My achilles hurts!

courtney_love2001
courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
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??

Replies

  • jwells26
    jwells26 Posts: 13
    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
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    I looked it up, and my pain isn't on the arch or sole of my foot at all, just the tendon in the back. I looked up achilles tendonitis and I think it might be that :( I'm hoping not because it said it can lead to tearing in the tendon!
  • kattiek
    kattiek Posts: 83
    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
  • Well...it could be Plantar Fasciitis...but the pain from that is usually centered in the heel, and sometimes radiates forward through the rest of the foot (Have it, it stinks). If your pain is up the back...then it's not that.
    You can try RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)...sometimes these things only get better with some R&R. Esp. if you've caused a lot of inflammation using it. You can also try some new shoes, and being fitted properly for them (something I've been wanting to do forever...darn rural shopping limitations!) Also, stretching through your entire day may help to stretch that bad boy out so that you can use it comfortably.
  • 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.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    Since I am not a doctor I am just giving you some general info and advice but I suggest you stop your running for a few days and try the RICE method mentioned in a previous reply.

    It sounds like you may have achilles tendonitis. This can be caused by several things, including periods of inactivity, returning or starting a new exercise routine (such as running) or from being an overpronator. You should absolutely go to a foot doctor and let them exam and xray to make sure you haven't torn anything and to initiate treatment...which may include orthotics. Not taking care of this can cause the inflammation to lead to degenerative changess in the tendon and give you a higher chance of a rupture. A good foot doctor should have inexpensive shoe inserts (orthotics) that fit your needs in their office so you can see if that helps the pain before purchasing expensive custom ones. You may not even need them, but a doctor is the only person that can tell you what is going on in there.

    Plantar fasciatis has similar symptoms and does include some achilles pain but is mostly in the bottom of the heel and arch of the foot and causes swelling and pain making it difficult to walk. You should gently stretch and use the RICE method and I would recommend taking an anti inflammatory to decrease the swelling in the area (which probably isn't visible but is more than likely there) and like I said rest for several days and if it persists you should see a doctor.

    good luck, this kind of stuff sucks :wink: :flowerforyou:
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    Thanks everyone!! I will definitely do the RICE and not go run tomorrow :( Then when I go the next day (assuming it doesn't hurt when I stretch it) I will see how it feels....if bad guess I'm off to the doctor! :grumble:

    I am running a 5k in the end of September and now this may halt my training. Maybe I just need to change my terrain...there are some MAJOR hills on my route. Seems like I'm always on a little incline and hit a few monsters on the way.
  • I have had achilles problems for years and years- since i was a freshman in high school. I had been to 2 doctors, 2 specialists, and a physical therapy place before someone noticed that I had flat feet. Not just regular flat feet, but super flat feet (i feel like that should have been noticed before, but thats not hte piont of this post...).

    And because of those horrible flat feet, the tendon was getting stretched too far. And then that caused my IT band to get all messed up, and my whole right leg was basically out of comission. Wound up, I got these amazing orthotics. They're expensive- you might want to try a cheap, temporary pair first. But they work wonders. After about a year of not being able to do anything, I am finally able to run again. I would definitely suggest going to an orthopedic surgeon to see if they will help.

    ALSO, be careful, because if your achilles snaps you're in a whole-leg cast for 6 weeks (my aunt did it). However, the more you exercise every day and stretch it out, the smaller that chance gets. The doctor also told me that if you feel it pulling a little, thats a good thing because that means its stretching and not snapping.

    good luck!
  • jessmomof3
    jessmomof3 Posts: 4,590 Member
    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!
  • kimss
    kimss Posts: 1,146
    bump for later
  • 9726172000
    9726172000 Posts: 428
    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
This discussion has been closed.