Tendonitis?

Eve53
Eve53 Posts: 178 Member
edited November 21 in Fitness and Exercise
Is that what this is? And how can I help it?

I noticed when I started working out that the outside of my leg from my ankle up through my calf ached like heck. It gets super tight, painful, stiff... I've been powering through it, trying to stretch it out, and just dealing... but today it was really bad.

I've been doing interval walking on the tredmill. And for as long as I walk it hurts, getting steadily worse through my workout, and of course the faster I walk the worse it hurts. Today it hurt so bad I almost stopped, but I watched the clock and knew I could make it. At the end of my workouts I hit it really hard for my last high interval. When I turned the machine up and got faster I started to feel some like hot snapping around my ankle. I want to stress that it felt hot, cause that was a weird sensation for me. I got so bad that I actually had to stop.

It was the last leg of my cardio so it wasn't a big deal. But when I stepped off I was limping, not because I couldn't bear weight but because the lower half of my leg was so taut and stiff. Like a bad cramp that I just couldn't work out. After resting for a while though it was fine. Literally minutes later it didn't bother me anymore, and by the time I left the gym I was walking fine and there was just a little stiffness around my ankle but not all through the lower half of my leg like earlier.

Does anyone else know what this could be? And how I can work it out? I don't want it getting in the way of my workouts.

Replies

  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited July 2015
    I've dealt with some form of tendonitis every day for the past couple decade due to a joint disease.

    Its when your tendon gets irritated really bad usually overuse or repetitive motions or bad form/shoes (if running). If you aggravate enough it will become extremely painful and can even rupture. You don't want this to happen.

    Best thing to do is rest and ice to start. If you felt hot/snap you probably started to tear it. The tendons take a long time(year isn't out of the question) to heal because they are a very course. Deep massage will help, KT tape can give a lot of relieve. Cortisol shots can also give relieve in extreme cases but don't always work and is more of a last resort before surgery.

    I would definitely go to a doctor and get it dx'd.
  • ABabilonia
    ABabilonia Posts: 622 Member
    I'm a newbie runner training for my first 5K, and I dealt with that issue too. I even tried compression socks, but the pain was horrible, in my case the pain was internal. The best thing is to rest, ice, and probably buy a foam roller to massage your calf. In my case a pair of running shoes made (is making) a huge difference. By luck, I found a pair of Asics on sale that are helping me a lot. I ran for 1/2 for the first time in my life today which is a big milestone for me. In any case, you may need to check with your doctor to verify that you have nothing serious.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    edited July 2015
    Eve53 wrote: »
    I noticed when I started working out that the outside of my leg from my ankle up through my calf ached like heck. It gets super tight, painful, stiff...
    When I turned the machine up and got faster I started to feel some like hot snapping around my ankle.

    That's a very unusual place to get pain. You'll probably need to see a doctor to sort it out. In the mean time, don't power through it.

    Hot sensations tend to be from nerves or blood vessels. One possibility is exertional compartment syndrome. Did you ever twist that ankle? Do you have high arches?
  • Eve53
    Eve53 Posts: 178 Member
    I've twisted my ankle before and it may have been that foot. I also tore tendons before, also may game been that foot. I can't be sure it was a long time ago. I'll look into that link. Thanks!
  • Eve53
    Eve53 Posts: 178 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    Eve53 wrote: »
    I noticed when I started working out that the outside of my leg from my ankle up through my calf ached like heck. It gets super tight, painful, stiff...
    When I turned the machine up and got faster I started to feel some like hot snapping around my ankle.

    That's a very unusual place to get pain. You'll probably need to see a doctor to sort it out. In the mean time, don't power through it.

    Hot sensations tend to be from nerves or blood vessels. One possibility is exertional compartment syndrome. Did you ever twist that ankle? Do you have high arches?

    Wow this really sounds like my problem. And that sucks! It says that you may game to lay off the activity all together! It's walking for goodness sakes! I'll definitely gabe to see a doctor. Thank you.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Hopefully it's not that. Your doctor may need to refer you to a specialist to figure it out. Let us know what you find out.

    Try seeing if stretching your calves helps. Hold it for 30 seconds, and repeat hourly.
    And walk in zero-heel shoes, like skateboard shoes or Keds. :+1:
  • Patttience
    Patttience Posts: 975 Member
    edited July 2015
    Don't be an idiot. If you've got pain. Stop the activity. You'll give yourself a serious injury, like i did once in my past. And i didn't even have pain. I just had something weird in my knee.
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    I had pain in a similar location (but had pain and like electric zaps, not heat) - turned out to be peroneal tendinopathy. Hope you get a speedy diagnosis!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Theres a saying which is
    listen to your body
    . Injury is the #1 thing to avoid becayse it takes you out of exercise and can be for weeks/months. You need to know the difference between slight discomfort and actual pain, your description sounds significant and your response of powering through for some target is the way you injure yourself. I would rest it totally for 24-48hrs and see if it disappears completely and if not you should see a Dr. You need to learn to look after yourself.

    http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Tendonitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
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