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I tore my right AT in 2000, kept it in pain until expensive operation in 2007, I tried all but the only way to have it pain free was rest. It's and been better than perfect since the operation.
Now I have had pain on my left AT for 18 months. If I jog 30min a day for 4 consecutive days the pain is so bad that I can feel it at night during sleeping. I'll phone the doc tomorrow.
littleniggle I picked up last weekend when I jarred my ankle on a descent, pushed my toes right back and strained the achilles a bit - at least I think that's what happened.
need to clear it up for duddon, so until I get to the physio on Tue: ice or heat or both?
I've been having a recurring problem with my left achilles tendon for a couple of months now. It all appeared to start when I bought a new pair of (road) running shoes which obviously didn't suit me. From day one my achilles became sore and got gradually worse over the next two weeks until it was impossible to walk without limping. I've since ditched them and am using shoes that I've used many times before and don't appear to aggravate it. The trouble is after resting it for a week or so until all the pain is gone it steadily builds up again until it becomes too sore in all types of running shoes even ones I using before the problem first occurred.
Does anyone have any advice or have experienced something similar, or does anyone know of a suitable physio in the East Midlands region who may be able to help?
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Is it a problem with your achilles feeling tight? If it is, the answer might lie partially at least in making sure you have a good stretch after a run. It certainly helped with mine.
Thanks for the reply,
It doesn't feel abnormally tight just sore. I have to admit I'm not the most disciplined when it comes to stretching although I do try to stretch after each run. :o I ran in the Robin Hood half marathon last weekend, it blew up and I ended up hobbling in. I went for a massage immediatley afterwards, as soon as the lady laid hands on my legs she said OMG your muscles are like concrete do you do enough stretching? so I geuss the answer would be no.:o She also advised getting a proper deep tissues sports massage which I did last Tuesday, but went for a short jog today and the problem is back.
I have been trying to stretch regularly all week but I don't understand why it's just the left achilles, the right feels normal.
I found this site very useful http://www.achillestendon.com/
my experience was that its a long term injury. Pulled mine one April at a bunny run and it wasn't better until September. Stiff and painful when I got up, eased off then limping after the drive to work. Not too bad to run on but stiffened up badly afterwards.
Mind you tendonitis is very different to a ruptured tendon which I did on the other leg....
Best get some professional advice because my problems are down to flat feet and posture.
Thanks for the replys, after studying the website that Freakzoid recommended it looks like a case of tendinosis/tendonitis, and I reckon I can narrow the cause of injury
down to misalignment or improper footwear. My legs haven't felt right all summer, like they haven't recovered from the previous run since about April. Throughout last winter I did most of my training in low profile fell or trail shoes such as X-talons or new balance MT840's. As the snow hung around for so long I hardly wore road shoes from November to February (which is unusual) and I was certainly in good shape in February/March when I was running some of my best times at XC and fell races for a long time.
My road shoes are heavily cushioned as I have suffered badly with shin splints in the past (only in the left leg) and when I started wearing them again late Feb/early March they felt strange, like running in heels.
Since then I have had numerous minor niggles, mainly with the left leg including a very painful glute, and tight hamstring.
I don't think it's an over use problem as it has occurred since I've eased off on the mileage.
Just to add my thoughts on the matter.
My gf had a similar problem to you and after a few trips to a physio she was back running in no time. Arrantly she just had a really tight Achilles, unlike my full blown tendonitis that has stopped me running for almost a year now!
Thanks for all the replies,
I've been to the physio today and he appears to have got to the root of the problem.
It's so simple it's a bit embarrassing really but it makes sense.
My road running shoes are half a size too small.
This has caused me to run with clenched toes which in turn has forced me to run slightly on the edges of my feet. I pronate with the left foot and supinate with the right.
Basically my big toe doesn't properly connect with the floor when I plant my feet, so he's pointed out a few exercies I can do to help correct the foot plant, including just walking in a straight line
with one foot directly in front of the other, as if on a tight rope, making sure the ball of the foot and big toe are planted correctly.
My X-talons are the correct fit which would probably explain why I had no problems throughout the winter and everything started to go wrong when I started
running on road again.
so fingers crossed.
P.s. I hope the tendonitis clears up soon ross88guy