achilles tendon pain while running

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mhankosk
mhankosk Posts: 535 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I used to run a lot. Then I had a stress "reaction" in my knee and stopped for about 9 months. Started again about a week and a half ago and am experiencing EXTREME pain in my achilles tendon. It's like someone is snapping the tendon with every step.

Anyone have any idea what could be causing it? Ways to help? It could just be tight calf muscles, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any tips or tricks that worked for them.

Thanks, guys!

Replies

  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 535 Member
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    Also, doing some reading... the last time I got new shoes, the sales guy at the running store said I over (?) pronate so he gave me shoes that correct for that. I don't remember having this much pain with my older shoes. Maybe I should think about getting some new shoes that don't correct for it?
  • MagJam2004
    MagJam2004 Posts: 651 Member
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    I don't run much, but when i do, I run in my vibrams. I noticed some serious discomfort at first in my calves, you are running basically all on your forefoot, but it went away to what I consider normal exercise soreness. My only advice would be to work it slowly. If you took a long time away, you might need to graduate yourself in increments back to what you used to be able to do. Another thing, just my opinion, I don't buy into the special shoes for this or that. Watch your form, listen to your body, and you will be fine. Hope you get it worked out though, sounds pretty painful.
  • johnwhitent
    johnwhitent Posts: 648 Member
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    Also, doing some reading... the last time I got new shoes, the sales guy at the running store said I over (?) pronate so he gave me shoes that correct for that. I don't remember having this much pain with my older shoes. Maybe I should think about getting some new shoes that don't correct for it?

    Do you have a pair of your old shoes that you previously ran in? I'd try them, just for one short run, to see if the pain persist in them. (Not recommending running in old shoes, just a test run!) If you have pain with the old shoes I'd see a podiatrist. Commercial inserts (Sole, Superfeet, etc.) might fix it in the new shoes, but if you have pain with shoes that you previously ran in pain free then I think an expert opinion is needed.
  • wolfgate
    wolfgate Posts: 321 Member
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    Did this start from the first run or after a day or a few days?
  • _db_
    _db_ Posts: 179 Member
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    Sounds like achilles (peri)tendinitis. In any case, do not run with pain in your achilles tendon. In fact, you should probably minimize walking if that also causes pain. If you do not already have a full-on achilles injury, you certainly don't want it to progress to that point, because it can take many months to fully recover from a bad achilles injury.

    I highly recommend seeing a orthopaedist/podiatrist/doctor for an actual diagnosis.

    I angered my achilles when I first started running. Fortunately, I paid attention to my body's complaint and avoided as much activity as possible for two weeks until the pain was mostly gone. Then I started back walking, at first just a few hundred meters, until I could walk a few miles without any pain. After a month or so of just walking, I started running again, but this time I've accepted that I must start out slowly and only increase distance and speed as my body becomes properly conditioned for the activity.
  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 535 Member
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    Also, doing some reading... the last time I got new shoes, the sales guy at the running store said I over (?) pronate so he gave me shoes that correct for that. I don't remember having this much pain with my older shoes. Maybe I should think about getting some new shoes that don't correct for it?

    Do you have a pair of your old shoes that you previously ran in? I'd try them, just for one short run, to see if the pain persist in them. (Not recommending running in old shoes, just a test run!) If you have pain with the old shoes I'd see a podiatrist. Commercial inserts (Sole, Superfeet, etc.) might fix it in the new shoes, but if you have pain with shoes that you previously ran in pain free then I think an expert opinion is needed.

    I donated the old ones when I got the new ones. Also, I have tried the inserts, and they gave me MASSIVE blisters! I think I would prefer the tendon pain vs blisters. LOL But I might just get a new pair and try those out
  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 535 Member
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    Did this start from the first run or after a day or a few days?

    First run...
  • mhankosk
    mhankosk Posts: 535 Member
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    Sounds like achilles (peri)tendinitis. In any case, do not run with pain in your achilles tendon. In fact, you should probably minimize walking if that also causes pain. If you do not already have a full-on achilles injury, you certainly don't want it to progress to that point, because it can take many months to fully recover from a bad achilles injury.

    I highly recommend seeing a orthopaedist/podiatrist/doctor for an actual diagnosis.

    I angered my achilles when I first started running. Fortunately, I paid attention to my body's complaint and avoided as much activity as possible for two weeks until the pain was mostly gone. Then I started back walking, at first just a few hundred meters, until I could walk a few miles without any pain. After a month or so of just walking, I started running again, but this time I've accepted that I must start out slowly and only increase distance and speed as my body becomes properly conditioned for the activity.

    I walk quite a bit and i don't have tendon pain when I walk. (BF lives in Philly, so we walk a lot). It usually gets better if I stop running and stretch it, then start again... so I think it might just be tightness...
  • SecretAgent27
    SecretAgent27 Posts: 57 Member
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    The first time I bought running shoes, they told me I overpronate (I think most people do to a degree) and put me in some stability shoes. It work OK for awhile but as I built up my distance, I started getting blisters on my arches. I went back (saw another salesman) and they told me that yes, I overpronate, but I didn't need to compensate for it so they put me in something more neutral and I haven't had an issue since.

    So I don't know if the shoes are causing your achilles pain, but it's certainly possible.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    I walk quite a bit and i don't have tendon pain when I walk. (BF lives in Philly, so we walk a lot). It usually gets better if I stop running and stretch it, then start again... so I think it might just be tightness...

    Do you already do a warm-up walk prior to running? Like 5-10 minutes.

    Because as poster above mentioned, this is case better to guess on the safe side, unless you feel risky to miss many months of repair.

    You can have tight calves and tight achilles, but also calfs may stretch to max easily enough, but achilles still tight.

    After warm-up walk of about 3 min, you can start doing the active achilles stretch, where you bend the knee while walking and feeling the stretch right above heel. If it's still twanging doing that for about 4-5 steps at a time at the end of 5 minutes, make it 10 min total. If still, forget the run.
    After the run during cooldown walk, same thing, plus calf stretch at end on stairs or curb.

    You may just have poor blood flow there, making it take longer to get warmed up.

    Did you perhaps change your running stride to a better mid-foot strike, which relies on more shock absorption from quads and calves?
    That's a big stress when not used to it, even by folks running normally heel strikers switching over. AKA barefoot or minimalist running style, which can frankly be imitated in almost any shoe.
  • Of_Monsters_and_Meat
    Of_Monsters_and_Meat Posts: 1,022 Member
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    I didn't real the whole thread.

    When I get that pain, it is usually when I up my distances, and is the number one sign that I need a rest day.

    If something does snap, or happens, its going to be very very bad.

    Also I don't stretch. at least not static stretching.
  • Rerun201
    Rerun201 Posts: 125 Member
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    I walk quite a bit and i don't have tendon pain when I walk. (BF lives in Philly, so we walk a lot). It usually gets better if I stop running and stretch it, then start again... so I think it might just be tightness...

    Do you already do a warm-up walk prior to running? Like 5-10 minutes.

    Because as poster above mentioned, this is case better to guess on the safe side, unless you feel risky to miss many months of repair.

    You can have tight calves and tight achilles, but also calfs may stretch to max easily enough, but achilles still tight.

    After warm-up walk of about 3 min, you can start doing the active achilles stretch, where you bend the knee while walking and feeling the stretch right above heel. If it's still twanging doing that for about 4-5 steps at a time at the end of 5 minutes, make it 10 min total. If still, forget the run.
    After the run during cooldown walk, same thing, plus calf stretch at end on stairs or curb.

    You may just have poor blood flow there, making it take longer to get warmed up.

    Did you perhaps change your running stride to a better mid-foot strike, which relies on more shock absorption from quads and calves?
    That's a big stress when not used to it, even by folks running normally heel strikers switching over. AKA barefoot or minimalist running style, which can frankly be imitated in almost any shoe.


    ^^^Yup!^^^
  • krawhitham
    krawhitham Posts: 831 Member
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    I run in Vibrams (the 5-finger shoes)

    I have been running competitively since I was a child. Then I got older and fatter and stopped running for the past 2-3 years.

    I am now losing weight, and getting back in shape. I have been wearing Vibrams for about 3 months. When I first started, I was getting bad achilles tendon pain. I was just walking in my Vibrams, and getting my body used to the new shoes. I have to completely change the way I step in them.

    I ran 3 miles yesterday and it's the first time in 3 months that I haven't had ANY tendon pain. Three months of walking and slow jogging/mostly walking workouts have definitely built up my calf and ankle muscles enough now that there isn't strain on my achilles.

    I'd have to say its definitely your shoes, and not to wear them anymore. Before Vibrams, I tried 5 different types of shoes, and they all bothered my foot to the extent that I couldn't even walk afterwards. Now, though I've been taking it slow and it has been a HUGE process to get used to them, Vibrams are definitely working for me and my achilles pain is gone.

    I stretch my calves daily and do calf exercises. If you keep experiencing the pain though, I'd see a doctor. Achilles injuries can involve a lot of therapy and recovery time if it's a bad injury and not just a simple strain.
  • CodeMonkey78
    CodeMonkey78 Posts: 320 Member
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    I walk quite a bit and i don't have tendon pain when I walk. (BF lives in Philly, so we walk a lot). It usually gets better if I stop running and stretch it, then start again... so I think it might just be tightness...

    Do you already do a warm-up walk prior to running? Like 5-10 minutes.

    Because as poster above mentioned, this is case better to guess on the safe side, unless you feel risky to miss many months of repair.

    You can have tight calves and tight achilles, but also calfs may stretch to max easily enough, but achilles still tight.

    After warm-up walk of about 3 min, you can start doing the active achilles stretch, where you bend the knee while walking and feeling the stretch right above heel. If it's still twanging doing that for about 4-5 steps at a time at the end of 5 minutes, make it 10 min total. If still, forget the run.
    After the run during cooldown walk, same thing, plus calf stretch at end on stairs or curb.

    You may just have poor blood flow there, making it take longer to get warmed up.

    Did you perhaps change your running stride to a better mid-foot strike, which relies on more shock absorption from quads and calves?
    That's a big stress when not used to it, even by folks running normally heel strikers switching over. AKA barefoot or minimalist running style, which can frankly be imitated in almost any shoe.

    ^^ This.

    *Almost* every runner that I know that has had problems out of their Achilles has been a heel striker. Since I've returned to running (10 years later), I run minimalist and have zero problems. This style requires that you take the impact center foot (or more on the ball of the foot) and does not put much stress at all on the Achilles.

    If you didn't want to purchase more shoes at the moment, I would recommend shortening your stride and focusing on making center foot (or ball of foot) contact with your leading foot. If you want to try some minimalist shoes without breaking the bank, the Fila Skeletoes are a decent shoe at a decent price -- much cheaper than Vibrams -- and if you like that, invest in some Vibrams.

    Good luck!
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
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    I think stretching before is pretty critical here .. I have tight achilles issues and it helps. Re the blisters .. you can buy special anti-blister socks that help greatly. They are expensive but totally worth it.
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
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    If you can't run without pain, I would see a doctor. Don't listen to anyone who tells you just to keep running - if it is hurting that bad you are probably hurting yourself and Achilles problems can take years go to away once they start.

    Also, if it started when you got new shoes, it quite possibly is the shoes, especially if they mis-diagnosed you with overpronating and your shoe is overcorrecting your stride. I would get your gait re-evaluated, as well.
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
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    Also, to respond to everyone telling you to try minimalist running - DON'T, unless you warm up to it very slowly. Minimalist shoes are great for some people, but can really aggravate some achilles problems - you could make it worse not better.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
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    Stop running and go and see a Doctor
  • sarainiowa
    sarainiowa Posts: 287 Member
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    As someone who just went through surgery and is now doing physical therapy for this. STOP!!! Go see your doctor and a foot specialist now!! Please do not let this get worse because it will!!

    Please go see your doctor a.s.a.p.!!
  • CodeMonkey78
    CodeMonkey78 Posts: 320 Member
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    Also, to respond to everyone telling you to try minimalist running - DON'T, unless you warm up to it very slowly. Minimalist shoes are great for some people, but can really aggravate some achilles problems - you could make it worse not better.

    To clarify, my comment was reliant on the preconditions for any workout routine:

    - Warming up properly -- for all running
    - Stretching out properly -- for all running
    - Just like any and all *new* routines, warm up to them slowly and build on to avoid injury
    - If there is extreme pain or injury, discontinue to heal

    With the minimalist running style, you can do them with any shoe -- just concentrate on shortening your strides and focus on ball of foot or center foot striking with your leading leg (to prevent heel-striking and additional pressure/strain on the Achilles).

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