Problems with achilles tendon still

[Coffeeanytime]

I’ve had what the physio thought was achilles tendinopathy for 1 year now. I’m in so much pain every day. I can’t believe it has been 1 year and I am still not improving. I’ve had physiotherapy, exercises and shockwave therapy, none helped. It just made the pain worse. The GP refused to send me for a scan because apparently the request will be refused by the hospital due to the type of injury. They made me wait 9 months to see a Rheumatologist as they were convinced it was to do with that. The Rheumatologist was very confused as to why I had been referred to her. Apparently there is nothing rheumatological going on with me. Obviously all of the bloods were high due to the constant inflammation. Other than that, they don’t think it is anything to do with them. I have other pain in my body too, so the GP thought it might all be connected. I’m left in so much pain, I’m working full time and as each hour goes on the pain gets worse. I’ve been home for 2 hours and I can still feel the pain throbbing in my feet/ankles. I limp home after work. 8 hours on my feet at work and over an hour each way on public transport. I cannot take anymore time off sick or I will lose my job. I’ve had so much time off already due to this issue and other things. I don’t know who I need to speak to, any referral to see another specialist could be around 6 months. I wouldn’t even know which specialist to visit. Has anyone else had this? It’s both feet by the way.

An old thread but I’d be curious to see how everyone is getting on?
I’ve got insertional Achilles tendinitis and I’ve been hobbling since last August.
Like the op I’ve tried everything.
Currently awaiting a referral to orthopaedics potentially for a high volume injection and have self referred into an active recovery programme

OMG! I had a high volume saline injection. 3 years of fucking agony gone in 10 minutes.

Now l don’t have to faff with supports or laces. It’s amazing tbh!

I'm really hoping that's what is going to happen for me. It really is so painful and I can't walk very well let alone run as I used to.

That’s great to hear. It’s been mentioned to me too. 🤞I go down this route.

is it instant @ArseInTheCoOpWindow ? Could you drive straight afterwards and do you think I could have two legs done at once?

Desperate here, six months solid of exercises and no improvement, it’s severe according to the chap I see. I will push for it next time I think.

No you can’t drive for a day l think. And you have to avoid putting weight on the foot as much as poss for about 3 days.

80% relief immediately. 100% 6 weeks later.

Hi 👋

It slowly started to improve but I work on my feet for 8 hours per day. I get a 30 minute lunch break which helps and I have been getting a lift to and from work which really helps. I’ve noticed that walking around at work is not the same as traveling home from work, and walking to the trains/bus etc. it really seizes up the faster I walk. I noticed how slow I walk at work. Anyway… it has got much better but it is still 100% there. No idea how to make it better but it’s been almost heading to 2 years now. Back of my heels hurt after work and if I walk at a normal speed i.e around the shopping centre they will start having shooting pains. 🤦🏻‍♀️ strangest most persistent injury I have ever had.

I was told by the specialist that they eventually clear up on their own. Mine was 3 years in with no difference….

I am about 2 years in with mine - it is only in the last couple of months that I've noticed a small improvement
What's changed
I have lost weight
I swim (and do my physio exercises in the pool)
Physio x2 a month - including acupuncture (I post for this)
I have been told no to shockwave therapy at the moment- my NGS trust won't pay for that yet
I live in fear that my other ankle will 'go'

I don’t think mine’s said that. He’s talked about in severely inflamed tendons they produce their own little blood vessel offshoots to feed the inflammation. That’s what the exercises do, snap off the blood vessels, same thing as the saline.

He’s talked about saline twice now, I am going to ask for it at my next appt.

@dripdripdripdrip what exercises have you been given out of interest?
Mine is insertional Achilles tendonitis so the exercise I’ve found online now that I know that is v different to regular Achilles exercises

Have you changed your footwear since this all started? Flat shoes are actually a problem, you need a slight lift. Adding heel lifts inside my flattest shoes fixed most of my tendinitis pain.

I also bought a massage gun which I use in the area (couldn't touch the tendon!), then add in the physiotherapy exercises and I'm brand new after 2yrs of pain.

The heel lifts made the biggest difference tbh.

@CornishPorsche it was a day of dancing at a festival in converse that kicked all this off! I’ve now got orthotics and ditched the converse

I saw a podiatrist. Cost me £35 for an appointment, he assessed my feet and I did need custom orthotics which were expensive, £180 I think. Mine was a peronal tendon in my ankle, not my Achilles.

For me to be honest it hasn’t helped a lot but I’ve since had a diagnosis of elher Danlos syndrome……..I wonder if that’s what your GP has been thinking and why they referred you to a rheumatologist?

I did also get referred to orthopedics who did lots of scans, steroid injections, repaired my tendon, again none of it helped. They missed my EDS.

it was a private osteopath who picked it up and I’ve since had the diagnosis confirmed. Sadly everyone now washes their hands of me!

but yours could be a simple Achilles issue not EDS. In which case a podiatrist appt would help and push for a referral to orthopedics.

From the bupa website;

Most people don’t need surgery for Achilles tendinopathy. But if you’ve been trying other treatments for several months and they haven’t helped, surgery may be an option. You will need a referral to a specialist foot and ankle surgeon, who can assess if surgery may be helpful for you. Your surgeon may ask you to have some scans to check the condition of your tendon.
Surgery involves removing damaged areas of your tendon and repairing what’s left of it. Your surgeon may need to use tissue from higher up your Achilles tendon or from a different tendon for these repairs. It will take time to recover from Achilles tendon surgery, and the surgery will leave scars. Surgery doesn’t work for everyone with Achilles tendinopathy.

My exercises are currently phase 3 of this. Had to stop when I had COVID for a month as I was knackered but other than that I have been doing this phase for five months. Both of my legs are 'bad legs'. Caused by chemotherapy not anything physical.

Link

Sorry, that was for @Allfurcoatandnoknickers !

Thanks @dripdripdripdrip !

Did anyone get over this completely?

I've had the problem in both ankles for about six months, but much worse on the right. Paid to see a private podiatrist who did a scan and confirmed Achilles tendinitis and gave me exercises.

I found it hard to stick to them initially but have been better the last few weeks, but it doesn't really seem to be helping. In fact some days I feel worse

I think the left (less damaged one) is improving but the right isn't. I also get shooting pains if walking at normal speed down the road.

Will this ever go away? I'm 42 but feel about 80. It's really affecting my quality of life

Hi 👋 nope 👎
I have changed jobs now and basically sit down most of the day, now when I do try to walk, like around the shopping centre it starts hurting. Been trying to do stretches the last few days, making it hurt more. Not really sure what to do about it. I heard from the physio before that shockwave therapy can be helpful as it allows blood flow to the area to help it heal. For me it was really painful but didn’t work, just made me limp even more after every session, I had 8 sessions. You could give it a try? Physio have to arrange it usually at your hospital.

I sympathise. I’m still in tendon pain and now my other leg has started with the same. My friends want me to go to New York with them next year and simple things like that I feel I can’t do. I’m crippled with pain some days and struggle to walk five mins to the shop never mind to spend 5 days on my feet non stop. Never thought in my 40s I’d be struggling with general mobility like this.

Did you try some heel lifts? Mine are just cheap ones off Amazon, nothing expensive or bespoke. Made a huge difference immediately.

How about targeted exercises? You can see lots of physio videos to follow on YouTube for free.

Hi all, thought I'd add my own contribution.

I have diagnosed insertional tendinopathy, diagnosed by an MRI and a private consultant.

I spent a year being told it was a bursa by physios and podiatrists but the MRI showed all the calcification. I had three sessions of EXCRUCIATING shockwave and three months of physio and all the pain went. Then I did a 12mile walk around a city and it started again.

I did manage to maintain fitness and weights etc.

So after another year of physio etc I went to see an osteopath when my knee started hurting also. Who told me I am hypermobile. I am now doing daily calf/ankle/quad stretches. I have also found out that I have connective skin issues.

Anyway, I am finding the new exercises are helping a lot, plus I have worn cork raises under the bad ankle for the last 3yrs which makes a massive difference.

I did but I felt like they didn’t do much 🤦🏻‍♀️ I might order some again actually and give it a go.

To add a bit of hope to the thread - 3 years after my first flare I am pain free and my lump has completely gone!
My last flare was March and I finally saw a physio who gave me a series of exercises designed to strengthen the ankle but also to get me using my calf properly, according to her ankle/foot problems occur due to lack of stability in the calf so the ankle has to overwork for stability. I have also been doing weekly reformer pilates which I feel has made a huge difference and I only wear trainers/flat boots, all my heels have gone!
Running/jumping type exercise will probably be off the table for the rest of my life, but I can swim, cycle, weight lift and horse ride without pain, so that will do for me.

I did have a scan with a physio specialist and he showed me some white marks I think it was a confirmation of the issue. Told me I had to do the exercises it is the only way. He was really nice, might start them again but it’s really off putting because it hurts after doing them, or any physical activity involving the feet.