Hello,
I apologize in advance, because I know there has been many posts about achilles problems, but here is my problem. After a 5K Friday night, and a sprint du Sunday, I played volleyball Monday. Shortly after starting the volleyball I had pain in both heels. After the game I could barely walk. The doctor diagnosed me with achilles tendonitis, and even said I could race this weekend it the pain subsides. Well the pain isn’t subsiding. I can barely walk, I can’t imagine running. Could this be more serious? I have no history of achilles tendonitis, I have no swelling, and no bruising. Bottom line is, it appears I will miss my ‘A’ race due to a stupid game of volleyball.
ice, ibuprofin
tape it - lets see if I can describe this, if it doesn’t sound easy to follow google for pictures.
-2 circles of tape on your calf at where the gastroc and soleus meet
-2 circles of tape around your foot just past the arch / over the ball of your foot
-from there: make 2 long "x"s with tape, these go from anchor strip to anchor strip (what you made above).
-as you do the above step make sure you’re plantar flexed a bit, the whole goal is to take some stress off the tendons
-secure those x’s with anchor strips in the same places as step 1 and 2
might take a little pain away and make walking easier.
With any sort of tear you would have some serious swelling. Trust me… I fully ruptured mine and it explodes. I would throw strain in there as a possibility. Where does it exactly hurt? The bottom of your heel? Does it hurt just standing on it, or pushing off when walking? Pushing off with the balls of your feet?
I had a bad achilles strain several weeks ago before my B race. The doctor put me in a boot for a week and prescribed a medpak of oral steroids. I was running again as soon as the boot came off. Maybe mine wasn’t as bad but just wanted to share my experience. I’m now able to race IMWI Sunday.
I have a history of achilles tendonitis, and never had swelling when it flared up. Achilles tendonitis does, however, leave you more susceptible to ankle injuries such as sprains, strains, and tears, which will all lead to swelling. Because of that, taping is highly recommended to offer support and prevent further injuries (I taped both ankles 5+ days a week for soccer during high school and college). I would recommend asking someone who is experienced to help you tape the first time, as an incorrect tape job could be harmful to your tendons and ligaments.
Two months ago I was running barefoot on the beach. The next day I could not walk and was in sever pain from both achilles tendons just above my heel. Took about 2 weeks for full pain to subside (about 1 full week to be able to walk easily). I then ran again and reinjured the right one. Waited two weeks and pain again subsided with ice, massage and heel lift exercises. Then I waited another 4 weeks and I was 100% recovered.
It is a sucky injury and prone to reinjury. I learned that it is better to stay away from any impact exercise as that will re-injure it easily. I cycled, swam, walkedg (after pain subsided) and did aqua-jogging in deep water.
I doubt it. 5K + Sprint + Volleyball + Age (maybe?) = mad AT
Good luck getting back on the roads. The taping suggestion is good and if you have access to Kinesio tape you’ll be in even better shape. Other ideas…
Ice it 3 X a day - 5 Gal bucket from Home Depot, full of ice and water, insert foot, scream a lot and hold your foot in there for 17 mins
Heat in the morning - get out of bed, microwave a wet towel or use jets from the tub or shower to warm up the area
Ice/Cold at night before bed
Biofreeze gel - good stuff
kinesiotaping. tape is costly though and not available in store but online. taping method, you might be able find online. not sure. takes time to heal to 100%
Hello,
Thanks for all the replies. The pain is on the back of my heel, about 1" up from the bottom, and occurs when pushing off while walking. Standing does not hurt.
I’m assuming you just saw your family doctor with a cursory exam …
If it only hurts on a focal spot, inch up from the heel and not if you roll the achilles between your thumb and index finger, it is not likely simple achilles tendonitis.
any other diagnostic modalities employed in arriving at this diagnosis?
I’m assuming you just saw your family doctor with a cursory exam …
If it only hurts on a focal spot, inch up from the heel and not if you roll the achilles between your thumb and index finger, it is not likely simple achilles tendonitis.
any other diagnostic modalities employed in arriving at this diagnosis?
Hello,
You’re correct just my family doctor, she just felt around the base of my heel. My achilles is not sore. She wants me to wait two weeks before seeing a podiatrist. Could it be bursitis?
Yeah - retroachilles or retrocalcaneal bursitis is a definite possibility. Ice the area well. Very gentle stretching only for now with no eccentric exercises or loading just yet. Avoid anything (including sleeping) that physical touches the area - which I’m sure you have already figured out A small heel lift (temporary only) may help in the shoe for a short time. Good luck!
Any clue if any of those Achilles braces in like RoadRunner catalog are any good?
I’ve got some tendonitis on my right that’s just not going away. My left was rebuilt last year after a full rupture and is built like a tank!! But my right one is giving me fits. No running for three weeks, and did 10 min easy on a treadmill last night and it’s not bad, but not great either.
I’m just going back to doing all my PT stuff… balance boards, tons of easy stretching, ice 3x a day for 10 min…
I was having some chronic pain in the back of my heel stemming from a long trail run which I decided was some sort of achilles issue. Especially bad in the mornings, I figured from having the foot flex downward while sleeping which results in the AT healing in a contracted position, limiting its elasticity… so I ordered one of those night splints to hold the foot neutral at 90 degrees so as the achilles heals overnight it does so in the stretched position, yielding greater range of motion. Immediately felt the difference after the first night. Much better now, in fact I’m going to start rotating it over to the other foot since now that one feels stiffer when I get out of bed than the one that had been injured.
Take it from someone who has had 3 achilles tendon surgeries, the best remedy is rest, ice, compression and elevation. I would also place a small heel wedge under both heels to effectively shorten the achilles tendon. Light stretching for both the gastroc and soleus is advisable. Try to resume biking prior to running and avoid speed work and hills initially.
A small heel lift (temporary only) may help in the shoe for a short time. Good luck!