Achilles help - strange 'popping' sensation

[sofaspud]

I'm feeling discourages with this running business! I have started to feel little niggles since the lockdown - the latest of which is some strange Achilles feelings.

On Monday morning, I went running in the cold (2 degrees in Geneva). I had on summer leggings because I'm usually not cold on the bottom. I admit I didn't warm up properly but went out relatively slowly. All was going well until about 40 minutes in when I felt a pain in my right Achilles. I've always had tight calves but never issues with the Achilles. After a few minutes, I had to stop and limp the rest of the way home.

I iced and rested it all day the rest of Monday and on Tuesday and Wednesday too - doing calf stretches and the like. While doing lunges, however, I felt a strange "popping" sensation - but no pain. I went out this morning for a short run and while there was no pain, I still feel like something is amiss.

What should I do? Rest it some more? Seek some professional help? Keep stretching and working on strengthening exercises? Keep running at an easy pace for short periods? The lack of pain is baffling - especially when I feel like something is "off". Any ideas?

Many thanks!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

While I haven’t suffered from any Achilles problems myself I’ve read enough here from others that tell me you should probably see a sports physio sooner rather than later. The quicker you get a diagnosis the quicker you know what you’re dealing with and can start to work on recovery.

Please don't get discouraged, most of us get injuries of some kind because running is high impact. But things like warming up properly, cooling down, keeping muscles loose by stretching/massaging/ foam rolling will all help with our muscle heath.

All the best and keep us updated on how you get on. Just remember that injuries are temporary, running is forever 🙂

[sofaspud in reply to Irishprincess]

“Just remember that injuries are temporary, running is forever”

I so needed your response. Thank you. I feel I’ve been complaining a lot (on this forum and to my family) about running niggles but it’s true that running is forever. At least I’d like it to be and should take care of myself and optimize my running conditions!

Thank you again for the encouragement and the reminder.

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to sofaspud]

You’re welcome. I’ve had my fair share of running niggles and injuries to know how frustrating it can be. You start to wonder if you’ll ever run again. But the body has a tremendous ability to repair and yes, once you get to the core of why the injuries/niggles are happening in the first place then running really can be forever 😍

Good luck and take care 🍀

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

You’d probably benefit from high drop shoes like 12mm

runnerstribe.com/features/w...

[NetCadet Graduate10]

I'm not an expert although I had a weird achilles pain a couple of weeks ago and managed to rest it better. Popping doesn't sound good though. Trust your instinct and get it checked if it doesn't feel right 🤔

And hello from a fellow Geneva based runner! Maybe one day I'll meet you at a Divonne park run if they ever start up again! I😊

[sofaspud in reply to NetCadet]

So lovely to hear from you, fellow Geneva runner. I’ve never done the Divonne park run but I’ve joined the Geneva Runners group at Bains de Pâquis a couple of times on Saturday morning.

It would be nice to meet up sometime!