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

[Shut Up Legs]

I also had a strained left Achilles heel about 4 years ago, and still occasionally get very minor aches in it. In my case it was due to many years of riding long distances using platform pedals, which force your ankle to do more work to keep your feet on the pedals. Upon getting the heel problem, I switched to SPD pedals, and it immediately started getting better. I've also tried in the years since to make my pedaling motion as smooth as possible (which also helps reduce wear on the drivetrain, so the bike and I are both happy about that! ).
I also don't do any stretches, but I've been cycling so long that my legs are used to it anyway, and I've never felt the need for any stretches before or after rides. But each to his/her own...

 

[vickster]

Go see a physio. If you can't afford a few private consultations. Go see your GP, get a diagnosis and an NHS referral (and probably a long wait). You might be best seeing the GP first anyhow even if able to go private (which you'll want to do as it's evidently causing issues)

 

[Brandane]

I came on this board to post about an achilles problem, only to find this timely thread!
I have recently been bothered by sharp pain in my left achilles tendon which I am now convinced has been caused by cycling. I was fine at the start of June, but following a cycling holiday in France (740 miles in 2 weeks) plus 200 miles during the rest of June (so about 3X my normal monthly miles) it started.
I have just had a complete rest from cycling for a week and felt fine, but 27 hilly miles yesterday and it was back within the first 3 miles.
Internet diagnosis points to achilles tendonitis and at the age of 52 suggests I better get sorted before I end up with chronic tendonitis. So it looks like a visit to the physio (yet again) for me, and a long rest from cycling.
If it's not one thing it's another with this cycling lark. Knees, hips, and now achilles. I thought it was supposed to be good for you!!

 

[vickster]

I know how you feel!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I came on this board to post about an achilles problem, only to find this timely thread!
I have recently been bothered by sharp pain in my left achilles tendon which I am now convinced has been caused by cycling. I was fine at the start of June, but following a cycling holiday in France (740 miles in 2 weeks) plus 200 miles during the rest of June (so about 3X my normal monthly miles) it started.
I have just had a complete rest from cycling for a week and felt fine, but 27 hilly miles yesterday and it was back within the first 3 miles.
Internet diagnosis points to achilles tendonitis and at the age of 52 suggests I better get sorted before I end up with chronic tendonitis. So it looks like a visit to the physio (yet again) for me, and a long rest from cycling.
If it's not one thing it's another with this cycling lark. Knees, hips, and now achilles. I thought it was supposed to be good for you!!

when mine plays up it is usually a good sign that I need to look at my toe/knee/hip alignment and watch ankle position when cycling (advise from a cycling physio I saw abroad). Thankfully it only takes a day or two for it to clear and then the odd twinge for me to remember to watch my alignment and ankle position...

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Is it only me or am I the only who finds that cycling helps to relieve the pain of old injuries rather than create new ones.

Aches and pains ( including a sore Achilles) seem to disappear when I'm spinning the pedals on me bike and I can cycle blissfully for miles without feeling any pain whatsoever.

Can't recall having suffered a bike related injury.

 

[Brandane]

when mine plays up it is usually a good sign that I need to look at my toe/knee/hip alignment and watch ankle position when cycling (advise from a cycling physio I saw abroad). Thankfully it only takes a day or two for it to clear and then the odd twinge for me to remember to watch my alignment and ankle position...

Interesting...... Do you use SPDs/clipless? Just wondering as I gave up on them a long time ago as I felt they were of limited advantage at my level of cycling, but they seemed to be causing foot cramps, then I had problems with knees and hips which may or may not have been caused by SPDs.. When I reverted to flats, the knee problems disappeared. I appreciate this may be down to them not being properly set up; but I tried different variations which did nothing but transfer the problems between feet/knee/hips. They simply weren't worth the trouble, so off to the bin they went!

 

[Brandane]

Is it only me or am I the only who finds that cycling helps to relieve the pain of old injuries rather than create new ones.

Aches and pains ( including a sore Achilles) seem to disappear when I'm spinning the pedals on me bike and I can cycle blissfully for miles without feeling any pain whatsoever.

Can't recall having suffered a bike related injury.

There are a lot of variables there which might make a difference; e.g. what age are you? How much cycling do you do? How much effort do you put in? Do you drag a fully loaded tourer for 700 miles across France? Do you do a lot of hilly miles, or mostly flat? etc. etc...

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Interesting...... Do you use SPDs/clipless? Just wondering as I gave up on them a long time ago as I felt they were of limited advantage at my level of cycling, but they seemed to be causing foot cramps, then I had problems with knees and hips which may or may not have been caused by SPDs.. When I reverted to flats, the knee problems disappeared. I appreciate this may be down to them not being properly set up; but I tried different variations which did nothing but transfer the problems between feet/knee/hips. They simply weren't worth the trouble, so off to the bin they went!

nope, I can't use them (slightly paralysed down my left side of my body and can't rotate my foot and also need ankle support permanently due to hypermobility issues).
I just get the odd RSI in my right ankle and the occasional twinge in the Achilles (which I tore badly as a teenager) if I let my alignment drop or ankle position goes (as established by the cyclist physio in Norway when I was on tour)

 

[BSRU]

Interesting...... Do you use SPDs/clipless? Just wondering as I gave up on them a long time ago as I felt they were of limited advantage at my level of cycling, but they seemed to be causing foot cramps, then I had problems with knees and hips which may or may not have been caused by SPDs.. When I reverted to flats, the knee problems disappeared. I appreciate this may be down to them not being properly set up; but I tried different variations which did nothing but transfer the problems between feet/knee/hips. They simply weren't worth the trouble, so off to the bin they went!

I did read that incorrect foot position can cause problems, something called toeing when the pedal spindle is in front of the ball of your foot. Several websites recommend having the ball of the foot just in front of the spindle.

 

[BSRU]

My mistake it's called "ankling", not "toeing"

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Is it only me or am I the only who finds that cycling helps to relieve the pain of old injuries rather than create new ones.

Aches and pains ( including a sore Achilles) seem to disappear when I'm spinning the pedals on me bike and I can cycle blissfully for miles without feeling any pain whatsoever.

Can't recall having suffered a bike related injury.

Yes, I have a 25 year old knee injury that I could swear used to hurt more. But now I have lots of cycling muscles around the knee, supporting it very nicely! The ironic thing is that the knee injury was caused by me falling of my bicycle back then .

 

[User6179]

If your straining your calf then I would suggest moving the cleats back and saddle forward , had right Achillies pain walking for a few years but never on the bike.