Running on Achilles tendinitis 🤔

[Determined55]

Hello everyone.

I haven’t been on here for ages as I haven’t been able to go running due to a pulled achilles. I never thought I would miss running so much!!

So it’s nearly 7 weeks since I’ve done any proper running so I’m pretty worried about this now 😭 I did try about three weeks ago but only managed 1k before it all hurt too much and I had to hop the 1k+ back home. It flipping hurt the next day too.

So I suppose my question is, at what point should I try running again, does my ankle need to feel 100% or is it ok if it hurts a bit afterwards? Am I doing more damage or am I helping the healing by exercising?

I find that if I do any long walks (5 miles +) or anything hilly then my ankle will hurt afterwards but will be back to the current normal by the next day (so I am aware of it but not really hurting as such).

I’ve been doing the step exercise, using a roller, massaging my ankle, sitting with my foot up in the evenings. I can still feel a lump on my ankle and improvement seems to have stalled…….. Any advice you lovely people have would be much appreciated - thanks!

Steph 😃

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

My advice would be to get professional advice , maybe an appointment with a sports physio so you know exactly what you are dealing with .You do not want to cause more problems

[Determined55 in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you. I have booked a sports physio consultation so 🤞 it’s all good news!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Take as long as it needs, if something hurts then don’t repeat it. Achilles are notorious for taking ages to heal and easily set back with over work. 🤗

[Determined55 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thanks!

[Grumpypete Graduate10]

I had a pull mid July and I still cant stand on my left leg and push up. The pain gets marginally better but its 2 months now and I cant hike, never mind run. The sports physio is good for relieving my credit card but nothing else. If you find somethingbthat works please tell us..

[Determined55 in reply to Grumpypete]

Hi Pete (I’m sure you’re not really grumpy so am not using that bit 🤣)

I’ve been hobbling for three months now and so took the decision to get proper sports physio advice. He gave me the option of a couple of months of physio, advice, exercises, etc, or a 4 week course of shock wave therapy with an option for a free 5th week if all’s not considerably better by then.

I took the shockwave therapy and I know it’s expensive (£200) but I don’t want to be hobbling in this foot forever!

So far so good. I can now do a good 30-60 mins of power walking on it with no ill effect afterwards or the next day. I haven’t tried running and I’ve been told to be careful and take things steady after the 4 or 5 weeks are up.

I have also worn more or less nothing but my trainers for the last month or so as they are just more supportive and with a cushioned heal they help as I’ve found that bare foot (eg when at home) for hours is the worst.

Everyone says the best cure is to rest an Achilles teninopathy/tendinitis but you can’t keep sit down all day so I am just more thoughtful about how much I do and when.

I will let you know how I get on as I’ll probably just run very short (and slow, but I have always been slow) sections for at least a couple of weeks.

One thing is that my ankle is still very stiff in the mornings and takes a while to feel good enough for a hike so I will have to change my running time round to later in the day (which I am not looking forward to as j like to get it done!!)

[Grumpypete Graduate10]

Thanks. I hope to have an appt with a NHS physio shortly. I have disc bulging as well but stretching is keeping that in control. I am hiking in Wales the week after next so nere is hoping those good hiking boots help! Tis a bug.r getting old!

[Determined55 in reply to Grumpypete]

The thing I’m never sure about physios is that they like to tell you to do exercises which you’re probably doing anyway!

See what they say, but maybe try looking for a sports physio who has shockwave therapy (doubt it’s available on the nhs) …. ?

[TailChaser Graduate10]

Hello! I know this is an old post now but I’ve only just seen it. I hope you’re healing and getting back to it.

I’ve had the same for months now. I went to the physio and she said I could run on it so I am. Like you, I can’t sit still enough to rest it but like GrumpyPete, I’m not convinced of her help either. I have a list of exercises and she gave it some ultrasound but nothing she has offered has really helped yet.

What I do know now is that a sports massage really helps - do you have tight leg muscles? My calves are really, really tight and I stopped having massages for a bit until I did a race a couple of weeks back. They had a free massage table at the end and the difference was incredible once they’d worked on it. I have an official one booked for Saturday and I’m looking forward to it so much!!

Good luck with your recovery, I truly know your pain!

[Determined55 in reply to TailChaser]

I can’t believe you are managing to run TailChaser! I tried after a month and then couldn’t walk for days, I knew I had really put myself back. Even after a long hilly walk I had to literally sit with my foot up for a couple of days to recover.

I also know the following few days if I have even just been busy walking about a lot.

The shockwave therapy is a very different form of physio involving work on the area surrounding the pain using a specialist machine. I would recommend trying this - it’s a faster working than just pure exercises.

Interesting about massage. I don’t think I have tight muscles but I know I’m not very good at doing the post exercise stretches 🤦‍♀️!!

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Determined55]

Oh crikey D! I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t run at all. I can only think our problems are in different parts of the tendon and maybe are for different reasons? I do ice it after a run, can’t say that would make a huge difference 🤷🏻‍♀️My hubby Katnap thinks I may stretch too much but then he barely does any and runs much more than I do. Maybe it’s luck of the draw as well…sigh.

I’ll look into the shockwave therapy, I know they do it at my physio’s but I’m not so sure about the £200 😱 Sports massage is about £50 for about 45 minutes. Just a warning though, it is ridiculously painful but it does the job. I think it mainly hurts me because my muscles are so tight. I know a lot of people in the Marathon forum swear by them. I do a lot of swearing during it instead 🤣