Dimple in achilles tendon area - concerned.

[thesonicoscillator]

Hi
I hope someone could possibly put my mind at rest ( until I can see a Dr). I currently have achilles tendonitis ( self diagnosed but I've had it before) I can walk on it but not too far or it becomes really painful and I start to limp. I noticed this afternoon I have a very small dimple on the achilles tendon area and now I'm really worried that it's a partial rupture. I haven't heard any snap, nor in pain, although my shin, sole of my foot & toes have started to tingle a bit which I put down to doing some stretches earlier. Has anyone has a partial rupture? Does this sound like it? I'm terrified of a full rupture as I heard it's really painful and takes forever to repair (and I'm supposed to be flying to see my parents soon) I suffer health anxiety terribly which doesn't help one bit.

I ruptured my Achilles tendon about four years ago. In hindsight, it had probably partially ruptured about 10 days before the full rupture, and I experienced some sudden pain when that happened, but that was nothing to the pain I experienced when it fully ruptured. If you have Achilles tendonitis and have had this in the past then you could have an attrition injury. If you suspect you’ve had a partial rupture then do try to book yourself an emergency GP appointment for tomorrow morning and, crucially, I suggest you don’t do any stretches for the time being. I know that stretches are important for Achilles tendonitis but if you have a partial rupture then stretching could lead to a full rupture.

Can you push off from the foot in question in the usual way? Do you think you could hop or skip? Don’t try it – I think you can probably tell without doing that. One of the things my GP did to check whether my tendon was ruptured before sending me to A&E was to get me to kneel on a chair on the injured side and then she squeezed the part that was ruptured. There was no reflex there. That was what told her it was ruptured.

Do take this very seriously, because the recovery period between a partially ruptured Achilles tendon and a fully ruptured one is quite different!

Thank you so much for you advice, it's very much appreciated.

When mine fully ruptured I had a clear dip at the tear point. I never really had any pain but it was a sudden ping and a sound like a pop. The only sensation was pins and needles/numbness and I couldn't push from the front of the foot. You need to get it seen and as OP says, don't do any stretches as it needs to be 'locked' into position for tendon to reknit together if it's ruptured. Fingers crossed for you.