How long did your problem with achilles take to go?

[Sundiamond]

I've got achilles tendinopathy in both feet/calves.

I let it go for a month or three and now doing exercises. I am just worried it has already become chronic and won't improve.

I'm desperate to get back to sport!

Any thoughts/advice?

Mine pretty much recovered after a week. I had a ‘bulge’ at the back of my leg.

Iced the tendon for a couple of days and used pressure socks. Rested four a couple of days. Then did walking as exercise (recommended by dr, apparently you’re not meant to rest with this).

Ran 5k after a week, with compression socks, all good. I don’t run every day anymore, but every other day as Achilles tendinitis is a strain inj and I’m being careful with it

@CatsGoPurrrr - thats reassuring. I don't think I treated mine as quickly as I could. Now it feels more embedded. Ugh!

Are you sure of the diagnosis ?
Could the feet be plantar fasciitis ?

No, I'm certain its tendons

I have tight calves and not stretched enough with very regular exercise

That would be my theory

I'm 3 months in and still suffering. I have the bulge mentioned earlier, and getting downstairs in the morning is agony. The pain lessens as the day goes on, but any sustained exercise is out of the question. So annoying!

About 4 weeks.

Whereabouts is your bulge on the leg?

What exercise have you been doing/can you do?

I'm now 3 months in and still in pain. No bulge but it's sore to the touch and also sore with every step I walk - not massively sore and not enough to stop me walking so I pretty much ignore it on a day-to-day basis.

I haven't been able to run since May though. I rested it for a month then tried running and the pain just came right back. Rested it for another month, same again. It's incredibly frustrating and I'm worried in case my running days are over. Have physio booked for next week though and am hoping there will be a solution!

@lurkingfromhome - I'm so sorry it's still not right. Whereabouts is the bulge? Calf or ankle?

I fear not being able to exercise too. It is sore all the time but not enough to stop me walking or doing my day to day stuff. But I worry about exercise. I've not not exercised. It freaks me out that it could be stopped!

No bulge but it's very tender to the touch a couple of inches up from my heel, so upper ankle, I guess. I've always been a bit prone to Achilles problems but this is the first time that it just will not heal and like you, I am worried about the long-term implications. I don't like swimming or any other non-impact exercise - actually, running is the only thing I really enjoy doing and can stick to without losing interest so I'm really hoping the physio can suggest something!

If you can find a therapist get some acupuncture done on it. I had it recurringly and it's awfully painful, but it was acupuncture that sorted it out finally!

@Sforsh49 - yep, I had acupuncture on Sat. It did help but today back to being sore. I'm def going to have it more, although it's not cheap.

I'm wearing trainers around the house too, now, DESPITE THE HEAT, to support the ankle.

I've got one ankle with a bulge at the ankle. The other is sore and the mid back of the calf is very sore

It's so painful isn't it. I have gone 4years with achilles tendinitis. Like you say, lump on back of heel which is so sore. Had ultrasound and tendon is thin and frayed. I often think it will rupture. Going to use the insoles to raise heels, and do some icing now.

Mine got very achey and sore walking back and forth on the school run, I could barely move. My dad recommended me these heel inserts for my shoes, available from any chemist. I humoured him as I was desperate. They had an almost instantaneous positive effect, and I ate my fairly disparaging words to him! Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, orthopedic inserts are key. But I guess I've been at home a lot, walking barefoot, or in sandals of late and that's no good.

God, i hope I don't have this for four years! Poor you, Caramelblonde

It's not solved with the first session, it will take a few, but it's worth it, fortunately for me I get private physio through work so I didn't pay, however I have paid in the past for post herpatic neuralgia and I know how expensive it can be!

There is a line of thinking that says to avoid the shoe inserts as they do provide relief without solving the problem - ie you need to train your Achilles to extend correctly without damaging itself, but wearing the insert keeps it short and so while it gets rid of the pain, it won't help long term. It's the same thinking that says you need to keep exercising it and not rest it, as you need to train it. I don't know what's best but I hadn't thought of acupuncture so if I get nowhere with the physio I might look into that.

It really can be so painful, and I am so resentful that I've lost 3 months of my lockdown running plan and really nice running weather and have spent them limping around the house!

The exercise I found brilliant was calf stretches.
Stand on a step and lower ur heels down x3 a day - you will feel the tendons stretching but don’t go overboard .