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Post by ameslou on Jul 1, 2022 22:55:29 GMT
Our health insurance plan allows me to go straight to a specialist without needing a referral. I love my primary care doc, but I know from recent trying to schedule a different appointment with her that her schedule is full through mid-August. I met with her nurse practitioner last week and was underwhelmed. Maybe she was having a bad day, but she seemed a bit cold and I didn't think she heard what I was saying. On to the injury - Last Sunday I didn't warm up enough before I started run / walking on the treadmill. I felt a warning twinge in my left calf, didn't slow down, and then a pop. Then I immediately stopped  . It felt a lot like a charley horse but wasn't. My guess is a calf strain. I can walk on it, it doesn't hurt just hanging around .. only hurts when I would normally "push off" to take a stride. It got better with a bit of rest, some ice and ibuprofen. Then Wednesday I squatted down to pick something up, felt another pop and was right back to where I started on Sunday. Again, rest, ice and ibuprofen and got better. This afternoon I took a very short walk, started to trip (on the uninjured side), caught myself with the injured side ..and you guessed it, am right back to hobbling around. I look like a pirate with a peg leg. All I need is an eye patch. Looks like this is going to keep happening as a part of "normal" life and I need to go see someone about it. I have used a PT that I like a lot .. and would love to go to him, but am not sure he's the right med professional. If my regular doc weren't booked up I would go to her .. but the office is across town and I was underwhelmed with the NP. What say the Peas? Where should I seek medical care?? |
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Post by sabrinae on Jul 1, 2022 23:38:37 GMT
Orthopedic doctor. It sounds like either a torn muscle or ligament/tendon.
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Post by elaine on Jul 1, 2022 23:44:13 GMT
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Post by katlady on Jul 2, 2022 0:00:29 GMT
I guess I would first go to a regular physician to make sure that it is not too serious. After that, I would go see a sports PT. We have quite a few of those around here.
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Post by malibou on Jul 2, 2022 0:03:06 GMT
Sounds like an Achilles tendon problem to me too. I would see an ortho.
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Post by elaine on Jul 2, 2022 0:28:04 GMT
Sounds like an Achilles tendon problem to me too. I would see an ortho. The “pop” is what made me first think Achilles’ tendon, as I have had a few friends who have ruptured them - even my sons’ dentist while playing tennis - and they all reported that “pop.” Then, looking it up, there are a number of other matching symptoms. It can require surgery and/or being in a boot for weeks to months. It is a loooong slow heal. ameslou , please don’t try to walk (except around the house or to the car) until you have your injury thoroughly evaluated. eta: at this point, given that it is a holiday weekend with Monday being the holiday, I would suggest going to the ER, if you don’t have any urgent cares with imaging capabilities. If you’d prefer to wait for Tuesday, see if someone in your life has a walking boot to lend you - one that will keep your foot/ankle and lower calf immobilized. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 2, 2022 0:35:37 GMT
I'd definitely see an orthopedist for that type of injury - and would go direct and not bother with my regular doctor. I too fear Achilles - my daughter only had partial tear and they're a pita to heal. Can you stand on your toes? I'm pretty sure that's the standard test.
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Post by ameslou on Jul 2, 2022 0:48:36 GMT
OMG weeks to heal if it's an Achilles issue?  Yes, I can stand on my toes but it doesn't feel amazing. I'll check and see if I can find an urgent care with imaging capabilities. The Peas are the best - thank you!! |
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 2, 2022 0:50:23 GMT
If it’s your calf and not tendon - I’ve had the same injury, repeatedly. I even hear a pop. One time I pulled my calf so badly I could barely walk for weeks. That being said, I’ve never seen anyone about it (not saying you shouldn’t, just giving my experience) I just completely rest it for a few weeks and it gets better. I now still run a lot but I’m very careful. And I haven’t injured it for a few years.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,826 
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Post by scrapngranny on Jul 2, 2022 1:16:43 GMT
Even though our insurance allows us to see a specialist without a referral, most specialist won’t see you with a referral. They don’t want to waste their time on injuries that don’t need specialized care.
Maybe going to the ER is your best way to be seen by someone more experienced with injuries than your pc doctor sooner.
My DH is kind going through the same thing. We have no referral coverage. He called the ortho who did his knee and hip replacements for carpal tunnel surgery. He was told he had go to our pc to get a referral to a neurologist to get a referral to the orthopedist. He see the neurologist on July 18th. He may have it done by Thanksgiving.
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 2, 2022 1:55:45 GMT
only hurts when I would normally "push off" to take a stride. It got better with a bit of rest, some ice and ibuprofen. Could you actually push off though? I know a couple of people who did their achilles, and they would not have been able to "push off" at all. I just asked DD, who is a physiotherapist, and she said it could be a grade 2 gastroc strain. She said that an ultrasound would diagnose it. Obviously healthcare is a bit different there, so I'm not sure how you would go about that. Here, I would either go to my GP or PT, and they would give me a referral for an ultrasound (which would be bulk billed so I wouldn't pay for it). I'm not sure what an "ortho" is, I assume an orthopaedic surgeon? There is no way we would be able to see a specialist like that without a referral. |
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Post by ameslou on Jul 2, 2022 3:02:35 GMT
I’ve never seen anyone about it (not saying you shouldn’t, just giving my experience) I just completely rest it for a few weeks and it gets better. This was my plan .. until I kept reinjuring it. This getting older thing ain't all it's cracked up to be! only hurts when I would normally "push off" to take a stride. It got better with a bit of rest, some ice and ibuprofen. Could you actually push off though? I know a couple of people who did their achilles, and they would not have been able to "push off" at all. I just asked DD, who is a physiotherapist, and she said it could be a grade 2 gastroc strain. She said that an ultrasound would diagnose it. Obviously healthcare is a bit different there, so I'm not sure how you would go about that. Here, I would either go to my GP or PT, and they would give me a referral for an ultrasound (which would be bulk billed so I wouldn't pay for it). I'm not sure what an "ortho" is, I assume an orthopaedic surgeon? There is no way we would be able to see a specialist like that without a referral. Yes, I could push off. It would heal enough that I was walking mostly normally .. and not really aware of the injury. Until I did something it didn't like. Whomp whomp Here in the US sometimes ultrasounds are done in a GP or OB's office. But pretty sure that I'll have to pay "out of pocket" for it, wherever it happens to take place. Please give your DD my thanks! |
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 2, 2022 3:19:46 GMT
I’m curious if you do go to a doctor what they say the treatment is.
I kept re-injuring mine as well - until I rested it completely for like 4-5 weeks instead of just 2. I’m also very careful not to “push off” from that leg now - as that is how I injured it three times.
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Post by katiekaty on Jul 2, 2022 13:21:23 GMT
Go to the Ortho. Why go through all the other when your insurance will cover. You will only waste time and money and continue getting delayed correct treatment and possible extend the injury in the long run. The ortho can order all the tests, X-rays, mris, etc., then make a determination of how to correct the issue thru injections, surgery, or therapy or any combination.
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Post by candygurl on Jul 2, 2022 13:42:18 GMT
I ruptured my Achilles in October and didn’t hear a pop but was holding a water bottle when I fell so maybe I just didn’t hear it. Sounds like an Achilles’ tendon tear. Definitely get it checked out! I’m a runner too and my injury put me way back:( I had to have surgery, a splint, a boot, crutches and then still have a boot. Plus PT for a few months. It’s been an ordeal and I’m just getting back to running at a slow slow speed and can only run for .15 mile right now. Anyways my point is, as with any pain while being a runner, definitely get it checked out because you do not want to do any further damage.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Jul 2, 2022 15:25:26 GMT
I’ve had a calf muscle pull with a pop like that. I was worried about it being an Achilles tear, but it wasn’t. I’d probably start with my primary care. Don’t they reserve appointments for sick visits?
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Post by sabrinae on Jul 2, 2022 18:07:39 GMT
OMG weeks to heal if it's an Achilles issue? Yes, I can stand on my toes but it doesn't feel amazing. I'll check and see if I can find an urgent care with imaging capabilities. The Peas are the best - thank you!! You may be able to find an orthopedic urgent care of your near a decent size city. The orthopedic practice group my daughter sees has an orthopedic urgent care that has saved us a couple of times — once when my daughter fell post surgery and once when I completely tore my bicep loose at the elbow. Pops are usually bad— that’s all I felt/heard when I tore my bicep, it wasn’t even that painful initially. My husband tore his calf muscle when he had a pop. |
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. It felt a lot like a charley horse but wasn't. My guess is a calf strain. I can walk on it, it doesn't hurt just hanging around .. only hurts when I would normally "push off" to take a stride. It got better with a bit of rest, some ice and ibuprofen. Then Wednesday I squatted down to pick something up, felt another pop and was right back to where I started on Sunday. Again, rest, ice and ibuprofen and got better. This afternoon I took a very short walk, started to trip (on the uninjured side), caught myself with the injured side ..and you guessed it, am right back to hobbling around. I look like a pirate with a peg leg. All I need is an eye patch. 
Yes, I can stand on my toes but it doesn't feel amazing.
