Achilles tendonitis

Joe4815162342

Hi,

just looking for abit of advice,

I've had Achilles tendonitis for about 9 months now, always play alot of sport and go jogging, but i think i got the tendonitis because I upped the jogging from bout 35mins a few times a week to an hour. Went to the doc he gave me steroid injections into the achilles to put the swelling down but it didnt work, he told me it wasnt a complete cure before i got them but they could make a difference. He also said the problem could take up to two years to cure on its own.

just want to know if anyone else has experienced something similar and what they did to get rid of it.

ali.c

Joe4815162342 wrote:

I've had Achilles tendonitis for about 9 months now, always play alot of sport and go jogging, but i think i got the tendonitis because I upped the jogging from bout 35mins a few times a week to an hour. Went to the doc he gave me steroid injections into the achilles to put the swelling down but it didnt work, he told me it wasnt a complete cure before i got them but they could make a difference. He also said the problem could take up to two years to cure on its own.

I'd recommend going to see a sports physio or something similar and get a complete assessment.

thirtyfoot

Achilles are a killer and usually just don't go away. You really need to work hard to get rid of an achilles problem. Go to a sports physio is the best advice.

I coach an athlete who has suffered chronic achilles in the past. Strengthening work advised by a physio coupled with ice and self-massage after a hard session has done the trick so far this season.

bolty

I went to physio for about 10 sessions 500 euro. They advised I had flat feet. Head physio advised orthotics, another 75 euro!That was about 4 months ago. They gave me stetching exercises morning/evening. It has begun to settle a little. I have also just started on homeopathic "ruta grav". My advise is a good physio but be prepared for a few sessions! Good luck.....

mushykeogh

hello

Had severe achilles tendonitis for about 15 months, eventually found a physio who sorted it for me. 85 euro a session and extremly uncomfortable/painful but job done in 8 sessions i think. pm me if you want the details.

scoot on

bolty... had exactly the same thing all summer. One physio said it was achilles tendonitis had about 4 weeks of sessions and decided to go to another physio. He said it was caused by flat feet. And not actually achilles tendonitis but torn soleus muscle in both legs and tears all over my calves. He told me to get orthotics aswell. I'm still waiting for them. Did they work?

Physio

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Mod note: take a wild guess...

bolty

What I noticed was the stiffness in the achillles area first thing in the morning. I also had problems hopping on one leg. That stiffness is wearing off a little now. I can also hop on one leg without much difficulty. To be honest, I dont know if it's the rest, the treatment, excersises or the orthotics. Physio said that healing this takes time as muscles heal a lot faster than ligaments etc due to increased supply. You have all my good wishes for a speedy recovery. Dont forget PMA!

Joe4815162342

Thanks for all the advice guys, really appreicate it. Im a student and have hardly any cash as it is, so i wont go down the physio route just yet. Yeah its at its worst in the mornings, sore during the day as well whenever I sit down for 10 - 15 mins and then try to walk its painful.

Noviceman

I've had tendonitis for a few years now, you have to rest it. You can also put a heat pack on it to increase the blood flow in it to help it heal, this is a very hard injury to get rid of. When you do start being active again, don't too much too quick. Also get some sorbathone insoles, this reduces the shock impact to your heels and thus your tendon, make sure your footwear is of a good standard also

Rogueish

Just to reiterate what has been said above.

1. Get yourself to a good manual therapist
2. get yourself on a good eccentric strengthening programme
3. Stretch both calf muscles the soleus and the gastronemius
4. Ice after activity (ice cup massage for 5 mins works best)
5. Get both your biomechanics (whether you need orthotics or not) checked out by someone who knows what they are talking about not by someone who saw a moneymaking opportunity and bought the gaitscan system (but thats a rant for another time)
6. Get your footwear assessed. Different types of feet need different types of support in running shoes

Lil' Smiler

Joe4815162342 wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice guys, really appreicate it. Im a student and have hardly any cash as it is, so i wont go down the physio route just yet. Yeah its at its worst in the mornings, sore during the day as well whenever I sit down for 10 - 15 mins and then try to walk its painful.

Chances are you have other things now going on in your foot and legs to compensate for this. as someone said you must make sure to do plenty of lengthing on Gastro & Soleus, also Tibalis Anterior & Posterior....

It will be worst in the morning because it will have been shortened at night and then first thing in the morning you put your feet out of bed and lengthen it.

Really as everyone has said your best route is a Physio or Physical Therapist. I can advise you of a place for €30 if you like if you're in the Dublin Area.. I don't know if I'm meant to post any info about it here, so if you're interested PM me.. and no it isn't a dodgy place, one of Ireland most recognised clinics.

The problem will only become worse as at this stage if its 9 months down the line it's chronic. it DOES have to be sorted out. I've seen so many people in clinic who have terrible trouble.

We had a guy a few weeks ago who was a barman and from kicking the kegs etc when they came off trucks, he had done his achilles in and came to us after 5 months of having the problem, within 4 sessions he said he felt great... I'd really advise treatment!

Racing Flat

Try Super Achilles Strengtheners or SAS exercises - google super achilles strengthener to find. Eccentric exercises such as these are needed as the problem is due to degeneration in the tendon (as opposed to inflammation, hence the term Achilles tendonitis is a misnomer, the terms Achilles tendinosus or tendonopathy are preferred nowadays).

Also, before rushing into orthorics consider the mode of onset - if following a specific increase in training intensity or quantity, then why would a lifelong flat footed posture have anything to do with it? Too easy to jump on the flat footed bandwagon