Question about treatment of different injuries

[rubato]

As you all know, I've injured my achilles. But, in really pinpointing my exact area of pain, I'm thinking that I may, instead, have injured my flexor muscle that runs on the inside of the achilles. If that is the case, and I haven't hurt my achilles, should I still do the same RICE with stretching? I, personally, would be much happier if it was my muscle because then, I wouldn't feel like I could tear that achilles during the race.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

As you all know, I've injured my achilles. But, in really pinpointing my exact area of pain, I'm thinking that I may, instead, have injured my flexor muscle that runs on the inside of the achilles. If that is the case, and I haven't hurt my achilles, should I still do the same RICE with stretching? I, personally, would be much happier if it was my muscle because then, I wouldn't feel like I could tear that achilles during the race.

Wow, don't you think it might be a good idea to check this out with your doctor? Or have you?

 

[rubato]

I can't get in to any of them before we leave. I tried.

 

[bunnyfoo]

If you think it's a tear, don't stretch. Just keep resting it for now. My understanding is that stretching can make some injuries worse. Is there a walk-in clinic you can go to get into see a doctor if your family doctor and sports doctor are fully booked? It's risky to diagnosis it yourself ...

An alternative to a doctor might be a physio... I went to a sports doc a few weeks ago and he didn't have much to say to me about my knee after I told him I was already seeing a physio and some of the treatments/strengthening exercise for the knee.

 

[rubato]

I guess I didn't clarify.
I haven't torn anything. I'm sure of that. I just don't WANT to tear anything. I am mainly just wanting to make sure that the treatment would be the same as what I'm doing, whether it's the tendon or the muscle.

 

[cewait]

Seriously, get off the net and to a doctor.

Sorry about being a little terse but the Achilles is not a tendon you want to play around with or shop for a convenient answer. In a pp I gave you as liberal work around that I would feel comfortable with and even then I think I said get to a doctor. As a personal trainer I would push you out the door with the symptoms presented in this and previous posts and ask for a note from the doc before resuming.

As for your research, there are no/few muscles in the ankle. Any flexion type muscle for the foot/ankle are in front of and on top of the ankle/foot, by definition of flexion. I had to pull out my lower leg chart to see what you were ID’ing as a flexor… What you are calling muscle is in fact another set of tendons.

An x-ray followed by MRI may be the only way to understand if your ankle can stand the stress of this year’s race. You may not be feeling a soft tissue injury at all; it may well be a hard tissue injury. But enough speculation, get to a doctor and in the mean time limit the stress to the joint until race day at a minimum. At this point I think I would change to heat to get encourage bloodflow back into the area and help whatever is wrong start to heal. Also, NSAIDS are in order to help with any inflammation.

Again, I am not trying to be cruel but feeling the need to be terse up to the point that the possible severity of the injury you have described is understood.

Added, I understand that near the end of the year it is tough to get into a doctor, but you need to be looked at.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Seriously, get off the net and to a doctor.

Sorry about being a little terse but the Achilles is not a tendon you want to play around with or shop for a convenient answer. In a pp I gave you as liberal work around that I would feel comfortable with and even then I think I said get to a doctor. As a personal trainer I would push you out the door with the symptoms presented in this and previous posts and ask for a note from the doc before resuming.

As for your research, there are no/few muscles in the ankle. Any flexion type muscle for the foot/ankle are in front of and on top of the ankle/foot, by definition of flexion. I had to pull out my lower leg chart to see what you were ID’ing as a flexor… What you are calling muscle is in fact another set of tendons.

An x-ray followed by MRI may be the only way to understand if your ankle can stand the stress of this year’s race. You may not be feeling a soft tissue injury at all; it may well be a hard tissue injury. But enough speculation, get to a doctor and in the mean time limit the stress to the joint until race day at a minimum. At this point I think I would change to heat to get encourage bloodflow back into the area and help whatever is wrong start to heal. Also, NSAIDS are in order to help with any inflammation.

Again, I am not trying to be cruel but feeling the need to be terse up to the point that the possible severity of the injury you have described is understood.

Added, I understand that near the end of the year it is tough to get into a doctor, but you need to be looked at.

Thank you, cewait, for this post. Your analysis and recommendation is one I would follow.

 

[rubato]

Okay, I'll make another round of calls, but had no luck just a few days ago. Trust me, I'm not the kind of person who just takes this stuff casually, I'm just trying to do the best I can with not being able to get in to the doc. I guess I could go to the urgent care clinic, but just don't feel like I'm going to get anything from them. We'll see.

 

[wtpclc]

Do you have any sports clinics near you. SOmetimes they will do a free injury analysis without a referral. I would choose a good sports injury person over a doc tha tmay not know sports injuries any day. (Then again, a good doc will refer you there anyway, unless they are an expert)

Good luck!

 

[cewait]

Okay, I'll make another round of calls, but had no luck just a few days ago. Trust me, I'm not the kind of person who just takes this stuff casually, I'm just trying to do the best I can with not being able to get in to the doc. I guess I could go to the urgent care clinic, but just don't feel like I'm going to get anything from them. We'll see.

how about looking a little west to Topeka or other smaller city.

I agree that the urgent care nurse practioner is not the better option. What hospital supports the Chiefs? They normally have a clinic that you may be able to get into.

As a last resort, look in the Orlando area. Celebration Hospital is the title hospital for the race.

 

[rubato]

Okay folks, I have an update. After finally getting an appt at my regular doctor only to have them call me back and cancel it, I went to the Urgent Care clinic. The doctor there said that she's sure it's NOT the achilles, and, is instead, muscular. She listened to me complain about not being able to get in to a sports doc and went and made some calls. She got me in to an ankle specialist this coming Monday. She said that the RICE method is best right now with the anti inflammatories. She said that if I didn't have this time crunch, she wouldn't even refer me anywhere else, but since she wanted to be sure I could run the races, it would be best.

So, I think it's good news so far. I'll find out more on Monday.

 

[wtpclc]

Wonderful that she was so helpful! I hear so many urgent care horror stories that it's refreshing to hear this! Good luck Monday!

 

[cewait]

Here's some pixie dust your way hoping that all you need to do is rest!

As a former frequent ortho patient, look into a cortisone injection as long as it is not Achilles and the doc is willing. Early next week is about as late as you should wait pre-race.

 

[rubato]

Yes, if I can get a cortisone injection, I definitely will. Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I'm just glad something is happening. I'm already going into total taper madness and the thought of all of this being for naught is tough to think about.

 

[cewait]

Yes, if I can get a cortisone injection, I definitely will. Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I'm just glad something is happening. I'm already going into total taper madness and the thought of all of this being for naught is tough to think about.

Forced tapeer madness is 1000 percent worse than regular taper madness.