaedic specialist this week.
Torn calf muscles are sometimes also treated in plaster of Paris.

You might be better off going to A&E though it grieves me to suggest this for what is now an 'old' injury.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 August, 2014, 02:59:52 pm »

I suspect it's a calf muscle tear as well. I have telephoned the surgery and asked that the doctor concerned return my call.

hellymedic · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:02:49 pm »

I think that's wise. You ought to be seen in a Fracture Clinic, though I appreciate there's no fracture.
A&E is the usual route to a Fracture Clinic though this should not really be necessary.

Wobbly John · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:03:41 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 19 August, 2014, 10:58:14 pm

The doctor asked me if I had been involved in a race.

The answer to which is: "Yes...

...the human race"

Lady Cavendish · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:32:24 pm »

If the pain isn't tooooo bad, I think you're probably right about the muscle tear. My pain threshold is pretty high but I found rupturing that, well, really quite painful shall we say. Moving anywhere made me feel pretty sick and there was no way I would be getting through the day without painkillers that's for sure. Hopefully a tear might fix easier and quicker- sounds like you need a scan really.....

hellymedic · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:34:14 pm »

Quote from: Lady Cavendish on 20 August, 2014, 03:32:24 pm

If the pain isn't tooooo bad, I think you're probably right about the muscle tear. My pain threshold is pretty high but I found rupturing that, well, really quite painful shall we say. Moving anywhere made me feel pretty sick and there was no way I would be getting through the day without painkillers that's for sure. Hopefully a tear might fix easier and quicker- sounds like you need a scan really.....

+1

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:41:50 pm »

I've not done an achilles but did snap multiple ligaments down side of my ankle.

Swelling, pain and subsequent exhaustion was severe, I was on crutches and a half cast for weeks.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 August, 2014, 03:45:30 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 19 August, 2014, 01:21:17 pm

He's referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon with the word "URGENT" appended to the note, but told me there was a good chance that I would be healed before I saw anyone.

I don't know where to start in commenting on that. I despair.

All I can say is that you really should, via whatever means possible, get seen by someone asap to rule an Achilles rupture in or (hopefully) out and to initiate appropriate treatment.

I'd consider attending A&E, +/- creatively describing the symptoms long enough to ensure that you get assessed. Hopefully it is a muscle tear.

GWS