ouch!

TheGrindalProject
TheGrindalProject Posts: 33 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
The last few months i've noticed major pain around my achilles area (both legs) and up the back of my leg, maybe to mid calf. It feels like it is just really REALLY tight. It is very painful and kicks in within minutes depending on the workout. I've tried less jumping in my workouts, i've done major stretching before and after workouts, and half a dozen types of shoes. It feels best when I don't wear any shoes at all, but it still creeps up by the end of the workout. (not to mention some hardcore blisters) I made an appointment with my doc but he can't see me for two weeks so just curios if anyone has experienced this or any other ideas to try in the meantime. It is frustrating because I can be really into my workout and the rest of my body feels great and pumped up but my achilles area is just killer and slows me down, if I don't quit completely because I can barely walk to the couch.

Replies

  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Overuse and probably strained or more. Check with an orthopaedist. And stop using it.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    I had pain similar to this - my sports doc said it was posterior tibial tendonitis. I had to take several months off from working out, did PT, and had to get custom inserts for my shoes - my flat feet were contributing to the problem. If it's been hanging around for a few months, it's probably time for a doc visit to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.
  • TheGrindalProject
    TheGrindalProject Posts: 33 Member
    Ugh. Just what I need, another excuse to not exercise. Thanks for the input! I'll lay low and hopefully my doc can shed some light on the subject and I can get going again.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    Let me clarify - I had to take months off from running. I could bike with no pain, and continued to lift. So there are options depending on what activities you can complete without pain.
  • TheGrindalProject
    TheGrindalProject Posts: 33 Member
    JTick wrote: »
    Let me clarify - I had to take months off from running. I could bike with no pain, and continued to lift. So there are options depending on what activities you can complete without pain.

    Perfect. Thanks!
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Could possibly be tendinitis. Did you try an NSAID like Ibuprofen or Naproxen? I find when I start getting pain like that it helps to take some "vitamin I" for a few days even if it doesn't necessarily hurt. The inflammation will come down (if indeed that is what it is). Regardless I am not a doctor, but I have been around the tendinitis block a few times.
  • RosieWest8
    RosieWest8 Posts: 185 Member
    Do you happen to have a small 'bump' on the back top part of your heels? I have Haglund's Deformity (or 'Pump bump') and it used to cause me a lot of pain in my Achilles. Might just be regular tendinitis like someone suggested and you should definitely try an NSAID and see if it makes it feel better. I just had to get some new running shoes and synthetic socks. It sort of 'flared up' for a few years and then hasn't really bothered me for a while. However, I do notice that if I'm on my feet for a really long time walking around it will start to bother me, especially if I'm on my feel for a while in bad shoes (like sandals or something with no support).
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    If it's from tight calves & Achilles, wear a night splint, to stretch them while you sleep.
    Also avoid wearing shoes with a raised heel, since that tightens the calves. Most shoes on the market have a raised heel. Wear shoes with a zero "heel to toe drop" (Keds, Converse, "barefoot shoes", etc).
  • TheGrindalProject
    TheGrindalProject Posts: 33 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Could possibly be tendinitis. Did you try an NSAID like Ibuprofen or Naproxen? I find when I start getting pain like that it helps to take some "vitamin I" for a few days even if it doesn't necessarily hurt. The inflammation will come down (if indeed that is what it is). Regardless I am not a doctor, but I have been around the tendinitis block a few times.

    I am currently taking Motrin right before I work out. It seems to slow down the onset but it definitely is still around by the end of the workout.
    RosieWest8 wrote: »
    Do you happen to have a small 'bump' on the back top part of your heels? I have Haglund's Deformity (or 'Pump bump') and it used to cause me a lot of pain in my Achilles. Might just be regular tendinitis like someone suggested and you should definitely try an NSAID and see if it makes it feel better. I just had to get some new running shoes and synthetic socks. It sort of 'flared up' for a few years and then hasn't really bothered me for a while. However, I do notice that if I'm on my feet for a really long time walking around it will start to bother me, especially if I'm on my feel for a while in bad shoes (like sandals or something with no support).

    Kind of? I'm not sure...very interesting! I'll look into that more!
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    If it's from tight calves & Achilles, wear a night splint, to stretch them while you sleep.
    Also avoid wearing shoes with a raised heel, since that tightens the calves. Most shoes on the market have a raised heel. Wear shoes with a zero "heel to toe drop" (Keds, Converse, "barefoot shoes", etc).

    Hmm, that would make sense. It hurts least when i am absolutely barefoot but you can't run barefoot on trails and you get some wicked blisters from just cardio floor work. Barefoot shoes though...i'll look into that thank you.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    TheGrindalProject wrote: »
    The last few months i've noticed major pain around my achilles area (both legs) and up the back of my leg, maybe to mid calf. It feels like it is just really REALLY tight. It is very painful and kicks in within minutes depending on the workout. I've tried less jumping in my workouts, i've done major stretching before and after workouts, and half a dozen types of shoes. It feels best when I don't wear any shoes at all, but it still creeps up by the end of the workout. (not to mention some hardcore blisters) I made an appointment with my doc but he can't see me for two weeks so just curios if anyone has experienced this or any other ideas to try in the meantime. It is frustrating because I can be really into my workout and the rest of my body feels great and pumped up but my achilles area is just killer and slows me down, if I don't quit completely because I can barely walk to the couch.

    If you are working out without shoes at times, it's probably this. I'm not saying stop... google minimalist running and achilles pain. Many minimalist runners found pain in the early months due to short achilles. fwiw, I run in 4mm drop shoes. Running feels best barefoot. But yes, over time my achilles start to ache. It takes time to stretch them.
    Check some of those threads out and talk to your doctor.
  • TheGrindalProject
    TheGrindalProject Posts: 33 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    TheGrindalProject wrote: »
    The last few months i've noticed major pain around my achilles area (both legs) and up the back of my leg, maybe to mid calf. It feels like it is just really REALLY tight. It is very painful and kicks in within minutes depending on the workout. I've tried less jumping in my workouts, i've done major stretching before and after workouts, and half a dozen types of shoes. It feels best when I don't wear any shoes at all, but it still creeps up by the end of the workout. (not to mention some hardcore blisters) I made an appointment with my doc but he can't see me for two weeks so just curios if anyone has experienced this or any other ideas to try in the meantime. It is frustrating because I can be really into my workout and the rest of my body feels great and pumped up but my achilles area is just killer and slows me down, if I don't quit completely because I can barely walk to the couch.

    If you are working out without shoes at times, it's probably this. I'm not saying stop... google minimalist running and achilles pain. Many minimalist runners found pain in the early months due to short achilles. fwiw, I run in 4mm drop shoes. Running feels best barefoot. But yes, over time my achilles start to ache. It takes time to stretch them.
    Check some of those threads out and talk to your doctor.

    It wasn't so much I started working out without shoes and then got the pain. I got the pain and was desperate and found that without shoes it didn't hurt as badly. So the lack of shoes didn't cause the problem. The problem was there to begin with and the lack of shoes was my temporary solution. If that makes sense....

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    It's not really a good idea to take painkillers before working out. Pain is there to let you know that something is wrong. You want to be able to feel it.
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