So fed up with Achilles injury that won't get better.

[KickBishopBrennanUpTheArse]

Has anyone else been through this?

It started in January but stupidly I didn't admit to the problem and carried on running until March.

By the time I stopped I had a lump on the back of my ankle which I think is bursitis but I've had mixed advice and I'm not even sure now if it's bursitis or tendonitis or both.

I've seen a doctor, an nhs physio and a private physio. They've given me a variety of stretches and strengthening exercises but none of them make any difference (or make it worse)

It's really getting on my nerves now. It has been swollen and painful this week after a bike ride and sometimes walking makes it worse so basically I can't do anything (massive sulky pouty face)

The only treatment that worked for me was the acupuncture/ultrasound combo. This injury can last many, many months even years. It’s an absolute swine.

Fluff someone else said that to me. How long did it take to work? And did you pay privately for it? Is yours completely better now or does it flare up for ever?

Q1 about 8 sessions
Q2 originally on NHS. Second time after a flare-up paid privately for maybe 4 sessions. Probably about £50 a session I think
Q3 still flares up but I’m much better at spotting it and resting accordingly.

Stretch, stretch and stretch again. Easier said than done I know.

Alfredson's heel drops - eccentric tendon stretches. Lots of advice vids on YouTube. I do about 30 a day, and especially after running.

There was a longer thread about this in this bit of MN a while back - maybe search for it? There was some good advice there.

foam roller, massage, get the tension out of unhelpful muscles

Yes to that! It's often about calf tension.

hamstrings for me, actually. I've heard ppl blame their Achilles Tendonitis on hip tightness, even.

I have chronic Achilles problems after a number of calf strains, I mean really chronic as in almost a whole year off running but still bad. I’ve found that not stretching is better for me - no more heel/vmo dips etc (but I spend several hours a week riding horses with lots of weight in my heels). Following with interest

My AT is ok at moment... but I think could easily flare up again. I'm not really sure how to proceed to keep problems away, but am thinking about some kind of massage therapy.

Thanks everyone. Sorry you're all suffering too.

I found the other thread and from links on that I'm now pretty sure mine is insertional AT. Oh joy.

It's been over 6 months since it started and 4 months since I last ran and I don't think it's got any better in that time. I now think I've been doing all the wrong things e.g. stretching my calves and giving up on calf raises because they hurt.

Interestingly the advice from a bloke I chatted to in the pub to do heel lifts and gradually add weights now seems spot on. I had tried it but stopped because it hurt.

I'm seeing a private physio tomorrow so I will ask about other problems that might be contributing.

Yes, the heel drops DO hurt. But in my experience, they work. But ask your physio.

Interestingly the advice from a bloke I chatted to in the pub to do heel lifts and gradually add weights now seems spot on. I had tried it but stopped because it hurt.

My friend was advised to do this by a physio. She was wearing a small backpack she gradually increased the weight using tins of beans etc. She's doing fine now. Good luck, any kind of foot/ankle issue can be a long haul. Going through it myself for a different issue but been advised surgery is the only 'cure'. I'm not ready for that as it's a long recovery period and up to 12 weeks non weight bearing.

I developed tendonitis because of underlying instability. My Achilles are hypermobile. Have they identified the root cause? It may be something that needs preventative treatment rather than just aftercare.

Following as I've really been struggling with my Achilles for about 6 months. As in I hobble to walk for the first few minutes after getting up from a chair. And resting from running hasn't helped . I am Hypermobile though

Following as I have this too. And have had since March.

IME stopping running was a mistake. I am now back to running as often as possible, and have just upped my distance from 1K to 1 mile and now 2 miles.

Massages from the physio were nice but didn't seem to make much difference.

I am doing stretches every day.

Don't know if it will work but it hurts less now than at the start and than when I stopped running to see if that would help.

There's apparently a difference between tendonitis and tendinosis. No idea what, but I understand the treatment is different. My friend has tendinosis and she's done the backpack exercises.