Partial Rupture of the Achilles Tendon

[BollocksToBrexit]

Anyone had this?

What treatment did you have? How long did it take to get better?

Yesterday as I stepped over something I felt a snap in my calf muscle and instant pain. I can walk on it so long as I don't bend my foot at all. I can't put any weight on it at all if my foot is bent at the toes.

I had an appointment with a physio today for something else. She took a quick look and said it's a partial rupture up where the tendon join the muscle. I've been booked in for a full appointment tomorrow in the acute clinic. Yikes.

Anyone?

Depends how much of a partial tear it is. Best case scenario is 6 weeks in a walking boot, worst case is surgery and out of action for several months. My DB has just suffered the latter. You need an US +/- an MRI to establish how much has gone, which will determine the treatment choice and schedule. (Aside from DB I’m a dr).

So do I need to see a doctor or will the physiotherapist do? I'm not in the UK but the health service here is pretty similar. The physio is at the local health centre.

Is the boot definite? I wasn't given anything today and now I'm really struggling. My lower back is killing me from having to do the zombie shuffle.

I think you need to see a doctor and have imagine to assess damage and extent of rupture.
You can't have physio straight after a rupture. It is a lot (and long) rest. I ruptured a tendon in my toe and it took ages.

Book a doctor's appointment.

Ok I will do tomorrow. Thanks guys.

you need to see a doctor...preferably an orthopaedic surgeon, but failing that a GP/family doctor who should be able to arrange you scan - both US and MRI.But you will need a specialist opinion at some point. You shouldn't really be walking on it at all at this stage, you should have crutches as a minimum.

In my personal experience, physio aren't that good at diagnosing. I went to one for knee pain after an injury at the gym , and she insisted it was ACL tear but despite exercise I wasn't getting better. I paid for private MRI and I had a mass the size of a small egg in my knee which was - can't remember exact term - but basically solid haematoma. Had I rested instead of exercised, I would have recovered a lot faster.

Physio after a diagnosis are however good.
Tendon takes ages to heal, far longer than bones.

You need to see an orthopaedic surgeon for proper diagnosis. They might need to plaster it. Certainly no weight bearing until you’ve been checked.