Should I feel anything in my achilles after a tear?
I have started running again after my Partial Achilles Tear, and while I’m not experiencing any pain I do ‘feel’ the area that was injured. During the run it feels tight, and afterwards it feels like a fatigued muscle; not painful but like a muscle that was worked out the day before. Stretching seems to help it, and when I rub the leg it feels fine.
I’m somewhat paranoid about this injury because not only is the first injury I have re injured, but I’m also getting dangerously close to IMSG.
I’ve got to go put my hands on someone but wanted to bump this to see what other athletes have gone through.
For you - it’s ur Achilles don’t screw with it. What does ur dr or of say?
I’ve torn (and seen just about every part tearable) several - the worst gastroc attachment (should of had it reattached) the pain was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and was out for 6 mths. 9 yrs later still soreness deep down (scar tissue something nasty) - and I work on it at least once a week.
Quad tear (lateral vastus) never felt just really felt like no more push power altered leg angle and finished fine - off season built legs around it to add more strength.
For Achilles would want eye/hands on help not Internet dx.
Hope u heal up quickly.
Over counter - arnica (bruising circulation) just b sure you’re not allergic.
A friend of mine had a tear in her calf and she could “feel” the spot for a couple weeks after it had healed. The same happens coming back to running after a sfx. I wonder if any of it is psychological - you have a spot you’ve babied for a bit so you’re more sensitive to it.
If you had an Achilles tear that is a tendon tear, not a “post muscle tear experience.”
A friend of mine had a tear in her calf and she could “feel” the spot for a couple weeks after it had healed. The same happens coming back to running after a sfx. I wonder if any of it is psychological - you have a spot you’ve babied for a bit so you’re more sensitive to it.
If you had an Achilles tear that is a tendon tear, not a “post muscle tear experience.”
Ironman St George
My assumption that you are right and its psychological, however I did injure before and just want to make sure. If I didn’t have anything scheduled it would be easy and I’d just shut it down. However, with the IM only 22 weeks away, I’m at a place where I have to start training again, but can’t reinjure it.
How long ago was the tear? What has your rehab consisted of?
There’s good research on insertional vs. mid-portion achilles tendinosis rehab, suggesting eccentric work as an effective way to rebuild the tendon. Let us know what your doc/physio/rehab specialist says.
How long ago was the tear? What has your rehab consisted of?
There’s good research on insertional vs. mid-portion achilles tendinosis rehab, suggesting eccentric work as an effective way to rebuild the tendon. Let us know what your doc/physio/rehab specialist says.
First injury was 9/15, I then took 3 weeks off, came back and reinjured it on 10/6. I went to the Dr., who told me eccentric heel lifts and put a riser on my heel. No running or biking for 6 weeks.
I did eccentric heel work and 3 sessions of ART. When I started running again on 11/26 I felt nothing in the area. Now, I can feel it, but its not pain or fatigue, just feels worn and tight (if that makes any sense).
Well, as you realized, 3 weeks was rushing things a bit to return to running.
“feeling it” after runs isn’t a big surprise, but if you are still weak in that muscle, you should continue the eccentric work on an incline. This is for mid-portion. Insertional achilles is a little different, in that your eccentric work shouldn’t be on an incline (keep it on flat ground).
You can continue to run, but the pain 1) shouldn’t return or worsen, 2) but if it does, it should be gone the next morning, and 3) week-to-week it should not be getting more stiff or painful. If 2 or 3 occur, backing off on your running would be prudent.
Consider water running if you need to get back to training for an IM.
Also realize “need” to get back to training is another thing you may need to let go of; our bodies often want their own sweet time to heal. At 22 weeks out you will be ok if you only focus on swim and bike for right now (is cycling hurting it?) and give it a bit more time to heal.
not exactly the same. but i tore my bicep and partially tore my pec muscles powerlifting in college. the pec healed OK, but i should have taken more time off and then trained around it better. the bicep hurt like a mother for a long time. by the time it stopped hurting, i had no choice but to train around it. to this day, if i over extend my elbow, my bicep will hurt for a few hours. i was able to get backto powerlifting and even increased my best lifts about a year later.
in short, take your time. listen to your reha people and only do what they say to do. it will take some time, but with a slow recovery you can get back to where you were and beyond.
22 weeks is a long way off and plenty of time to make it worse. Rehab it properly as the bit of pain you’re feeling will be nothing compared to a full rupture.
I don’t know if you’re in the states and have some pt to burn, but the place I’m at has an underwater treadmill. I’ve watched athletes rehab in that baby with all kinds of tears. Check with your pt as to options.
It’s your body do what u have 2. The aftermath and stifness later in life sucks for those not properly rehabed, think that’s my concern for you.
Should I feel anything in my achilles after a tear?
I have started running again after my Partial Achilles Tear, and while I’m not experiencing any pain I do ‘feel’ the area that was injured. During the run it feels tight, and afterwards it feels like a fatigued muscle; not painful but like a muscle that was worked out the day before. Stretching seems to help it, and when I rub the leg it feels fine.
I’m somewhat paranoid about this injury because not only is the first injury I have re injured, but I’m also getting dangerously close to IMSG.
Your achilles isn’t a muscle. Did you tear the achilles tendon or did you really tear the lower part of a calf muscle? It does matter.
Should I feel anything in my achilles after a tear?
I have started running again after my Partial Achilles Tear, and while I’m not experiencing any pain I do ‘feel’ the area that was injured. During the run it feels tight, and afterwards it feels like a fatigued muscle; not painful but like a muscle that was worked out the day before. Stretching seems to help it, and when I rub the leg it feels fine.
I’m somewhat paranoid about this injury because not only is the first injury I have re injured, but I’m also getting dangerously close to IMSG.
Your achilles isn’t a muscle. Did you tear the achilles tendon or did you really tear the lower part of a calf muscle? It does matter.
Its my Achilles Tendon. Right where it meets the Soleus.
Well, as you realized, 3 weeks was rushing things a bit to return to running.
“feeling it” after runs isn’t a big surprise, but if you are still weak in that muscle, you should continue the eccentric work on an incline. This is for mid-portion. Insertional achilles is a little different, in that your eccentric work shouldn’t be on an incline (keep it on flat ground).
You can continue to run, but the pain 1) shouldn’t return or worsen, 2) but if it does, it should be gone the next morning, and 3) week-to-week it should not be getting more stiff or painful. If 2 or 3 occur, backing off on your running would be prudent.
good luck!
Thanks, this is what I’m looking for; there’s alot out there about how to rehab your injury but not alot about how you should feel when you start running again.
Thanks for this post, firstly. I partially tore my hamstring (bicep femoris) at insertion over 14 weeks ago, still not running. Don’t rush it is my message. Water running should be started now (shouldn’t hurt) then you can gradually get back to impact but be careful. Good luck!
It’s important to stay off of broken or rolling terrain. I’d run solely on a treadmill or track until you are well over the recovery hump. Don’t even know if you should be running yet. You need to evaluate this.
Rule #1: After a run, does it feel worse the next morning? If yes, you shouldn’t run or you ran too much.
Rule #2: Does the pain (or sensation) increase or decrease over the first 5 minutes? If increase, stop! if decrease you are safe to continue the careful resumption of activity pending rule #1.
x2. You’re just barely at 8 weeks from the 2nd injury. Often you won’t want to stress a torn tendon with something as strenuous as running for 12 weeks. (FWIW, I tore my soleus last Dec, and didn’t run til well into March.)
As Eileen and some others have said, listen to your providers, not just a semi-anonymous forum!