My achilles hurts!

Acutally, I am having a similiar pain. I believe its called Plantar Fasciitis, its actually the tendon that stretches from your heal to the ball of your feet. I have found a wonderful product and it actually works...I still have pain but I can actually walk on my feet now without shoes on and without pain. The pain is not completely gone but I do not have a bit of pain when I walk on the treadmill!

Look it up............

www.heel-that-pain.com

Ok this is A LOT and I don't know if you really want to know all this or if it completely answers your question, but I think it's decent info I came across this week if you are interested. Hope this helps!


6 Common Running Injuries to Avoid
By Beth Dreher
Runner's World
The only thing runners fear more than rabid dogs and porta-potty emergencies is getting hurt. An injury means taking a break, and runners hate the thought of losing fitness, gaining weight, or missing an endorphin fix. But what if you knew what injuries you were likely to face — before a single symptom struck?

Sports physician Jack Taunton, M.D., and exercise scientist Michael Ryan, both recreational runners from the University of British Columbia, were studying sports injuries four years ago when they recognized a lack of data linking specific traits, weight, gender, foot type — to running injuries. So they decided to conduct research that was later published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. "We found that certain injuries were statistically more significant among particular people," Ryan says. "Women are more likely to experience one kind of knee pain — patellofemoral pain syndrome — while men are more likely to experience another — patellar tendonitis."

Ryan and Taunton's findings focus on six injuries and the runners they most commonly afflict. Whether you're in a high-risk group or not, simple training adjustments can keep you safe. These precautionary measures could save you from the dreaded routine of rest and rehab.

Achilles Tendinitis
What It Is Tenderness in your lower calf near your heel that usually strikes when you push off your toes
You're at Risk Men with a BMI of 25 or higher (a man who is 5'10" and weighs 175 pounds, for example) who run a nine-minute-per-mile pace or faster
Why The Achilles absorbs several times your body weight with each stride. A faster pace and additional body weight put even more stress on this tendon.
Prevent It Strengthen your calf muscles (with your toes on a step, lower and raise your heels). Stretch your calves (keep your heel on the ground, lift your toes back toward your shin).
Others at Risk People who regularly run hills (the Achilles has to stretch more on inclines) and who have increased their mileage more than 10 percent per week (sudden increases in mileage strain the tendon)

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
What It Is Pain and soreness along the inside front of the lower leg, commonly called shinsplints
You're at Risk Runners whose feet roll inward excessively (overpronate)
Why The posterior tibial tendon, the connective tissue that gets sore with shinsplints, runs into the arch of the foot. If your feet roll inward, this tendon has to work extra hard to counteract that motion.
Prevent It Wear motion-control shoes. Strengthen your calves (hold dumbbells while doing toe raises). If you've had daily shin pain for longer than a month, see a doctor for a bone scan to rule out a stress fracture.
Others at Risk Beginning runners; people who train on slanted surfaces; women who wear high heels

Patellar Tendinitis
What It Is Pain in the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone
You're at Risk Men with a BMI of 25 or higher or who have a history of playing basketball and have suddenly increased their weekly mileage
Why The patellar tendon helps your leg extend during running or jumping, but that repeated motion can create small tears in the tendon. After years of activity and then a sudden increase in mileage, your body may struggle to repair those tears. Extra body weight doesn't help.
Prevent It Keep your weight in check. Do squats to strengthen the patellar tendon and stretch your quads and hamstrings. Avoid increasing mileage by more than 10 percent per week.
Others at Risk Runners with a history of tendon injuries; overpronators

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
What It Is Pain and stiffness around the kneecap You're at Risk Women who run a 10-minute-per-mile pace or slower Why Ideally, your kneecap glides smoothly in the groove at the end of your thighbone. But because women have more flexible joints and a more extreme angle from hip to knee (called the Q angle) than men, their kneecaps are more likely to fall out of alignment. Pain intensifies at slower speeds because the knee goes through less range of motion, putting more demand on a smaller area of the joint.
Prevent It Strengthen your quads, hamstrings, and glutes with squats and lunges to stabilize your kneecaps and help keep the pelvis level while you run.
Others at Risk Runners who overpronate, have flat feet or high arches

Iliotibial-Band Syndrome
What It Is Inflammation in the band of fibers that runs along the outside of the knee to the top of the shin
You're at Risk Women with a BMI of 21 (weighing 135 at 5'7", for example) or higher who do a weekly long run of two hours or more and run hills often
Why Extra body weight puts a heavier load on the hips and more pressure on the IT band. Long runs fatigue the muscles that help stabilize women's hips. The hips sag more than normal on each step, straining the band. During a hill workout, the knee stays bent longer, which also increases tension in the IT band.
Prevent It Strengthen the muscles around the IT band with leg walking (loop a resistance band around both ankles and walk sideways in one direction, then the other). Use a foam roller to loosen the band (see runnersworld.com/foamroller).
Others at Risk People who run on slanted surfaces; runners with leg-length discrepancies

Plantar Fasciitis
What It Is Inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot that's usually worst first thing in the morning
You're at Risk Men over 40 who have a family history of the injury
Why The make-up of the tissue in the plantar fascia is stiffer in men and gets less flexible with age. Experts think it could be a genetic condition.
Prevent It The fascia tightens overnight, so stretch your calves before getting out of bed (straighten your legs; flex your toes). Strengthen your calves with toe raises or eccentric heel drops.
Others at Risk People who wear shoes that lack good arch support (flip-flops, ballet flats); pregnant women

I have the same problem. My left heal hurt right below the ankle but not on the bottom of my foot. It feels fine when I wear high heals, but as soon as I put on flat shoes and walk a little it hurts. After an hour in the gym in athletic shoes I walk out limping.
I'm going to the doctor in a few weeks and I plan to ask about it.

I have been increasing my running lately and I have noticed that my left achilles hurts when I try to stretch it. I can't do the stretch where you put your foot on a curb and stretch the achilles, and I can go on my tiptoes but it hurts. It doesn't effect my walking or running and doesn't hurt during daily life, but it definitely is when I stretch for a few hours after running. Anyone experienced this? Am I damaging myself??

I've had achilles tendonitis and it's a PAIN! I finally went to physical therapy last year. I did the stair step stretch (which sounds like what you are doing on the curb), but ONLY go down w/ your heel. Hold for 10 seconds and gently bring your foot back up. Do NOT do calf raises as that tightens the tendon. I was only to do the stretch to lengthen the tendon. Be careful running hills, that triggered mine to flare up again. Good luck, you can get over it as long as you take care of it! And watch how quickly you are increasing your mileage!

It sounds like you could have achilles tendonitis or a heal spur. both can be painful if not taken care of. My Dr. suggested that I get over the counter shoe inserts. Also at night while watchinging T.v you can use a frozen bag of corn and do a rolling motion over it with your heal and make sure you have your toes pointing in the upward direction. Also before getting out of bed in the morning take a towel and put on the bottom of your foot where the arch is and pull slightly and hold for 5-10 seconds repeat this for 5 minutes. Try not to go running for a few days so your foot can heal