What's wrong with my achiles / ankles?

[Workyticket]

I have an issue with going to the doctors which I know I need to address (hate feeling like a bother and put off going) I have no reason for this at all and I need to get over myself

I have lymphedema and have put a certain amount of this down to just having shit feet and legs but know I have to go and ask for some help.

-the backs of my ankles (achiles??) are unbelievably painful and I'm shuffling like an elderly woman (I'm 45)

-it feels like something has built up maybe and I have painful lumps there. Both legs

• it feels like they're over stretched. I get some relief for my ankles from wedges but my lymphedema means that wedges are painful for my feel so the pain is just momentarily shifted
• I've bought wedge inserts for my trainers / boots which help a little but not enough

Any ideas? Now I've decided I'm going to make an appointment tge issue will be getting one! I can only try for 1 on Wednesday mornings when I'm off work!

I think you need to make an appointment with a podiatrist as well.

My friend has lymphodema. She puts her feet up whenever she can.

I got this when I was running up and down stairs a lot. Yes high heels helped. I never went to the doctor but the problem kept coming and going. Fast walking could trigger it. Not had it for couple of years now. Lockdown resting helped.

Plantar fasciitis?

It's been coming and going for a while but this bout has lasted for weeks and it's so painful. I've not noticed the lumps before and I'm worried somethings is building up back there 😫

Sounds like achilles tendonitis. I had it for years. Lumps on achilles where the tendon was inflamed and a feeling of tightness, I felt they might snap. Unable to take a normal step, my stride was a shuffle. And I had to go sideways up and down stairs. Does that sound familiar?

It took just a few physio sessions to fix me. It was mostly about stretches and being reassured I wasn't going to snap my tendons by doing them. It's incredibly painful and I still get wee flare ups every so often, years later.

@Baldieheid yes! All of that - totally feel like they'll snap and worry it'll impact my lymphedema!

Do I need a specialist physio? Should I still go via the doctor?

It sounds similar to what I’ve had before which is a combination of bursitis and an inflamed achilles. I had it all scanned on ultrasound a few years ago and they couldn’t tell whether the bursitis was pressing on the achilles and causing that to swell, or the swollen Achilles causing the bursitis.
Anyway, the physio said it didn’t matter as they would treat it the same anyway. I had to apply voltarin gel which helped reduce the swelling and then do stretches - the one where you stretch out your back leg and lean forward was the main one and I would do it when I cleaned my teeth.
I never thought simple stretches would fix it, but after about 3-4 weeks it was totally gone, like a miracle.
It does come back mildly from time to time (when I run basically) and I just stretch out and it goes. I’ve put on some weight recently and it’s come back a bit so I’m trying to lose that as well as stretch as I figure it can’t be good for the joints anyway.

The heels and wedges help as it shortens the calf muscle - but basically you need to stretch that muscle otherwise it will get worse. A normal physio fixed mine - i didn’t need a specific one, he said this was quite a common problem.

Tight tendons? You can do calf raises to help, and I also wore different shoes every day with slightly different heel sizes to improve flexibility.

Im absolutely convinced its achiles tendonitis - thanks so much!

I've messaged a local physio and I've fallen down a rabbit hole of stretches for it on YouTube

I went through nhs but stretching your calf muscles GENTLY worked. As pp said, it was just a few weeks and I was sorted, after 4 years of pain. I'm hypermobile in the ankles, my achilles tendon is way too flexible, so I think the calf etc tightened up to compensate.

It's so wonderful to be able to walk properly after treatment!! Dont wear wedges - you're shortening the calf. It needs to lengthen, but gradually.

Haglunds deformity?
Are the lumps on your heels?