"Bang" "It was like I'd just been kicked in the calf" "But when I turned around there was no one there" This is what a patient was telling me a few years ago, but then the story got more interesting... This is a common presentation that people present with when they have pulled their calf. However, this guy was playing basketball about 3 weeks ago when he felt this sensation. He went on to say that it was really swollen and was still a bit swollen now, but he had just been skiing for a week and although his calf was sore and weak the ski trip had gone ok. He then started telling me they he just didn't have any strength in the calf, he could stand up on his tips toes. I was starting to get a bit concerned - the feeling of a bang , as if being kicked, swelling and no strength in the calf.. But he had just been skiing... It can't be.... So I had a look at the area, The Achilles was still a bit swollen, no bruising and nothing out of the ordinary to look at. Then I did the calf squeeze test, with the patient lying face down with their foot hanging off the edge of the bed, you gently squeeze the calf muscle and the foot and toes should move. Nothing, no movement. Not good Next I had a feel of the Achilles, I'm feeling the Achilles and all of a sudden there is a big squishy hole where the Achilles SHOULD be. Not good. "So i think you have torn your Achilles" I tell the patent. "No!!!, what?" "Can't be" "I’ve just been skiing!!" was the response. "Well, I'm pretty sure it's torn and, er, well you better go to A and E straight away as if you don't get it treated right way it could end being a lot worse". Long story short, it was torn and required a surgical repair and i helped to rehab the chap. But I don't think I will ever see a case like this again. I still can't get my head round how he managed to walk around on a snapped Achilles for 3 weeks and GO SKIING. Hopefully none of you will suffer this, but the message here is, if you have picked up an inure get it looked at straight away. .
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May 2016
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