Achilles Tendinitis

[Racerbvd]

Anyone dealt with it??

[Schrup]

This helped me. I also went to PT for the Graston Technique.

[Jay Auskin]

I have as I did more distance running and increased the intensity when I was in my mid 30's (started in early 20's, but been in competitive sports since forever). Then, I started running "smarter". Less supportive shoes, more concentration on running form. I even bought some "minimalist" shoes, and learned to run in those. IMO, that was what I needed. Not necessarily constant training in "barefoot" shoes, but learning to run properly. I started out in the barefoot shoes where my calves would be on fire in a half mile. Now, I can run 3+ miles, even if I haven't used them in a few months like it's nothing.

I'm in my early 40's now, and haven't had any foot (or knee) pain in the last 5 years. I run at least one 1/2 marathon every year with several shorter races during the year. I'm not terribly fast, but an 8:30 pace which I'm fine with for a 6'3", 190lb frame.

When I was injured, I went to a sports doctor/specialist to help with the pain, and then focused on proper training. I buy less and less "supportive" (but cushioned) shoes every year, and mix it up with minimalist shoes. I've never felt better.

If you're not athletic, start. I'm not a doctor (or podiatrist) but orthopedics, etc have never helped anyone I've known who has had them. I've read up a lot on the subject of the foot, and your foot needs to move in it's natural form and be "abused" a bit. Take it as a sample of one, but that's the path I took, and it worked like a charm. I'm faster than I was in my 20's (even being 20 lbs heavier), and have never been so pain free after intense training.

[Racerbvd]

I do cycle a lot, was a sprinter in my youth, but because of knee & ankle injuries haven't run in many years, but do walk a lot, and have always subscribed to minimalist method. Thought it might be arthritis, and see that doc regularly, but she said it Achilles Tendinitis aggravated by a medication I was one. I had already been doing the stretching, and bottle rolling. I planned on going to the Rolex, but have been told to rest my foot, ice & elevate it, and when I'm at the races, I don't sit, I walk and walk and walk. I just don't want to take a chance on damaging it more than I already have.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I do cycle a lot, was a sprinter in my youth, but because of knee & ankle injuries haven't run in many years, but do walk a lot, and have always subscribed to minimalist method. Thought it might be arthritis, and see that doc regularly, but she said it Achilles Tendinitis aggravated by a medication I was one. I had already been doing the stretching, and bottle rolling. I planned on going to the Rolex, but have been told to rest my foot, ice & elevate it, and when I'm at the races, I don't sit, I walk and walk and walk. I just don't want to take a chance on damaging it more than I already have.

I developed a really severe achilles tendon damage as a reaction to an antibiotic (Cefilaxin I think). It was incredibly sore and if stressed it would get to the point I could barely walk. Three things allowed it to finally heal and avoided tearing it all together.

-Rest- no running, strenuous hiking, or lifting and only very gentle walking. Ibuprofin for pain.

-Shoe inserts that cushioned and slightly elevated the heel.

Thorough gentle stretching and flexing every morning before getting out of bed and any time I wanted to walk after a period of sitting. Even while sitting in a car I would regularly flex my foot gently to keep the Achilles from contracting.

It was a long process that healed somewhat over a period of months but wasn't completely pain free for a full year. I still avoid running. Take care of this and don't overdo it too soon.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410546_3
The Risk of Fluoroquinolone-induced Tendinopathy and Tendon Rupture

[Tobra]

I deal with it all the time, never had it, but it is very common.

Cipro is the one that gives you tendinopathy. Cephalexin is a cephalasporin, not a quinilone

Byron, DO NOT do the stretches in that video. With your other medical issues, you are likely to injury yourself or even rupture the tendon. Do gentle stretches with the foot flat on the ground, with the knee bent and with the knee straight to stretch the soleus and the gastrocnemius, respectively. If it hurts when you are stretching it, you are doing it wrong.


Where exactly does it hurt? Is it the back of your heel or higher up, closer to the level where your "ankle bone" sticks out on the side? Is the tendon itself swollen at the level of your "ankle bone?" If it is going to rupture, that is where it typically will fail.

When does it hurt the most, first thing in the morning, after you have been on it a while, both?

You want to ice it, 10-15 minutes out of every hour you are awake. Frozen peas or corn works well for this, because it will mold around the tendon. Go to the drug store or a sporting goods store and get some heel lifts, adjust-a-lift is a decent brand, put one in both shoes, so you will be even. In the morning, or after periods of rest, it will tend to tighten up. Get a short length of rope or a hand towel to keep in your nightstand for in the morning and in your well set up 944 so you can stretch after driving over to one of your girlfriend's houses before you get out of the car.

[Cory M]

I've had it. Didn't start bad but got progressively worse over several months. Finally got bad enough that I stopped running all together for a few weeks, then I eased back into it and didn't do hills for several weeks. In my case I think the minimalist shoes contributed to my injury, and I went back to a nice supportive neutral shoe, but everyone is different. I run with a few guys who have had the same issue. You've got to rest it and ice it. Staying of the hills and stairs helps a lot. You can still ride a bike to stay active.

[creaturecat]

mine took 2-3 years to fully heal. hiking steep hills/stairs exacerbated the problem.

[eddie914]

I found it is difficult to ice the Achilles. My solution was using a bucket of ice water. It was using up all my ice so I had to drink my scotch warm

The solution was to keep the bucket of water in the garage refrigerator along with the bottle of scotch ... cold Achilles, cold Scotch .... mmmmmmm

[Tobra]

Bag if frozen peas or corn will mold to the Achilles pretty well. You can also use one of those gel cold packs effectively. Alternatively, you can take a small paper cup, put some water in it and freeze it. Peel back the cup to exposed the ice and rub it on the Achilles. You can apply ice directly to your skin, just don't do it for much more than 5 minutes at a time, 10 minutes tops

[Schrup]

I tuck the gel pack into a neoprene support. I would try to get into a PT for treatment.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

mine took 2-3 years to fully heal. hiking steep hills/stairs exacerbated the problem.

Well, after packing up a backpack & cooler last night, one of my racing buddies sent me a message telling me not to go to Daytona, knowing how much I tend to walk and how far I would be walking just to get to my buddies RVs

Where exactly does it hurt? Is it the back of your heel

Back of the heel.

You want to ice it, 10-15 minutes out of every hour you are awake

Fortunately I have a gel wrap, from one of the times I had a knee fixed, same with the rope

Go to the drug store or a sporting goods store and get some heel lifts, adjust-a-lift is a decent brand, put one in both shoes,

Picked up a pair today, and compression ankle sox.

Thanks again guys, had I not seen Tobra post or checked my email from my other Dr friend, I would have probably done some major damage, walking through the tunnel at Daytona heading to Hooters.

[Tobra]

Why don't you rent one of those mobility scooters and go to Daytona anyway?

It sounds like yours is at the insertion of the tendon, less likely to rupture and fail catastrophically, if that makes you feel better.