Achilles tendonitis – Your experiences
Discussion
I have been getting pain in my Achilles for the last 8 months and despite rest, icing, eccentric exercises the pain is still there. It is normally worse in the morning and I am able to jog for a couple of miles pretty much pain free but unable to sprint at all. Has anyone else had Achilles tendonitis and how did you deal with it and how long was your recovery?
bales said:
I'll probably get slated by certain people for saying this but I know a few people who got rid of nagging achilles problems by including a degree of barefoot running in their rehab.
Btw the way this is from a running club so the people were regular runners.
Btw the way this is from a running club so the people were regular runners.
I was getting up in the morning and having to come down the stairs backwards in considerable discomfort.
I finally gave up and saw the doctor, and got an explanation. I had to give up marathon training instantly and stop football too, for at least six months.
A few considerations.
I'd put on quite a bit of weight (peak at 14 stone - was 11.5 last April after the marathon).
Rather than put more weight on through lack of activity, I joined the gym, rowing, cross trainer (no impact) and cycling, got my weight down to 12 stone. Started running (carefully) about a month ago.
I think the weight loss is helpful.
I've also started running in vibram five fingers (practically barefoot but safer) The first few times are a bit odd, and you may ache as you're using 'loads' more muscles for balance that normal running shoes compensate for.
So far so good.
Definately rest though, I hated it, but i'm glad I did, because I was walking like an old man!
There's little bloodflow in that area, so it does take a while to heel (<<see what I did there?)
dirty boy said:
There's little bloodflow in that area, so it does take a while to heel (<<see what I did there?)
As dirty boy says their isn't much blood flow, a little thing you can do every morning and evening is using a tennis ball or soft ball massage the heel and tendon by running the ball up and down it with varying pressure.It promotes blood flow and does wonders for me when I have sore achey shins - obviously I use the ball on my shins!
aero93 said:
I have been getting pain in my Achilles for the last 8 months and despite rest, icing, eccentric exercises the pain is still there. It is normally worse in the morning and I am able to jog for a couple of miles pretty much pain free but unable to sprint at all. Has anyone else had Achilles tendonitis and how did you deal with it and how long was your recovery?
e21 ros advised this was goodhttp://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__zheng+gu+shui_W0QQ_...
I got it and it is
Halb said:
aero93 said:
I have been getting pain in my Achilles for the last 8 months and despite rest, icing, eccentric exercises the pain is still there. It is normally worse in the morning and I am able to jog for a couple of miles pretty much pain free but unable to sprint at all. Has anyone else had Achilles tendonitis and how did you deal with it and how long was your recovery?
e21 ros advised this was goodhttp://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__zheng+gu+shui_W0QQ_...
I got it and it is
dirty boy said:
bales said:
I'll probably get slated by certain people for saying this but I know a few people who got rid of nagging achilles problems by including a degree of barefoot running in their rehab.
Btw the way this is from a running club so the people were regular runners.
Btw the way this is from a running club so the people were regular runners.
I was getting up in the morning and having to come down the stairs backwards in considerable discomfort.
I finally gave up and saw the doctor, and got an explanation. I had to give up marathon training instantly and stop football too, for at least six months.
A few considerations.
I'd put on quite a bit of weight (peak at 14 stone - was 11.5 last April after the marathon).
Rather than put more weight on through lack of activity, I joined the gym, rowing, cross trainer (no impact) and cycling, got my weight down to 12 stone. Started running (carefully) about a month ago.
I think the weight loss is helpful.
I've also started running in vibram five fingers (practically barefoot but safer) The first few times are a bit odd, and you may ache as you're using 'loads' more muscles for balance that normal running shoes compensate for.
So far so good.
Definately rest though, I hated it, but i'm glad I did, because I was walking like an old man!
There's little bloodflow in that area, so it does take a while to heel (<<see what I did there?)
aero93 said:
Did you have any soreness or pain at all when you started your bare foot (VFF) running? I am also intending to try and lose some weight from riding my road bike.
None on my achilles, but I did lose weight first, and gave it 4 months rest (not the 6 recommended) calves were the things that were sore.Rest first, getting on the bike is a good idea.
I have been suffering with this problem for a year. The only way I cured it was to daily massage the area, ice it, wear running shoes and stretch the calf muscle. I did this for three months. However, I got complacent and within a few months I was back to square one. I also had fortnightly sessions with a massage therapist who did what I believe is soft tissue release work, friction work and intense stretching.
To get a deep stretch on the calf muscle I stand on a step and drop my heel, holding the stretch for thirty seconds, alternating between left and right, doing two separate stretches on each leg. My problem is footwear. I am going to try using orthotic inserts.
To get a deep stretch on the calf muscle I stand on a step and drop my heel, holding the stretch for thirty seconds, alternating between left and right, doing two separate stretches on each leg. My problem is footwear. I am going to try using orthotic inserts.
Edited by EmmaP on Wednesday 23 June 22:57
EmmaP said:
I have been suffering with this problem for a year. The only way I cured it was to daily massage the area, ice it, wear running shoes and stretch the calf muscle. I did this for three months. However, I got complacent and within a few months I was back to square one. I also had fortnightly sessions with a massage therapist who did what I believe is soft tissue release work, friction work and intense stretching.
To get a deep stretch on the calf muscle I stand on a step and drop my heel, holding the stretch for thirty seconds, alternating between left and right, doing two separate stretches on each leg. My problem is footwear. I am going to try using orthotic inserts.
Do you that stretching once a day? Any other stretching you do/did?To get a deep stretch on the calf muscle I stand on a step and drop my heel, holding the stretch for thirty seconds, alternating between left and right, doing two separate stretches on each leg. My problem is footwear. I am going to try using orthotic inserts.
Edited by EmmaP on Wednesday 23 June 22:57
When I stretched (dropping heel down on step) daily I found this really did alleviate the pain as tight calf muscles are a significant contributory factor. I also did an additional stretch where you lean against a wall with one leg in front and the back leg with knee bent then forcing heel (of back leg) downwards to get a localised stretch on the Achilles tendon.
Added to this I was finding that shock from normal walking aggravated the condition and that is where wearing running shoes helped. Wearing high heels also helped too as that shortened the tendon. I doubt you'll want to try that though
Added to this I was finding that shock from normal walking aggravated the condition and that is where wearing running shoes helped. Wearing high heels also helped too as that shortened the tendon. I doubt you'll want to try that though
aero93 said:
No I haven't had that done. They really havent felt my foot area at all.
Admittedly feet are one of my specialities but that's really irritating. It might be that there isn't any stiffness but they should at least look, particularly given that it's sore in the morning going down stairs.The other question is, have you got it to settle before starting the eccentric exercises?
EmmaP said:
daily
At least, if they're tight which is more common in women who wear heels a lot.Bill said:
aero93 said:
No I haven't had that done. They really havent felt my foot area at all.
Admittedly feet are one of my specialities but that's really irritating. It might be that there isn't any stiffness but they should at least look, particularly given that it's sore in the morning going down stairs.The other question is, have you got it to settle before starting the eccentric exercises?
EmmaP said:
daily
At least, if they're tight which is more common in women who wear heels a lot.I partially ruptured mine when I was about 8. I had continuing problems and ended up in plaster for 12 weeks! After years of pain the past few years have been much better, although it did start to ache after lots of walking.
However, some bint ramed a rather heavy equipment trolly into the back of my foot and seems to have flared it up again
So all in all, 14 years of agro.
However, some bint ramed a rather heavy equipment trolly into the back of my foot and seems to have flared it up again
So all in all, 14 years of agro.
Bill said:
EmmaP said:
daily
At least, if they're tight which is more common in women who wear heels a lot.The problem was brought on by wearing flat pump style shoes for a few months. I didn't address the problem so it became a chronic condition.
I used to run a great deal, 9 miles + a week, but I never had the problem when running regularly as I always warmed up, stretched after and always wore a good running shoe.
aero93 said:
I have probably never let it settle before stretching or starting the exercises, but then I hadn't been advised that I should :-)
IMO there's no point trying to rehab something (ie the eccentric exs) if it's still inflamed.EmmaP said:
Bill said:
EmmaP said:
daily
At least, if they're tight which is more common in women who wear heels a lot.I didn't mean to criticise, I was just pointing out that stretching isn't always essential.
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