Achilles tendonitis

[handmademitlove]

My Dd injured herself a week ago. GP was concerned about stress fracture so sent her to A&E. We saw a nurse practitioner who said nothing significant wrong and diagnosed achilles tendonitis. No xrays or other investigation. My dd is still in severe pain and struggling to walk more than a few steps. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to cope with school and stairs etc for the next few weeks? She has pain relief but not helping much. The nurse suggested kt tape.

The only think that fixes mine is rest and suitable shoes unfortunately. I can't wear flat shoes at all and those insoles you can buy don't cut it for me.

Has she been given any exercises to do?

Oh and mine was diagnosed via ultrasound so I think I'd be asking for a proper investigation!

The tape definitely helps but you do need to be taught to do it. It’s really painful and can be very slow to heal. Ask for physio they will probably give exercises and can show you how to tape it. It’s months not weeks.

I had this as a child. It was agonising! I was given a gel from the GP that I had to massage in to get the tendons to stretch and that sorted it.

So I guess going back to the GP for a proper plan would make sense? A&E is not so great for soft tissue injuries - I find they tend to be quite dismissive with follow up or no care plan in place for injuries that take a long time to heal.
Any practical suggestions for managing school? She has naproxen and I have ordered an ankle support and tape.

I've had achilles problems for months now. Ice is my best friend.

This isn't achilles tendinitis.

It's an injury to the achilles, the two are not the same and require investigating and managing differently.

Someone with no previous symptoms, who has an injury and now can't walk needs assessing properly. Whatever gets her into a foot and ankle clinic this week ideally. Via walk in, minor injuries , gp or even ED again.

I get Achilles tendinitis but can still walk when it’s at its worst.
I find stretching and icing help. I dint wear flat flats anymore. A small heel or wedge helps.
Maybe a physio or podiatrist?
Physio might tape it for you?

Sounds more serious than tendinitis though ime

Don't wear trainers or sliders. Mine was incredibly painful and the physio told me trainers were making it worse- the backs were too high. I stopped wearing them and (sliders around the house) and wore an ankle support and it improved really quickly.

@FixTheBone I have the option to take her to physio for an assessment but at the moment she can't bear anyone touching it. I could try minor injuries but they also have nurse practitioners and I am not sure I will get a different answer. The GP is another option. I did try pinching her heel today as suggested as an indicator for stress fractures and she said it was not as sore as when the nurse pinched the tendon... Not sure what to do next tbh.