achillies tendonitis

[cgx]

Hi, generally unfit 55 yaer old, overweight. Did a bit of walking in the summer (not excessive, just discovered geocaching with my little girl so had a week driving/walking off 2 weeks then another week driving/walking). During this time has a slight pain in left heel, enough to make me limp on occasions but not really that bad. Last Thursday we did our longest walk (6 miles) and I felt fine...however, come Saturday the pain in my left heel became much worse, so much so that had to go to GP yesterday as was struggling to put any weight on it. She diagnosed achillies tendonitis and sent me on my way with some exercises and told to take paracetamol and co-codomol for the pain. The more I have looked at it I'm not sure she is right - I dont feel any pain in the tendon at all, its all around the middle/bottom of my heel and its getting worse, spent today crawling around the house as its literally too painful to put any weight on at all - the pain is there whether I move my foot or not. Scrunching toes upwards does increase the pain, which obviously involves the tendon, but reading about it on the net (I know) it really seems to apply more for those people where the achillies hurts after exercise - I cannot even stand up, let alone exercise at the minute! Which also goes back to how to improve, she gave me a list of exercises from easy to hard - I am nowhere able to start the easy one (put affected leg behind me with heel on the floor) as its too painful.

It also seems to be brought on by overuse - I'm not sure a couple of walks in the summer followed by a 6 mile one would be considerd overuse?

Anyone any experience of this?

Many thanks

[hotchy]

If its the heel it's most likely planter fasciitis. Look into arch support it sorted mine.

[boombang]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plantar-fasciitis/

Have a read of the above. I had this from soft foamy shoes (Skechers arch-fit) it was dealt with by shockwave therapy from a physio and changing my shoes (to flat minimalist). Hope it never returns.

[ben5575]

I'm struggling with achillies tendonitis at the moment after an enthusiastic run.

What you're describing sounds like plantar fasciitis: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plantar-fasciitis/

I've also suffered with this as well. If you search ph, there are loads of threads on it along with exercises etc.

If it is pf, then you're in for the long haul I'm afraid. It'll hurt the most when you get out of bed. These, whilst not sexy, are brilliant if you can keep them on through the night: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SX189C4?ref=ppx_yo2...

Also try these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beenax-Hard-Spiky-Massage...

And orthotic insoles

ETA beaten to the same links

Edited by ben5575 on Thursday 7th September 19:38

[cgx]

Hi, yeah initially thought PF as well, but GP says it wasn't - was with her for around 20 minutes, much longer than the prescribed 12 and assume she knows what she is talking about...

[cgx]

It also seems to get worse during the day, getting out of bed in the morning, while really painful, doesn get better as the day goes on...

[Lotus Notes]

Age = tendons getting less flexible = tendinitis.
It does come on acutely and you'll suffer - However, it's worth getting the opinion of a physiotherapist.

Achilles = heel drops and stretching. Don't get inserts/insoles; If you had a stiff neck, you wouldn't want to go around with a neck collar for the rest of your life. Enjoy the pain

[cgx]

ben5575 said:

I'm struggling with achillies tendonitis at the moment after an enthusiastic run.



Also try these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beenax-Hard-Spiky-Massage...

Edited by ben5575 on Thursday 7th September 19:38

Ordered, just in case :-) (they look painful!). Thanks

[ben5575]

cgx said:

Hi, yeah initially thought PF as well, but GP says it wasn't - was with her for around 20 minutes, much longer than the prescribed 12 and assume she knows what she is talking about...

Think about hopping on the leg in question or even placing a hand on a worktop and lifting yourself up on the foot in question. If the idea fills you with horror, then it's your achillies.

If you get some relief from spreading your toes or have a 'hurts but in a good way' thing when you stretch your toes up then it'll be pf*

'*internet expert

[stuthemong]

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/ph...

It could be insertional achillies tendinitis, where the tendon joins the heel

I have non-insertional flare ups and it’s a real pain.

I’ve got heel inserts to take some load off and do weighted heel drops/raises morning and night and it is helping.

Good luck

[cgx]

ben5575 said:

Think about hopping on the leg in question or even placing a hand on a worktop and lifting yourself up on the foot in question. If the idea fills you with horror, then it's your achillies.

If you get some relief from spreading your toes or have a 'hurts but in a good way' thing when you stretch your toes up then it'll be pf*

'*internet expert

lol, OK its definitely my achilleas if thats the test :-)

[cgx]

stuthe said:

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/ph...

It could be insertional achillies tendinitis, where the tendon joins the heel

I have non-insertional flare ups and it’s a real pain.

I’ve got heel inserts to take some load off and do weighted heel drops/raises morning and night and it is helping.

Good luck

Thats a superb link, and is exactly where the pain is - thank you for that

[stuthemong]

cgx said:

stuthe said:

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/ph...

It could be insertional achillies tendinitis, where the tendon joins the heel

I have non-insertional flare ups and it’s a real pain.

I’ve got heel inserts to take some load off and do weighted heel drops/raises morning and night and it is helping.

Good luck

Thats a superb link, and is exactly where the pain is - thank you for that

No problem. I’d advise morning and night physio and make sure your footwear isn’t exasibating the pain / flat shoes with little arch support and padding are not so good - I like flat shoes but moving to trainers last few weeks has really helped, for the first time in 6 months morning pain has gone, which is just a joy tbh, thought it would never go away but heel drops and shoes and no running and I think I can imagine being pain free once again if I stay careful!

Best link I found said to aim for a 3-4/10 pain during drops or following morning. Never go above, keep track of how many/what weight drops you do and keep building it up. If you don’t have any pain it’s probably not being built up enough, so I do drops with a 22kg db on my neck now to not overdo it but give it something to think about!

Good luck

[cgx]

Thanks Stu - will bear all that in mind.

My issue at the minute is getting to that stage, at present I cant put any weight on it, as i say I am literally crawling around the house, have moved my duvet downstairs and will sleep on the couch as the stairs are too painful to navigate - hopefully a bit pain medication over next couple of days will take the edge off where I can start to do some of the exercises recommended.

Thanks again

[smashy]

Achilles Tendonitis is an absoloute so and so to get rid of. Weeks of normal physio stuff can get you nowhere.

But I know what works , as long as it is not ruptured and that is 3 sessions once a week of shockwave therapy must be focused shockwave not radial then it takes a few weeks usually to do it's work shockwave is a gamechanger re this problem Be prepared to spend around £600, but you are near enough guaranteed success