Need Help: Did I Damage My Achilles' Tendon?

[Proudiddy]

So, trying to keep it short, I was playing ball with some bums today and one was probably about 6'4", 250 lbs. of mostly muscle.  Me, being about 5'10" 185 lbs., drives in with the ball and scores the game winner on a layup over him. 

 

He jumped as high as he could and aggressively tried to block my shot.  It went in, hence, "game winner."  But, when we both came back down, my right foot was already planted on the floor with my lower leg close to parallel with the floor.  This idiot comes down full force with the bottom of his foot landing on top of my achilles as I was in this position.  So, basically he landed on my achilles as if it was the floor.

 

I felt some pain/discomfort and perhaps a brief second of numbness, but I got up and walked it off.  I played another game afterward as well but didn't really try to push as hard, such as driving in or whatever, because I was pretty irritated that this dude was acting like it was the NBA Finals.

 

So, anyway, I get home and only notice some slight discomfort here and there.  It felt like there was a slight lump on my tendon,  but it feels and appears as though the tendon is fully intact.  I can feel it going all the way up from my heel, it just looked like a very slight lump was on it.

 

Additionally, I can completely jump off of that foot as well as push up on my toes.

 

BUT, when I went to take a shower I noticed a lot of bruising and a bit of puffiness around the heel bone on the back of my foot.  When I pushed into the area that is bruised there is a very noticeable amount of pain.

 

Anyone get a feeling on this one way or another?  Any one with experience in sports medicine or actually had a similar injury?  I thought I read about some people on here in the thread about Beason's injury before, so I was hoping someone would have an idea of what's going on.

 

I don't want to go to the doctor, but I may end up going just to check.  Anyways, any feedback would be awesome.

 

 

[Bronn]

probably just a sprain...

 

if you damage your Achilles I've heard it is pretty excruciating...

[nickzz]

i can't give you any real advice other than DEFINITELY go to the doctor. for me, my achilles is probably the last thing in my body i would want to injure.

 

that said, i've torn a ligament in my ankle playing ball and i knew instantly something was wrong. but i have friends that have torn ligaments and they didn't know until later. not saying you tore your achilles - you would definitely know, but u could have damaged it in some way and it could come back to get you ala jon beason.

[Mvp2014]

You be aite

[Jase]

rub some dirt on it and call me in the morning.

[g5jamz]

Probably some other ligament damage.  Just rest it for the next few days.  ASO brace would work well to keep you from turning on it. 

 

Find at any medical supply store in your area.

 

http://www.amazon.com/ASO-Ankle-Stabilizing-Orthosis-Black/dp/B000TGSIMM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368023907&sr=8-2&keywords=ASO+ankle+brace

 

[Sapper]

I tore mine about 5 years ago and it was the most extreme pain I have ever felt.  I went to the doc immediately and he confirmed the tear by the sight of it.

 

If you have any pain left this morning then I'd go in just to be safe - but it doesn't sound like a tear.

[Hawk]

it might be a tooooma

[g5jamz]

Yeah...if you tear your achilles...you're typically going down like you've been shot. 

[Chimera]

You can also hear your Achilles tendon tearing. Its a really powerful tissue and when it goes, you know it goes.

Rest, ice, compress and elevate. Maybe some anti inflammatory pain killers.

But go to the doc if you have even the slightest inclination. seeing and touching can go a lot further than a wall of text.

[Proudiddy]

Thanks for the replies guys.  I pondered over it for a day or so and finally decided to go get it checked out just for peace of mind.

 

I had tested it out myself by jumping off of that leg as well as just pushing up on my toes, which I'm able to do...  There isn't really any pain associated with it, just feels like I'm a little tighter on that leg - probably from the slight swelling/bruising from the impact itself.

 

Now, here's the fun part.  After reading your responses and spending a day or so looking up pictures and symptoms of partial/full ruptures and pretty much figuring it was extremely unlikely that I did either, I STILL went for some expert reassurance.  Welp, I should've saved my money.  I once again got to confront what a lovely healthcare system we have... 

 

I go in to a local Duke University Orthopaedics office, pay my $45 co-pay, fill out 30 mins+ worth of paperwork, then wait for another 5-10 minutes.

 

They call me back, I wait another 5 mins in the room.  The doctor walks in...  He asks me what happened.  Told him.  Tells me to go over to the exam table.  I sit down.  He doesn't even take my shoe off, just slides it slightly down off my achilles to check it.  Says, it's intact so I didn't tear it.  Has me push his hand down with my foot as though I was pushing a pedal, then he says I couldn't do that if it was torn in anyway.  Tells me I can go right back to playing ball...  Just stretch and strengthen it regularly. 

 

I figure, hey, I don't go to the doctor hardly ever...  Let me ask him about the pain I've been getting in my shoulders and back on occasion.  I only got to ask about my shoulders before he kicks me out of the room and tells me to utilize a strength program for those as well and then tells me where the checkout is as he quickly leaves to go to another patient's room.

 

I even told him I had some pretty good bruising and I'm getting a clicking/popping sensation from the very bottom of my heel since the injury whenever I roll up from my heel to dorsiflex on my toes.  He just said I injured myself, but I didn't tear it, so basically, "who cares."

 

Awesome appointment... I self-diagnosed it at home.  So, my entire visit with the "doctor" lasted about one and a half to two minutes.  I'm not exaggerating.  And I paid $45 for that.

 

So, I went and played ball tonight somewhat reluctantly b/c I still feel a little sore, and man, did the back of my shoes hurt my foot...  When I got home, my achilles area had a giant purple bruise whereas it was mostly just red before.  So, I'm guessing it's just the outer layers/capillaries that busted originally and now it's irritated in that area.  And I'm left to assume that the sudden onset of the repeated "clicking/snapping" sensation I'm having in the bottom of my heel is the result of the injury flaring up around a bone spur???  I don't know, b/c apparently it isn't my achilles...  Just glad I didn't tear that.

 

Oh well, hope you enjoyed my novel guys.

 

 

[frash.exe]

Man, don't ruminate over whether or not it was worth it to go get it checked out. Reading the OP i kind of deduced that you didn't tear it, maybe sprained as it was swelling. But you weren't sure and it's your body to take care of. Nothing wrong with what you did to remove doubt.

[Proudiddy]

Man, don't ruminate over whether or not it was worth it to go get it checked out. Reading the OP i kind of deduced that you didn't tear it, maybe sprained as it was swelling. But you weren't sure and it's your body to take care of. Nothing wrong with what you did to remove doubt.

 

Thank ML!  It's more so just being irritated with the lack of sincerity and/or personal interest that doctors demonstrate towards patients nowadays.

 

I mean, he didn't even look under my sock which covered my achilles/ankle...  But, ultimately, you're right.  2 minutes or 10 minutes, I got it checked out, and at the least got some peace of mind about it.

[frash.exe]

he's probably jaded from the fact that he's probably seen a ton of weird foot poo, it just makes him come off as a dick. As for the shoulder/back pain thing, he's a specialist so besides general information he probably didn't feel comfortable giving an evaluation beyond that. Lawyers