Achilles tendon - will it ever get better? :-(

[Gingerbreadman]

Too much time on the bike and not enough stretching of my tight calves I thin has caused me to have twinges on the apex of my heels. (inflammation of the achilles tendon?) I dont want to make things worse so I have been off the bike for a week. Now only the left one seems to "twinge" - the right one seems fine. I think thats because I have to drive every day and using the clutch repeatedly is stressing the injury on the left one.

This is depressing me because I cant see how this is going to get better....Anybody else had similar problems?

 

[vickster]

See a physio?

 

[Berties]

As I run , cycle and swim I seem to get prone to , leg muscle problems , I have a very good biomechanics Physio ,who improved my range and flexibility,
He concentrates on the cause of problems , worth thinking about

 

[MikeG]

Achilles are notoriously slow to heal. There is poor blood supply, and it is virtually impossible to give them complete rest. However, they do eventually mend.

I suffered for 6 months many years ago. In the meantime, ice, rest, and anti-inflammatories......and see a physio.

 

[Keith Oates]

I can't give you any advice about the Achilles tendon problem but I can sympathise with you as I have in the past had Planters Heel which is another very painful problem. I went to see a Doctor (this was in Vietnam) and he gave me a course of tablets which cured the problem within about two days. I don't know if there is also a similar thing that will help reduce the pain of Achilles Tendon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Yes. Get back at the stretching and/or self massage. Once I'd been to my physio and he'd worked his magic, I pretty much look after it myself now

 

[BSRU]

I have had an Achilles tendon problem since the middle of May.
It became inflamed and very sore after bashing it on some garden machinery.
After a few days of trying to ride with it I took two weeks of the bike to rest it, lots of ice compresses, ice massage, ibuprofen, some special stretches and an ankle support.
When I started riding again I took it easy avoiding sudden bursts and just spinning lower gears than normal.

My tendon is still not 100% but this is due to getting out of a swimming pool the wrong way which put too much pressure on it and also standing on tiptoe to reach something up high.

My cycling is back to normal, 1800km for June and probably will be the same for July, it seems to have no detrimental effect on the tendon.
By the way I do not do any stretching before riding my bike, never have. I always start/finish rides warming up/down on the bike.

From what I have read it can take a long time to get back to 100% and there is a chance it will never be.

 

[Scoosh]

I had some Achilles issues a month or two ago. I was referred to a podiatrist for a bio-mechanical check and was given an inner sole for my shoes as well as some exercises:

• the 'standard' calf stretch
• the 'standard' heels-over-the-step stretch
• a specific Achilles stretch - this I can feel and am doing it regularly to prevent future problems

This video shows the calf and Achilles stretches.

HTH and take it easy ...

 

[jazzkat]

Can't add anything more but a +1 on physio and stretching.
Alternate heat and cold.

When I had an Achilles issue my physio told me that when the runners come in with issues he usually recommends cycling and for me not to stop riding.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Before we all get carried away with Achilles Tendon problems, when you say 'apex' , which bit of the heel do you actually mean?

If you mean the area where the heel merges into the ankles, yes, Achilles Tendon issue are most likely the cause. But do you mean the point of the heel? In that cause, it would be more likely to be Plantar Fasciitis, and there would be entirely different treatments.

Anyway, see a Physio!

 

[Saluki]

I tore my Achilles tendon in July 2000. It's still not right and I can't run on it as it hurts like hell. I've rested it and rested it. I've had tests on it and rested it some more. My tri days are well and truly over and my doctor expects me to get back to my beloved running sometime never. I've had a lot of physio, a lot. It's stuffed properly. When I did it, I thought that I'd been shot. I was living in Stoke on Trent so that was a pretty good first assumption.
Bugger an achilles and you'll have problems for ever.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

Thanks for all your help...

@flying Monkey - yes you are correct. The twinges (it isnt painful as such - just "not right") seem to come from the point of the heel. So if its PF, what do you recommend?

Having to drive every day seems to stop it healing (particularly the left one) - I am considering just getting back on the bike and see how I get on...

 

[vickster]

See a physio for diagnosis and treatment plan. Get an automatic car?

 

[MikeG]

Don't stretch yet!

Look, those advocating stretching really shouldn't be. It is far too early in the injury to be stretching it: this thing could still actually be bleeding internally, and have a whole lot of loose fibres flapping around. Those have to heal before you can start thinking about stretching. At the moment, it is critical to rest, use ice, and take anti-inflammatories. Only when the actual injury has repaired should anyone contemplate stretching. Stretching it now will almost certainly make matters worse, not better. This is why the first port-of-call is a physio, who can help determine the scheduling of the change-over from rest & inflammation-reduction to recuperation and return to gentle exercise.

.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Thanks for all your help...

@flying Monkey - yes you are correct. The twinges (it isnt painful as such - just "not right") seem to come from the point of the heel. So if its PF, what do you recommend?

I'm a sociologist, Jim, not a doctor!

Seriously, go see a sports physiotherapist. Even if people might have helped you out a bit identifying what it might be, you shouldn't be taking actual medical advice from any of us.