Leinster

My achilles decided yesterday that walking up stairs was a bad idea. Nothing in particular brought it on, I hadn't been doing anything strenuous on the day in question, I'd actually been sitting down all morning, and it just started aching. I'm walking a lot better now, and stairs aren't a problem, but this evening I wasn't able to jog on it at all, in rugby boots or in runners.

Any thoughts on what the problem could be? nyone have anything similar happen to them? Can/should I still ride? It feels like the impact of foot-planting when running is the problem there, rather than motion.

happyscientist

Take it easy. No easier than that. Seriously. AT injuries take forever to heal. A few years ago, I tore mine. I had taken a couple months off of running so I could dedicate myself to training on the bike. Then, when the racing season was over, I went back to running. Because I still had plenty of cardio fitness but my legs couldn't handle the impact anymore, I tore an AT. I tried resting it, but I wasn't resting it long enough, and retore it. Finally, I went to a doctor, who got me in the an orthopedist specializing in sports medicine, who sent me to a physical therapist who runs. I was allowed to bike and swim while I was in PT, but running was forbidden.

It took a year and a half for me to completely heal. If I had properly treated it as soon as it happened, it wouldn't have taken nearly as long.

Machka 

Absolutely ... take it easy. I tore both my achilles tendons (minor tears) on a long hilly ride, and it took a long, long time before I healed. Even now, years later, my achilles tendons are weak and play up.

Prior to this ...

1. Had you been doing a lot of climbing?

2. Have you had your bicycle set up for you?


And yes, you might want to seek professional help.

FrenchFit 

My cause was aggressive hill running, though I weakened the area by sitting with heels on a desk. It's a nightmare of an injury taking months and months to heal.

If you want it to heal correctly, recover full strength, do eccentric heel drops multiple times a day. Read up on them and you will understand why you need to do this exercise. To get rid of the daily symptoms I wear a night split; silly thing keeps the muscle in a stretch while you sleep - it's amazingly effective. Also, stay away from zero or minimalist shoe drop for a while, you need some heel to rest the muscle. Also, deep muscle massage will loosen things up, as will a foam roller or 'stick'.

I am back to riding full strength but running is about 30%, and that's after months of rest. If I had taken it more seriously the very first month I think I would be in much better shape right now.

So, the thought I am trying to communicate is take it damn seriously right from the start, this is one of those injuries that can mess with you for a long time.

rpenmanparker 

OP, have you been taking a course of a quinolone type antibiotic any time in the last few months? They weaken tendons and have been implicated in Achilles damage.

Drew Eckhardt 

See an orthopedist immediately at a sports medicine clinic.

My wife tore her Achilles tendon kick biking, and it probably got worse in the time we took to decide seeing a doctor was a good idea. It's still healing 9 months later.

Leinster

1. Haven't been doing too much climbing. Or running. The surprising thing is I hadn't been having a very active week at all.
2. Never had a pro fit done or anything. I've always set up my own bike according to what feels comfortable. Depending on how rehab from this goes, I may look into getting a fit done.

My brother's an orthopod and has offered to help, but he lives on a different continent, so can't get too hands on. I've seen a chiropractor before who helps out our rugby team and I'll try to get an appointment with him this week some time.