General Cycling Discussion - Achilles tendon injury

I've done a search (good stuff!), and done some other research, but I'm looking for some first-hand experience. I did some damage to my left achilles tendon about 10 days ago. I think that I just rode too hard without building up enough miles. Also, I have some pronation in my ankle that I think has also contributed to this injury. I've not had this type of injury before.

I gave myself 6 days of rest, and then attempted a moderate 30-mile ride. I most probably didn't do myself any favors as the pain came back, but worse.

Anywho, it's been 4 days since that last ride, and my leg is feeling a bit better, but I'm not about to "test" it again for a while. My questions are these:

- For those who have had this injury (Koffe, I know that you are going through a similar thing now), how long did it take for:

1. You to get back on the bike
2. You to ride without pain
3. Full recovery

Any other information is also much appreciated. ThanX!!!!! :)

It took me 5 full days of no riding or exercise at all- I taped and wrapped my ankle to keep it immobile, and I did a ice and heat therapy, plus kept my foot elevated when I wasn't out and around. I tried to keep all pressure off my foot and I only walked short distances.

On Saturday, I came back cautiously- no pain, but I was going super slow and stayed in low gears the entire time. I felt like a gerbil spinning in a cage sometimes! But I knew that was the best thing for me.

Today, I rode for 22 miles, and I felt better. I picked up my speed and kept mainly in low gears, but allowed myself to go into some higher speeds coming off some small hills. I went a little faster than I thought, and I was ok. I stretched my calves and achilles afterwards. I was careful to stretch because I didn't want to aggrevate the injury by overstretching the tendon.

I somehow get a funny feeling I'm not back to 100%, so I won't fully exert myself again for at least another week. I'll be taking it slow to be on the safe side, because it sucked to be without a bike for 5 days.

Try to keep your ankle immobile. You can get some athletic tape from any pharmacy, so use that to tape up your ankle, then wrap the ankle. Keep your foot elevated, and alternate between a hot pack and a cold pack on your ankle like every 5- 10 minutes for an hour or so in the evenings. If it keeps up for another week, maybe you should see a doctor? You may have done something bad to your foot and not know it.

Good luck.

Koffee

My daughter ran up on my right one with a grocery cart almost 2 years ago. When the weather is cool it still bothers me when I ride hard.
Don't push hard and listen to what your tendon is telling you, don't push it.

I did some pretty extensive damage to the tendons in my ankles playing bball. Luckily never the achilies (always the tendons running down the inside and outside of the foot). At one point it took a full 6 months of RICE before it felt 100%. But that was pretty severe sudden trauma.



Try to keep your ankle immobile. You can get some athletic tape from any pharmacy, so use that to tape up your ankle, then wrap the ankle. Keep your foot elevated, and alternate between a hot pack and a cold pack on your ankle like every 5- 10 minutes for an hour or so in the evenings. If it keeps up for another week, maybe you should see a doctor? You may have done something bad to your foot and not know it

I had a similar problem. It was inflamation. I stayed off the bike a few days, and twice a day applied ice to the area. I also took three Aleve a day. That did the trick!
Regarding ice, take a sandwich bag and fill it half with water. Then add another third with rubbing alcohol. Don't fill the bag all the way to the top. Leave some room for sealing it. Then put the first bag in a second bag, to take care of any leaking. Then put it in the freezer. When the bag is frozen, tak it out and crunch it against the kitchen counter. You'll find it is not solid ice, but kind of mushy. But it's still very cold. This enables you to wrap it around your ankle or knee, and it comforms to your body. Then take a bunge cord and wrap it around the bag. This will hold it in place. Then start your stop watch and watch TV. 15 minutes later, take it off and put it back in the freezer. Do this twice a day, morning and night. Good luck!

Wow! ThanX for the great advice and information. I'm now treating the injury with R.I.C.E., and have finally come to the realization that I must not ride for @ least the next week. I was living in the fantasy world that I could just gently ride my way through this injury.

Coming to terms with not riding is the worst part of the injury!!!

Anywho, thanX again for the great words!! :thumbup:

Yeah, give that RICE a try and lay off the riding.

I did 40 miles today- rode from downtown to O'Hare Airport (to the terminal) and back. My ankle felt fine. I didn't even feel a twinge. I'm back to 100%!

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
I did 40 miles today- rode from downtown to O'Hare Airport (to the terminal) and back. My ankle felt fine. I didn't even feel a twinge. I'm back to 100%!

That's awesome, Koffee! I'm next! :)

Yeah, use my story as your inspiration.... stay off the bike and take care of yourself!