Hi folks, I'm new to posting in this forum, but I've been reading it for a long time. I've been managing achilles tendonosis for a year now, after running for the Wounded Warriors foundation last September. I'm male, late 30's, long commute and long days stuck in an office chair - run 3-5 miles 2 or 3 days a week (for 20 years now), so pretty much the classic tendonosis candidate. I've been to a variety of specialists, from podiatrists to orthopedists to ART/graston, to accupuncture. Here's what's working, and what's not - would appreciate some guidance, as I'm loosing hope...
Oct 2014: Physical therapy - helped loosen the calf/hips, but pain remained; started riding stationary bike to get cardio in, stopped running altogether (maintained stationary bike until recently - see below)
Nov: Oral steroids prescribed by 1st orthopedic surgeon - slight reduction in swelling, but came back 1-2 weeks later
Dec: deep tissue massage at podiatrist office a few times a week - helped but became too expensive and too tough to get there with my hectic schedule
Jan: orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery - first time I "ran" since Sep, as in running right out of his office
Feb: tried ART/Graston - first once a week, then twice a week; started Alfredson protocol (eccentric heal drops), but with no weights
Mar: ART/Graston helping quite a bit, but felt like eccentric heal drops making it worse, or at least preventing progress - stopped doing them after 4-5 weeks
Apr: Chiro performing ART/Graston suggested slow running to get blood flowing - started nice and easy and progressed VERY slowly. Running in Glycerin 13 (Brooks), and hard orthotics (been using for many years) - in retrospect, the shoes were probably worn out
May: After 7-8 weeks of increasing mileage, went for a slow 2.5 mile run, foot in ice bath afterwards, next day couldn't get out of bed until 30 minutes of massage and stretching - back to square one
Jun: stopped ART/Graston, and to another orthopedic group to see their "non-surgery solution MD" - recommended nitroglycerin patch, and said may try PRP in a few weeks if that didn't work. He said the patches could cause headaches - which gets funny... I work with anesthesiologists in my day job. 10 days after starting the patches, my eyes were red, and my head was pounding. One of the physicians took notice, and asked if I was okay - I told him about the patches, and he just started laughing - said to stop immediately. I did. The head is much better. Achilles the same...
Jul: started accupuncture with traditional Chinese physician - seems to help a little. I go on Saturdays, and feel okay throughout the rest of the weekend. By Monday I'm back to same pain.
Aug: read throughout this forum, and learned the Alfredson protocol requires weight to be added (hadn't realized that before). Started loading a backpack and got back to the protocol (3 weeks ago). Also, got back to seeing ART/Graston once a week (Wednesdays), and seeing Accupuncture on Saturdays. Stopped stationary bike, as I figured it could be causing problems. Switched to eliptical machine, but staying mindful not to lift heels from the pedal, as trying to get cardio in without too much pressure on achilles.
Sep 2015: Accupuncturist getting frustrated with the injury, and recommends injection of homeopathic meds (Traumeel). Got two weeks in a row of injections. Seems to hep with inflamation for a few days, and then back to normal. Following the alfredson protocol, and up to about 30-40 pounds of weight. After the exercises, I ice for 15 minutes, and then hot water and epson salts for 30 minutes. Also rolling the calfs and hamstrings regularly.
Hopefully that's enough background. Here's the current problem (other than the frustration of not running more than 20 miles over an entire year). I really think the Alfredson protocol is making my problem worse. Like much worse. I've read that this is kind of the point, and in the spirit of the protocol. However, I'm looking for some guidance from the folks on the forum as to if you experienced the same increased pain, and I could use some convincing to stick with it if that's worked for any of you. For those that stuck with it, how many weeks of getting worse until you noticed it turning the corner? It doesn't hurt while doing the exercises, but my pain in general is getting worse. I had hoped to finally get over the pain, and give a new pair of Hoka's a try.
We all likely have a love/hate relationship with running. I have to say I'm heartbroken with this injury. I just hit my 1-year anniversary today. Not sure what else to do. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and guidance.
Oct 2014: Physical therapy - helped loosen the calf/hips, but pain remained; started riding stationary bike to get cardio in, stopped running altogether (maintained stationary bike until recently - see below)
Nov: Oral steroids prescribed by 1st orthopedic surgeon - slight reduction in swelling, but came back 1-2 weeks later
Dec: deep tissue massage at podiatrist office a few times a week - helped but became too expensive and too tough to get there with my hectic schedule
Jan: orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery - first time I "ran" since Sep, as in running right out of his office
Feb: tried ART/Graston - first once a week, then twice a week; started Alfredson protocol (eccentric heal drops), but with no weights
Mar: ART/Graston helping quite a bit, but felt like eccentric heal drops making it worse, or at least preventing progress - stopped doing them after 4-5 weeks
Apr: Chiro performing ART/Graston suggested slow running to get blood flowing - started nice and easy and progressed VERY slowly. Running in Glycerin 13 (Brooks), and hard orthotics (been using for many years) - in retrospect, the shoes were probably worn out
May: After 7-8 weeks of increasing mileage, went for a slow 2.5 mile run, foot in ice bath afterwards, next day couldn't get out of bed until 30 minutes of massage and stretching - back to square one
Jun: stopped ART/Graston, and to another orthopedic group to see their "non-surgery solution MD" - recommended nitroglycerin patch, and said may try PRP in a few weeks if that didn't work. He said the patches could cause headaches - which gets funny... I work with anesthesiologists in my day job. 10 days after starting the patches, my eyes were red, and my head was pounding. One of the physicians took notice, and asked if I was okay - I told him about the patches, and he just started laughing - said to stop immediately. I did. The head is much better. Achilles the same...
Jul: started accupuncture with traditional Chinese physician - seems to help a little. I go on Saturdays, and feel okay throughout the rest of the weekend. By Monday I'm back to same pain.
Aug: read throughout this forum, and learned the Alfredson protocol requires weight to be added (hadn't realized that before). Started loading a backpack and got back to the protocol (3 weeks ago). Also, got back to seeing ART/Graston once a week (Wednesdays), and seeing Accupuncture on Saturdays. Stopped stationary bike, as I figured it could be causing problems. Switched to eliptical machine, but staying mindful not to lift heels from the pedal, as trying to get cardio in without too much pressure on achilles.
Sep 2015: Accupuncturist getting frustrated with the injury, and recommends injection of homeopathic meds (Traumeel). Got two weeks in a row of injections. Seems to hep with inflamation for a few days, and then back to normal. Following the alfredson protocol, and up to about 30-40 pounds of weight. After the exercises, I ice for 15 minutes, and then hot water and epson salts for 30 minutes. Also rolling the calfs and hamstrings regularly.
Hopefully that's enough background. Here's the current problem (other than the frustration of not running more than 20 miles over an entire year). I really think the Alfredson protocol is making my problem worse. Like much worse. I've read that this is kind of the point, and in the spirit of the protocol. However, I'm looking for some guidance from the folks on the forum as to if you experienced the same increased pain, and I could use some convincing to stick with it if that's worked for any of you. For those that stuck with it, how many weeks of getting worse until you noticed it turning the corner? It doesn't hurt while doing the exercises, but my pain in general is getting worse. I had hoped to finally get over the pain, and give a new pair of Hoka's a try.
We all likely have a love/hate relationship with running. I have to say I'm heartbroken with this injury. I just hit my 1-year anniversary today. Not sure what else to do. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and guidance.