what are the long term effects of a severe trauma to the achilles tendon?
401225
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=15135262&dopt=Abstract\n\nHeres some information I will find more\n\nHere is a guide\nhttp://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handouts/achilles_tendinitis/achilles_tendinitis.html\n\nAnd some more\nhttp://athletics.cerrocoso.edu/sportsmedicine/lower_leg_injuries.htm\n\nBasically from what I am reading, an Achilles Tendon will always heal back properly, you just have to take care and precausions.  You need to stretch it until it fully recovers and if it doesn't stop I highly suggest seeing a doctor for you may be developing something a lot more severe
292018
Side effects can include severe loss of motion, an actual increase in the perceived pain level and, as a worst case scenario, paralysis. Spinal fusion surgeries are very rarely considered successful.\n\nThe neck is extremely delicate. Unless your pain is debilitating, I would exhaust all options before pursuing surgical intervention. Have you tried injections, chiropractic, acupuncture? \n\nBottom line, if you do decide to pursue the fusion surgery, do your research and go with the most experienced, highly regarded surgeon covered by your insurance plan. Beyond that, before allowing him/her to cut on  you, ask to speak to past surgical patients and specifically ask if the quality of their lives has actually improved following the surgery.  \n\nBest of luck to you.
781929
Your impression that no one really understands the pathophysiology of Charcot arthropathy is correct.  Here is a direct quote from eMedicine.com:\n\n"The exact nature of Charcot arthropathy remains unknown."\n\nThe two predominant theories:\n\n(1) Loss of proprioception makes it more likely that the person will injure himself.  Loss of pain sensation results in the person injuring himself without realizing it and subsequently worsening the injury by, for example, continuing to walk on a dislocated talo-calcaneal joint (I've actually seen this).  There is a nice, intuitive logic to this idea.\n\n(2) Autonomic neuropathy leads to an inappropriate increase in blood flow which leads to osteopenia.  I was surprised when I read this explanation.  I would have thought the exact opposite--that increased blood flow would *increase* bone density, not decrease it.  I found two different reliable sources that said the same thing though.  The interesting question would be why this happens.  My best guess (I didn't really research this) is that osteolytic activity (of the osteoclasts) is mediated heavily by circulating factors, whereas osteogenic activity (of the osteoblasts) is mediated more heavily by locally produced factors.  The osteolytic factors (PTH as an example) would promote osteolysis everywhere, while the osteogenic factors would only be produced locally in regions of bone that needed them (in response to physical stress).  In this way an increase in blood flow would result in an increase in the amount of osteolytic factors reaching a particular region of bone.  That's my theory anyway.\n\nThere are other ideas regarding the role of inflammatory reactions leading to increased osteoclast activity (Jeffcoate et al 2005 _Lancet_ 366: 2058) and the possibility that the nervous system has some direct control over bone biology (Jones et al 2004 _Iowa Orthoped J_ 24: 123).
1025411
Yes, shin splints can cause permanent damage.  Having a doctor as a father a having done track and field, I know this to be true.  Sure there are ways to heal shin splints, like icing it and massaging, and stretching it.  However the best treatment is REST.  It'd true, no matter how much you ice it, it won't get better unless you rest it.  If you ignore the pain and keep running on them you WILL suffer permanent damage.  After running on this type of injury, if and when you ever heal, your legs will never be the same;you will never completely heal the bone and muscle tissue.  My advice is to rest: your shins will thank you later on in life.
181127
Go to a doctor immediately.  I had something similar happen to me as a teen.  What I didn't know is I tore a tendon right off the bone.  My other tendons compensated and over the years started snapping off one by one.  Each time I'd be in horrible pain and couldn't walk right for a few weeks.  In my 30's my wife finally got sick of me complaining so she made me go to the doctor.  One MRI later and we found all I had left was one tendon.  The large one in front.  They had to cut me open.  They sliced the strips from the big tendon and reattached them to my knee.  Two months of painful physical therapy later and my leg won't straighten the whole way.\nThe plus side is I don't occasionally fall without warning.\nLet this be a cautionary tale.  Get to a doctor.  Better safe than sorry.
446701
Since tendons have a decent blood supply, they'll take a while, but not too long, to recover. I'd say in about 4-6 more weeks you'll be completely recovered.\n\nThere's no risk of breaking the tendon by weight, but you could collapse against it and fall and break something else. Or, if during the surgery, they stitched it, by putting weight on it you could break the stitches. Just don't put weight on it.\n\nNo real vitamins help, but if you'd want real help on that, go see your doctor or a nutrition specialist. I don't think that vitamins will really help tendons though.\n\nWhatever happens, just remember to take the time recovering. Don't try to rush yourself. I did that when i broke my leg in 5 places at once, and since then, my leg hasn't been perfect.
421928
fell off my horse when i was 15, broke my collar bone, my coxcyx, my wrist and my jaw, took 4 months to recover from that and still get pain in mmy back and wrist 7 years later
764024
Unfortunately, yes  the soft tissue damage caused by whiplash can take a long time to heal, I'm afarid I had problems for well over 2 years.  I did find a good physio who was able to help me with ultrasound and exercises
615511
It could be muscular or nervous. Either way I would get to a doc asap as you don't want to risk tearing your achilles tendon. \n\nCould be a nerve that is misfiring as well. Ask your hubby to trend when it happens.\n\nWhat time..day or night.\nDoing anything prior?\nWhen wearing shoes, barefoot.\nCan it be triggered by manipulating the tendon with your fingers. \nCan it be triggered by pressing firmly with your finger on the base of the heel (bottom of the foot).
516068
nope, i had that. it stretches the ligaments and tendons when you're growing. but, i grew up to be 6'0 tall and i studied martial arts for several years. it never affected anything.
127070
You may have permanently damaged the muscle where it inserts, making it impossible to heal completely.  Go see a sports medicine physician and consider an MRI to see what the muscle looks like.
673020
While it may only be a tendon or ligament that has partially broke, I would still go get checked out by a doctor only because if it is something terrible, it is better to find out early and receive proper medical care.\n\nEspecially where it is located, you wouldn't want to have it hurt you the rest of your life or in old age if it could have been avoided with a simple visit. \n\nI assume the doctor will tell you to stay off it and let it heal, but you never know if more is needed.
206116
it depends on the protocol, any surgical interventions that you've had, how torn it was....\nI would expect AT LEAST 3x/wk for 6-8 weeks.
874989
Not necessarily.  Muscles have a very good blood supply and heal quicker than tendons, liagaments, etc.  Most will heal in about a week on their own with rest and gentle stretching.  It is important, however, to return to activity gradually.  A theraputic massage by an MT or a PT can also be very beneficial.  If your case lasts longer than a week, then yes, it may require further intervention.
556796
Could be a touch of arthritis. Another possibility would be a tight achilles tendon. In either case, I'd recommend two exercise \n\n(1) Put a telephone book (or something similar about 2-3 inches high) on the floor. Place the toes and balls of feet on the book with your heels resting on the floor. Raise yourself up and down about 10 times. This exercise done 2 or 3 times a day will help stretch your achilles tendon.\n\n(2) While sitting or supporting yourself while standing, do simple circles both to the left and right several times throughout the day...and especially before you are going for a walk. This will help warm up the muscles around the ankle before you walk and may help alleviate some (or all) of the pain.
960119
Basically you have 2 choices stop doing activities that cause you pain or have the surgery.  The surgery consists of a plastic screw being inserted into the shoulder, the tendon is then weaved into another piece of flat plastic that is then attached to the screw to hold the tendon into place.  The recuperation time is around 6 months and you'll need physical therapy during that time.  It takes along time to heal because there's no way to actually reattach the tendon permanently.  The plastic just holds it into place while the tendon reattaches itself to the bone.  The pain of the surgery can be quite intense but pain medication is provided.\nHope this  helps.
537638
a lot of joint injuries, ankles and knees especially (due to the impact and weight they bear all the time) can become aggravated WELL after the injury.  Time and what you're doing will set it right.