Hi there
I am hoping someone can give me a bit advice on very annoying Achilles injury I have picked up.
Thinking back I have had a bit of a stiff Acchilles in my right foot for a few months now but stupidly I just thought it was one of them things. It didn't affect my running at all and it felt very minor so didn't pay it much heed. Ran Dunnerdale a few weeks ago and felt fine but picked up a bit of a cold so took a few days off. Ran at lunchtime on the following Wednesday, couple of hours on bike in the evening then started for a lunchtime run on the Thursday and had to pull up. Haven't run since so about three weeks off since.
Doing my usual self diagnosis on the internet it seems that it is Achilles tendionitis. The pain is worse when I push of, as if on the front of the foot and running up hill. The actual tendon does not feel sore but the side of the ankle does if I try to massage it - the bony bit that sticks out and then the tendon (?) up from that. I have been cycling a bit to keep sane and I can feel it a bit sore when out the saddle and pushing down on the pedals. I feel like I am a bit off running yet as it would be too sore. It is stiff and sore when I get out of bed.
I have some suspicion on what may have caused it. More road running since te clocks changed, started to run at lunchtime as well as evening but only 4m steady. Also, very lax on stretching after runs which I am annoyed with myself for.
So what have I been doing? Stretching the calf with hands against the wall and injured foot out back but with knee bent. This feels sore until I stretch it a few times then it seems to loosen up. Also heel drops though this does feel sore and I don't do too many for fear of making things worse. I have been to physio who recommended these stretches but to be honest I'm not sure she deals much with runners.
So my question is would you agree that it is achilles tendonists? If so how have you or anyone got rid of this in the past? Any other stretches I can do? How long did it take you? Any information would be appreciated as starting to go a bit loopy now with the lack of running, or so my wife tells me!
Thanks for any advice