Marine Corps Misdiagnosing my Achilles Tendonitis??

by Korey
(Camp Pendleton CA)

Ok im seeking some advice maybe to give my new podiatrist. I know there suppose to know what there doing but because im active duty all i get is navy doctors that def arent like Civilian doctors lol..

Ive been dealing with my achilles hurting at insertion point for over yr now, last 6 months is constant pain?

They found stress fractures in heel so was in a cam boot for 3 months, bone scan says fractures are gone now achilles hurts all day.

The navy doc said i have achilles tendinitis and nothing i can do, they suggested i get separated?? And refused to look further into heel saying its basic achilles tendinitis.

To describe my pain its been 6 months of constant pain daily walking in my combat boots, i cant touch the back of my heel at insert point with my finger with any pressure, i get random heat that goes through my heel, sharp random pains when standing and walking, when i rest over night it feels ok in morning sometimes tight then when the day progresses it begins its regular pain that doesnt go away.

If i go for a run or walk up a hill for a work out it hurts bad like a hammer hitting my heel then kinda goes away till end of workout then its back BAD! Then if i sit down for 15 mins im limping till it "WARMS UP"??

Now its starting to get tight up in my calf a little and feels like i cant stretch toes down or up as far as other foot? Getting sick of dealing with this and feels to me like its tearing or burstis and idk what to do bc there telling me im fine.

I have a referral to new doctors down in San diego at Balboa on June 25th just looking for advice on what to discuss with new doctors since camp pendletons doctors suck.

Ive had xray and said no bone spurs if that helps, been through 4 weeks of Physical Therapy and no help, cam boot for 3 months no help, BUT THERE REFUSING A MRI? so new doctors should do one..

Any tips or advice on what it could be or to discuss with doctor what i need much appreciated. This is my last doctor before i get kicked outta the Marine Corps because their diagnosis of "Achilles Tendinitiss". When i feel like its worse than that.

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Joshua Answers:

Hi Korey.

Anytime a doctor says that 'there's nothing to do about it' what they really mean is 'I have no idea how to help you'.

They immobilized you for 3 months, but didn't address any of the factors of Tendonitis. Immobilization is a bad idea, as far as I'm concerned.

See: What Is Tendonitis

Definitely see: Magnesium for Tendonitis. If you're short on Magnesium (you are) your bones won't heal as well/as fast as you'd like. And muscle literally can't relax so you stay too tight and that puts constant tension on the structures, which causes pain.

And the tighter a muscle is, the less able it is to perform work and absorb force. Assumably you go those fractures because your muscles weren't/aren't acting as shock absorbers and all that force went to your bones.

Not the best situation.

What did the doc say on the 25th?


Like all tendonitis, Achilles Tendonitis can slowly (or quickly) get worse until it's debilitating. Sounds like it can even get you kicked out of the marines.

It's unfortunate that the Marines are helpless to help their soldiers stay healthy from something as simple as tendonitis.

So they may or may not be misdiagnosing it, but they're certainly not showing you how to get rid of it.







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Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com