Painful Achilles diagnosed as bi lateral tendinopathy... steroids could be the cause.

[Fieldofdreams]

thank you to everyone who gave me great advise on my painful Achilles. 3 months on I had ultra sound today and positve tendinopathy on left and right with some vasculitis. Nice ultra sound doctor told me straight away and then went to physio. Absolutely no stretches yet for a couple of weeks and slowly does it. Could take 12 months! As an x dancer I knew there was something amiss... That will be my yoga holiday up the swanny then! Booked to go to Portugal on 24th May to chill... Been doing yoga for 40 years.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Oh dear - what a shame about Portugal! You’ll have to exchange it for something slightly more restful. Hope you’re soon on the mend.

[Telian]

Change of hols plan but at least you have a diagnosis - enjoy Portugal!

[SnazzyD]

Sorry I can’t give anything here but have a question. Can I ask what extra detail the ultrasound brought to the diagnosis? Having real trouble with my tendons esp the Achilles and forearms. Not feeling like going through the rigmarole of getting seen if all I’ll get is a pat on the head and an exercise sheet. When my Achilles were so bad after Quinolone antibiotics that’s all that happened and I spent 18 months crippled. Don’t want to up Pred from 2.5mg because it feels like that is the cause.

[Fieldofdreams in reply to SnazzyD]

Doctor referred me to podiatry in Jan and got first apt with them on 22 May. I with rheumy 4 weeks ago that i wanted to get achilles looked at. referred for ultra sound. that showed the 'gross' thickening, some fluid between bones so physio knew what t advise then. it has taken 5 months of agony... but glad now I know what it is but i wasnt believed when i knew there was something wrong. now i will go to physio and self manage. i was told by phsyio who were great it could take a year!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

The one thing I DIDN'T get after quinolones was an exercise sheet!! Obviously my orthopods were more clued up! Don't remember u/s - just a physical examination and he could feel the thickening.

[SnazzyD in reply to PMRpro]

At the exercise sheet stage not one doc had linked the Quinolones, it was my dog’s vet who noticed my funny walk.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

I'd linked it myself - and went straight to the GP who had compounded the error. "Oh, I've never seen that before..." "You have now..."

But at A&E, quinolone plus methyl pred flagged it straight up for the orthopods.

[Soraya_PMR]

I had a quick learning curve with the Achilles this weekend. My 87 year old Dad said he had done something to his ankle, and when I examined it, where his Achilles should be....it wasn’t! So off to A&E for the night! Nurse said it couldn’t possibly be his Achilles, because she had ruptured hers in the past and Dad couldn’t possibly have because he wasn’t complaining of pain. She doesn’t know my Dad! Anyway, long story short, he has, and is now in a built up (high heel) boot with 2 crutches, which is all very well for his ankle, but his bone on bone arthritis in his knee is suffering badly. So awaiting ultrasound and may need surgery.

[Hidden in reply to Soraya_PMR]

I have liked but you know what I mean!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Hidden]

I do! 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Now THAT is a major performance ...

Is totally ruptured Achilles like a totally torn medial collateral ligament? No pain at all, just totally instable knee! While the few bruises from last week are excruciating if I move the knee just slightly the wrong way!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to PMRpro]

I don’t know re pain. But while sitting he has none, some when weight bearing. Bruises settling to bottom of foot today. And I discovered they had put the ‘high heel’ inside the boot upside down! He complained of pain under his heel, and I thought that can’t be right! Sorted and much more comfortable now. Ultrasound Thursday.

What’s the plan for your knee? Do you need some sort of brace?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Knee is improving - walked to the hairdresser and back! Clean hair - oh joy!!!!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to PMRpro]

Fantastic! Good for body and soul.