Achilles Tendonitis

You beat me to it! Just over the last week or so (I would have just finished week 3 of C25K) my achilles tendon has gotten very inflamed and painful right at the insertion. I was going to write a post with the exact same title, but hadn't gotten around to it yet.

I'm pretty sure mine is secondary to an injury (hit by car, shattered right tib-fib, blah blah blah) three years ago that left my already tight calf muscle and ankle with even less mobility. I stretch religiously (or did, until it started hurting too much) but there's only so far it can go.

I did some research, and it seems like heel elevation is the key. I ordered some heel supports from footsmart.com and figured I'd wear them running and probably in my work boots as well. Meanwhile, until they arrive, I'm trying to rest it, or at least refrain from trying to run on it. I'll let you know how that works out.

Other than that, I'm eager to see what anyone with more experience and/or knowledge has to say.

See a different therapist

What are you doing in PT? I used eccentric heel drops, daily, along with NO running to get rid of the first twinges of Achilles pain. As I understand it, the longer it goes on before you tackle it, the longer it takes to go away.

http://www.runnersworld.com/sweat-science/eccentric-calf-strengthening-for-achilles-tendinopathy-five-years-lat

That article explains eccentric heel drops, but also suggests that some people simply don't respond to them. The time frame of 12 weeks is quite long, though. How long have you been in PT? I don't know anything about the surgery mentioned, though. Sorry!

What shoes are you wearing? Shoes with a smaller heel-toe drop (flatter shoes) will put a lot more pressure on your Achilles and calves. You can try heel inserts in the shoes you have, or try shoes with a larger heel-toe drop. (Like for running shoes, an example of zero-drop would be anything Altra, low-drop the Saucony Kinvara. Something like the Brooks Adrenaline or Ghost, or Asics GT-2000, have a higher heel-toe drop.)

It's tendinosis, not tendonitis, and people need to stop calling it that, because it's connected with a totally wrong way of seeing things and inappropriate treatments (like anti-inflammatories and cortisone injections).

Current treatments: http://www.tendinosis.org/current.shtml (eccentric exercises are typically recommended)

You could look into prolotherapy; there are also some trials on platelet-rich plasma therapy for achilles tendinosis specifically.

Are you sure it is achilles tendinitis and not the bursa that is filled with fluid and causing the pain? I have the same issue, thought I could stretch and cream it out but finally saw my Sports Dr and he said it was the bursa that is filled with fluid (inflammation) and best way is to drain and hit with cortisone steroid. Not my first choice but need to get better to return to competition form.

tomatoey wrote: »

It's tendinosis, not tendonitis, and people need to stop calling it that, because it's connected with a totally wrong way of seeing things and inappropriate treatments (like anti-inflammatories and cortisone injections).

Current treatments: http://www.tendinosis.org/current.shtml (eccentric exercises are typically recommended)

You could look into prolotherapy; there are also some trials on platelet-rich plasma therapy for achilles tendinosis specifically.

also tendonitis does exist but is really rare compared to tendinosis.

1shauna1 wrote: »

I'm wondering if there is anything else that will help?

What usually works is a night splint while sleeping to lengthen the Achilles tendon, and eccentric calf exercises to strengthen them.

Once you're pain-free, wean yourself off shoes with a raised heel, since they are the usual cause of Achillles problems, since the toe-down position of heeled shoes compresses the Achilles.

I have the same problem ..i do heel drops ,elevate my foot as much as i can and during sleep, soak in warm water and epsom salt before working out and ice after workout..