achiles tedinitis

Can anyone offer me any help or hope? i have recently injured my achiles tendon and cant walk or run . i have a half marathon in july and wondered if anyone else has had an injury so close to a half marathon, and still been able to run? I have been to  pyhsio and she doubted that i would be able to do it  even though my tendon would be better getting enough training in would be impossible. she also    said it could be an injury i could have a problem with in the future!!

Any advice would be great

Im sorry i didnt even say hello im new to the forum  better late then never !!!!

Hi im nicola and im new to the forum

HI Nicola,

Welcome to the forum !!

I had this about 18 months ago - the best thing for it is to get one of the exercise bands and do resistance training - your physio should recommend these to you. I didn't run for about two months, even then it was a slow build up, running 2-3 miles only. Meant I had to give up a place in VLM. On the bright side, no probs since, and recently did my first marathon in Barcelona !

So my experience is you need to think long term - I've missed loads of races over the past few years, there's always plenty of others, so do your exercises and gradually get back into it, otherwise you could have long term problems.

Might also be worth getting gait analysis and new trainers as well

Cheers,

Thanks for your advice .Wow ! i hope it doesnt take to long  i really love getting out for a run really helps me with stress and my weight

Hi Nicola

I'm sorry to say, I agree with TheClaw, think about the future and don't rush it.  I also suffered this whilst  training for the VLM having tried to get in for six years, I had to pull out.  Four months later I got a recurrence after trying to do a 10 miler (with poor build up) and that prevented me from getting the training in for this years VLM.  Don't push, be patient or it can take a very long time to get back.

All the best.

And another voice saying you need to give it 2 months I'm afraid.  I know it's not what you want to hear (I didn't!), but it's not helpful if we tell you you'll be back at 100% in a fortnight, when chances are you won't.  It mightn't take that long, but the essential thing is you listen to your body, otherwise you'll end up back at square one like Nuts.

There's masses of advice on this site (and the web - sportsinjuryclinic.com is good I've found) about treating AT (ice, rest, eccentric stretches etc), but the thing I've found most is that you have to be patient.  It can be (for me anyway) a one step forward, two steps back progress at times, but if you take it slowly you will get there; you just have to be careful not to let your desire to run overtake your common sense.  I had to withdraw from last weekend's VLM - I was gutted, but I can run it next year, and it's much better to miss one race than miss many due to long-term injury.  

Try not to be too disheartened; just last week I was feeling in the pits of despair and that I'd never be able to run properly again - this morning I ran at a decent pace for ten minutes (this really is a massive improvement for me) completely pain and tension-free and feel on cloud 9 as a result.  You will get back there!

Good luck!

So far ive had this for 5 weeks and have been to pyhsio today for the first time . I was given some streches to do and they have helped  i can now walk upand down the stairs and it doesnt hurt too much  but i do know its still early days and im still facing the fact i wont be able to run the half marathon . I know there will be other half marathons that i will be able to run in and i wont be worrying about making the injury worse so thats one way of looking at it i suppose

I have been told that i need different trainers and planning to ge my feet analysis done again i just want a second opinion as im starting to think that the sweat shop could of been wrong with my old trainers and have got it wrong ever since

I can only speak highly of the service I've had from Sweatshop - my sports physio felt the achilles tendonitis was more the fact that I'd upped the mileage / one of those things that can just happen, rather than an issue with trainers and he said that the trainers I'd been given by Sweatshop were exactly the right sort for my build and running style.

Thats good Theclaw .its great to find a good shop to go to But i have heard good and bad things about the sweatshop that hasnt put me of at all .But my physio asked me to bring my shoes with me next time so she could have a look at them . She did also say that it could be the upping of the mileage but also  could  be the wrong running shoes . This isnt the only injury ive had in the past ive had shin splint and knee probs too so this is why im starting to get a little concerned about my footwear  and have shoped around .

so far i have been to 2 different shops and have both told me i need a different sort of running so i might have to think about getting different ones and hope they are right

Nicola -  Iv'e had AT in both right and left achilles, the left has been worse and am just getting over it.  I think it was down to my running style changing.   I am currently using a heal insert in my left shoe to take some of the stress off it, may be worth asking the physio on your next visit.

Yeah the physio did mention about the inserts  and  have brought some already . can i ask a couple of questions

1, When do i start to massage the area?    

2, and did you do anything else to stop you losing your fitness barry and Theclaw?

Nicola - I used the eliptical trainer at the gym which did not cause any problems, but I tended to raise my heel on the side that was sore.  Self massage is OK, but it is pretty painful and your fingers will subconciously back off,  regular trips to the physio for a massage  will help if you can endure the
 pain.

Thanks i have been lucky or unlucky depends on how you see it really , i was shown how to massage the area    .My husband was happy to help !!! cant think why

Hi Nicola,

I can sympathise with your situation whole heartily. I'm in the British Army and have, for the last 18 months been medically downgraded due to my AT preventing me from running. I got the injury by increasing my weekly mileage in training too quickly. A fatal error on my part.
I've had regular physio which has included ultrasound, plenty of stretches on the calves and deep massage (also on the calves) using a foam roller (quite uncomfortable but very effective).
I also had my bio mechanics checked by the Podiatrist (not sure of spelling) and found that my feet were just not designed for running! (after 40 yrs). I have, as a result, had Osthetics made for my footwear which now seat my feet in the correct position.
I have, in the past 2 weeks started a 'Get back to running' plan on my Adidas micoach and fingers crossed am not getting any pain in my achilles.
During the time of not being able to run I worked on my core stability and worked hard 4 days a week on a rowing machine which not only stabilised my cardio output but offered a great stretch for the calf and achilles.
As in previous posts, my advice is quite similar but most important. Please please don't try and rush back to running. Believe me, I have been desperate to get back to it but have had to learn to be patient to the extreme. I think the trick is to find a replacement to running that can keep you motivated and look forward to when you can get back to pounding the roads again.

Good luck

PS. Don't let my 18 month lay off put you off. I'd suffered from calf problems and lower leg problems before and was told that because of this the healing of the AT would probably take a while. It was an accident waiting to happen apparently.

I had to take about 3 months off with Achilles tendonitus in October and probably ignored the warning signs too much initially. I was lucky that I was able complete VLM last year before it started to develop and in my excitement after the marathon didn't take much time off. Definitely take the time to rest and set your sights on a half marathon late summer or early autumn. I know how frustrated you'll be, but this can become a more lengthy problem. Good luck, as always other people on this site have far more practical and knowledgable detailed advice to give than me...!

My ankle is feeling loads better how long should i leave it before getting out again for a run? as i dont want to be back at square one and not be able to do anything again

and thanks everyone for the advice so far its been great

You mention running  helps you with stress. I find running a huge help with this but have not been able to run for a couple of months with posterior tibialis tendonitis.

I have set myself swimming goals instead and this has really helped. ( Did my first 80 lengths the other day and was so chuffed! ) 

I find if I still feel like an ''athlete''  ( a term I use loosely ! ) I feel better mentally and having goals helps keep me motivated. ..oh yes, and if you can bear the boredom pool running is great too.

Good that tendon is beginning to feel better though.