I walk. I LOVE to walk. On lunch breaks I would typically take a 2 mile walk even in the dead of winter. This last year, I also started taking stairs up to the 5th floor (4 floors) and down. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, my right calf seemed tight, but not so tight that it hindered my activities climbing stairs or walking. Then on Christmas eve, I went to help a motorist and his girl/wife who were stranded in a turn lane while idiots behind them would come and honk at them.

I parked my car and told him I would help him push his car to get it out of the intersection at the next green light. He and I positioned ourselves behind the car while the girl steered and at the next green light we started to push, and

AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH

Holy carp that hurt. I hobble-pushed with the guy to the gas station (luckily not far) and then to my car so I could bring it around and try a jump start. No good deed goes unpunished. Abbreviating the story, I was diagnosed at an urgent care center with tendonitis/bursitis of my achilles tendon (pain is at the top where it connects to the calf). I was given a boot to wear, but it wears on my leg to the point of leaving sores so I have not been wearing it and honestly, as long as I take it easy (no walking beyond what is required or stairs), the leg seems OK. Occasionally, it will remind me that "Hey I am still an issue" so I don't get any ideas like starting back up on walks or stairs. It responds well to icing and ibuprofen (when it is hurting). Otherwise I have done very little with it other than trying to be careful.

* Should I be trying to wear the boot (it doesn't really hurt without it)?
* How long is the expected recovery time for something like this?
* The doctor did not provide much in the way of rehab exercises/stretches, and I haven't found much online. Has anyone gone through this? Are there stretches/exercises I should be doing while this recovers?

My big fear is taking one wrong step and hearing the dreaded *SNAP* while I collapse to the ground writhing in agony.