My ACHILLES hate me!

I don't have healthy achilles tendons either! It sucks!!!

I ice after workouts and gently stretch throughout the day (not just before and after workouts) I have found this very helpful if you are extra still in the morning getting out of bed:

Night splints that keep your foot dorsi flexed keep the tendon elongated in the night and are not painful in the morning. You can try it, but I always took mine off in the night in my sleep because it becomes uncomfortable. SO I put a pillow at the foot of my bed (I have a base board that keeps it from falling off the bed. If you don't have a baseboard then it may not work.) I keep my feet flat on the side of the pillow but not on top of it. My feet are at 90 degree angles that way and the tendon won't shrink in the night. Does that make sense what I'm saying?

I also take anti-inflammatories when it gets really bad. i can't wear flats or heels too often.... I have to have comfortable but supportive shoes on all the time. NEVER wear flip flops if your going to be walking around a lot.

Look up strengthening exercizes on you tube. Theres one wear you step up on a stair and slowly let yourself down. Watch tons of those videos on achilles tendon strengthening. Strengthening the calf muscles helps A LOT!!!!

Good Luck!

You have to be really patient and easy with it too. I am very injury prone and have had Achilles problems, IT Band Syndrome, runner's knee, shin splints and torn muscles. Achilles Tendonitis is the hardest to treat IMHO. All the other things I have experienced were manageable, but Achilles issues are a whole different ball game. It's the largest tendon in the body and since tendons don't have a lot of blood flow, it takes a long time. I have had the issue for over a year. Mine has not been completely dibilitationg so I continue my activities.... but you have to be careful because if it gets bad and ruptures then the ONLY fix is surgery!

When you do the strength training, make sure you are very careful and smooth. Don't do sudden jerk, etc. because you can damage it worse.

I spent all of least year healing a torn achilles from running sprints. Rest is the first step. Also ice and heat. Heat when you want to stretch and ice when you finish exercising. The best thing you can do is stretch your calf muscles 8-10 times a day. It seems like a lot but if you do it every time you get out of your chair it's pretty easy to get in 8 a day. The best stretch is to lean into a wall or flat surface and place with your hands about a foot above your shoulders. Put your right leg back, heel down on the floor, and left knee bent stretching your right calf. Hold for 30 seconds and then switch. Do it 5-10 times each.

Walking up hill is bad (inclined treadmill) as it shortens calf muscles. You should also see a podiatrist if you have a very high arch and get arch supports. Super Feet are great supports for both running shoes and regular shoes.

Hope my misery helps you out !!!

I've had achilles tendonitis since September....I managed to get round NY Marathon in November but have only managed 4 miles 2 or 3 times since....Its a slow process and not sure I'll get back to running anytime soon.
I've had quite a bit of physio and myo fascial massage on them(myo helped the most)....but as soon as I get too mile 2 or 3 on a run I get the feeling the achilles is going to detach(horrible sensation).
Ice straight after exercise definately helps and lots of stretching.It's the slowest my body has taken to repair an Injury.