JasonC
03-01-2007, 02:34 PM
12 weeks ago I was playing indoor soccer when, snap, crash, ouch! Yes, if you're reading this you've probably been there. After the adreneline kicked in I was able to drive home and also managed to hobble into work the next day. At this point I should've seeked professional help, but foolishly self-diagnosed a tear of the AT (As a PE teacher I have some knowledge of sports injuries). After 48 hrs of RICE, and having borrowed some crutches, the pain and tenderness was still the same. This is when I went to see my 'trusty' sports/clinical masseur, who in the past has got me back on the playing field after suffering lesser injuries. His diagnosis was similar to mine, grade 2 tear to the AT and he began a program of massage and manipulation of the injured area (why he didn't feel the hollow dip in the back of the heel I'll never know- all very good in hindsight). After about 2 weeks it felt like it was getting better and as I was walking up some stairs, POW! I felt even more pain than I had during the initial injury. Back to my man the next day who explained to me that it was a setback that required more intensive work. Still no referral! Are you getting the picture here? Anyway, after 6 weeks of limping and minimal improvement, by pure luck I saw a doctor friend. He referred me to a surgeon and the rest is history. Because I waited 6 weeks the chance of rerupture is about 20%. I have just come out of my third cast (over a 7 week period) and am now walking gingerly with some support from my crutches.
I informed my (ex) masseur about my surgery and he was most surprised. I would have thought a trained sports masseur would be able to recognise an injury such as a complete ATR compared to a tear. Was he motivated by money? Well his treatment all up cost me about $400 Aussie dollars. So I think not. Should I bother suing? I've thought about it.
Will I play soccer again? I don't think so, my wife would kill me if she had to put up with 3 children again! A painful lesson learned by me. Unlike the vast majority of similar cases I have read on this site, who have sensibly seeked professional help early, I chose to use my limited knowledge of sports science and trust someone who was obviously not qualified to pass judgement.
I informed my (ex) masseur about my surgery and he was most surprised. I would have thought a trained sports masseur would be able to recognise an injury such as a complete ATR compared to a tear. Was he motivated by money? Well his treatment all up cost me about $400 Aussie dollars. So I think not. Should I bother suing? I've thought about it.
Will I play soccer again? I don't think so, my wife would kill me if she had to put up with 3 children again! A painful lesson learned by me. Unlike the vast majority of similar cases I have read on this site, who have sensibly seeked professional help early, I chose to use my limited knowledge of sports science and trust someone who was obviously not qualified to pass judgement.