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Thread: Achilles Strain - What to do?

  1. #1
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    Achilles Strain - What to do?

    Okay, I started serious "barefoot" running back in February/March. I started slow, completely barefoot and only 5 to 10 minutes at a time on a treadmill. Eventually moved to mixed surface (road/trail) for 2-5 miles, slow pace. Did that for a couple of weeks and suddenly my Achilles tendon just went south.

    I've read the threads on VFF/barefoot on this site and others. Did some searching around and found advice on eccentric stretches, etc. I've been off *all* running now for nearly 3 months and doing just light leg work and stretches (in addition to normal weight lifting). Started back last week with shoes and it still painful. Enough that I know barefoot is out of the question.

    Am I doing something terribly wrong here? Any thoughts on what I can do to sort this out? I ran a couple of days ago with a taped up tendon, and it was okay (short and slow), but I dont' want to have to rely on that too much.

    Oh...and I'm 45 years old. Maybe that has something to do with it

    Edit: and before someone asks "why" I want to continue barefoot...That few weeks was the first time since I ran the Marine Corps Marathon that I was able to run more than a mile or so with NO knee pain at all. I just loved it.
    Last edited by 5cary; 07-07-11 at 15:00.
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    Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway

  2. #2
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    For the most part, rest is your best bet. Also, while I am currently a medical student, I am not a board certified physician, so I recommend a trip to see your doctor. If you've stopped running for the most part and still having issues, time to talk to the pro as there may be structural issues at play.

    As to the barefoot issue, I only run barefoot on the beach for the same reasons you seem to want to continue that way. My knee, which was the reason I left the Fleet in the first place, has been operated on more than I care to remember. It is a source of chronic pain, even when I'm not running. Barefoot on the beach is heaven for me. When I'm not in the sand, I've got a pair of those Reebok ReeFlex shoes and they are amazing. Love them as they are lightweight, and free moving. Won't be running in anything but them for the time being.

    Hope this all helps.


    H
    "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."-Thomas Paine

  3. #3
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    I appreciate the input. I was hoping to avoid a doctor up front - not because I don't trust them, but because I can hear it now - "see a physical therapist". My schedule does not allow for that very easily (or at all, actually).

    Having said that, perhaps it's time. Don't they make a pill or something I could take to fix this?
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    Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway

  4. #4
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    Oh no doubt, but you can ask them for "at home" physical therapy exercises after your initial eval. If nothing else, having a competent doc make sure you don't have anything that is more serious than a strain is a good idea. Last thing you want is to have a minor tear turn into a full blown one because you didn't get it eyeballed by someone with a fancy degree. Despite my current educational endeavors, I hate doctors, but there are some things that don't just get better on their own.

    As for the magic happy pills, they kind of suck if you need to drive anywhere, work, etc. I'm prescribed a handful of different pain meds, but because of my job, I very rarely take them. I cannot work with the stuff in my system, so I choose to just take the OTC Aleve when the knee gets intolerable enough.

    Get better boss.


    H
    "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."-Thomas Paine

  5. #5
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    I was kidding about the pills. Sort of.

    Anyway, I'll see a doc. Last thing I need is to turn another 3 months of no running into a year of no running.

    Thanks again.
    ********************
    Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway

  6. #6
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    Oh I know. On the rare occasions I do pop the happy-stuff, life is all beer and Skittles until they wear off...

    Going long stints without being able to run blows. For a while, I got it in my head to buy a bike and ride to get my cardio in. Found out it ain't the same thing only after the discomfort in the "tender region" sank in. Now it's run or swim on days the knee is really bad.


    H

    PS: Speaking of swimming, it might be advisable to get into the pool for the zero-impact cardio. Just make sure you are increasing carb and protein intake, as it is a total body exercise and to avoid losing muscle mass. I learned the hard way back in high school.
    "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."-Thomas Paine

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    I've had Achille's problems for roughly 20 years now. One key for your treatment will be to identify whether you have a strain, tear, tendonitis, or tendonopathy. My pain has been good, bad, better, worse, gone for two years, back again, etc. The last specific injury was the worst of the lot and finally ended with an MRI and two specialist visits. The single most important info I got was: docs have been diagnosing and treating Achille's pain wrong for a long time. The diagnosis is usually tendonitis, i.e. inflammation. The treatments often didn't work, or worked poorly. The thinking was that the Achilles is just tough to treat for a lot of reasons. Per the most recently educated doc I went to and his APN (they specialize in ankles): Recent research has really emphasized that most of these injuries are not an -itis but an -opathy (deterioration.) Many of the -itis treatment modalities are simply not effective, or can actually be harmful. The only treatment that was found to be effective short of surgery was eccentric strengthening starting with no weight on flat ground, and progressing slowly to heavy weight over a stair edge. One paper found that most of their surgical candidates who were put on this program ended up canceling surgery. This was my experience as well. The other two keys were: no concentric exercises (like traditional calf raises), and no stretching. They were emphatic about both. This program was completely successful for me. NOTE: I am not a doctor, I don't play one on TV, and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so take this for the little bit that it might be worth. See a good doc with recent education and a progressive attitude before you try this. Make SURE you don't have a tear which can be made worse. I've seen a complete tear during a volleyball game and I guarantee you don't want to go there. Google Achille's tendonopathy or tendonosis and related subjects and you'll find a lot more info. Good luck.

  8. #8
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    I can only echo good advice-seek professional medical help.

    Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Achilles tendonitis/plantar fasciitis sucks big time. The quicker you get to healing and fixing what caused it the quicker you can get back to normal living. Oh, "quick" is relative cuz it won't be. Tendons have a limited blood supply and heal slowly. If you keep pushing and just pop pills to cover the pain you can end up with a full or partial rupture, need surgery and be in a boot for months.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by GIJew766 View Post
    Going long stints without being able to run blows. For a while, I got it in my head to buy a bike and ride to get my cardio in. Found out it ain't the same thing only after the discomfort in the "tender region" sank in. Now it's run or swim on days the knee is really bad.

    You might want to get your bike-fit checked out by a competent shop. Also there is a real reason riders wear spandex bike shorts, and it's NOT a fashion statement! They work.

    As for getting your cardio in on the bike, you will have to ride smarter to elevate your HR, and/or increase your distance.
    Two broken Tigers, on fire in the night,
    Flicker their souls to the wind...
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  10. #10
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    Thanks again for all the responses. I made a doctor's appointment. The same guy that saw me for knee pain...this should be worth a laugh.

    Getting old just sucks in so many ways.
    ********************
    Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway

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