Achilles tendon; calf strains & sprains

[sueiz]

My son has has a second bout of calf strain this year. Both times, he has been assessed at a walk-in centre as having a possible/probable achilles tendon tear, then at A&E been dismissed as mere muscle over-use. Neither occasion has he been doing anything unusual.

When he stands on tip-toe to stretch, there is almost always a loud snap or crack from his heels. He's not a classic "bendy" but has very stretchy skin, myopia, marfanoid habitus (i reckon anyway, arms longer than height!) & son of me!

What should he do? not take no foran answer? just do as he's told? is he at risk of doing long-term and/or severe damage by following A&E advice to just let it heal naturally?

answers on a postcard please! ...well, here would be just fine

[Spireite]

I don't know about your son, but if I stand on tiptoe or just point the left foot, my ankle has a loud crack. I worked out for myself that my talus bone (in the ankle) subluxes and if I can't unjam it then it would do damage to my achilles tendon. I didn't get any professional help for my ankles. I had to work it all out for myself the hard way, that is by suffering injuries and then learning how to avoid injuries.

[barkingmad]

I agree with Spireite. Your son will need to learn how to manage his injuries but it could be worth asking for a referral to a podiatrist to see if there is a biomechanical reason for the repeated calf injury. Maybe he is flat footed and with the correct insoles or boots it would redress the stress on his muscles.

[sueiz]

Thanks. I'll suggest it to him but being away at uni now it may take some persuading!!

[sheppeyescapee]

Both my calves are really hurting and the achilles tendons too. Not sure what I did to them but it really hurts! Feels like someone is trying to wrench my achilles tendons out of my legs

[sheppeyescapee]

I've been having a lot of problems again with my left achilles tendon. I was transferring from my wheelchair to the car and a crunch noise/feeling came from my heel. Ever since it becomes gradually more painful over the course of the day. It seems ok on the bike at the gym but any weight bearing on it and it is incredibly painful. Am working on losing weight so that should help but not entirely sure what I did to it.

[madmum]

Try ice,elevation,rest and a tubigrip in case you have sprained it. If it does not settle get it checked as it is easy to do a partial tear of the achilles.

[sheppeyescapee]

I forgot to mention that I did it a few weeks ago and it hasn't improved with RICE. Have it already in tubigrip, even just the weight of my duvet is aggravating the pain.

[madmum]

Please get it checked,if it is a partial tear it could go completely.

[sheppeyescapee]

Am going to book a doctors appointment for tomorrow. Now hurting to even move my toes

[sheppeyescapee]

Seen a dr at the surgery and they weren't of much use to me. Pretty much told me to carry on doing what I'm already doing. They said it was Achilles tendonitis but I've had that plenty of times and it's never been this bad before. Tried to get me to wiggle my toes but I couldn't, I tried but all it did was slightly twitch. Have to carry on with what I'm doing, put ibuprofen gel on it 3 times a day. If it doesn't calm down by next week I have an appointment with my normal GP so will get her to look at it.

[madmum]

Please go to casualty.