I am not going to be much good for this conversation. I've had almost identical symptoms to you, qcpmsame, and despite current fit wisdom (including my own), I traced it back to having the saddles on several bikes too low. There was no frontal knee pain associated with this. I also was returning after an extended period off the bike in 2009, and may have been pushing too hard under load. In addition, my work required all sorts of odd foot positions.

I was in great pain, just walking usually in the mornings. I lived through it. The tendons have swelling on them.

Now, I can walk pain-free. I seemed to be able to ride pain-free right the way through the experience.

The cruncher is: I had no medical consultations on this. I rested when I could (but time off work was limited because I work on a casual basis). I took several pain medications (nothing stronger than off-the-shelf stuff such as acetominophen and paracetamol with codeine occasionally. And the key thing was I readjusted my saddle height upward. I used ice once or twice. I didn't use any strapping. I did very gentle stretching, usually while taking a hot shower, and avoided pushing beyond the pain. I also got some work boots that fitted better than my originals, particularly so the backs didn't press into the tendons.

It took about six months for the pain to subside entirely. That was about a year ago, and while I have had the occasional twinge. my Achilles tendons have been fine with around 6000 miles of riding in the period since, including some very tough climbs in the 7 Peaks Alpine Challenge.

I am not one to dash off to the doctor, even though we have a very good public health system here in Australia. Heck, after I had a anterior dislocation of a shoulder after I fell from my bike in 2004, I think, I went to one follow-up appointment with the specialist who said: "Good, keep up the exercises the physio gave you". I didn't want to complicate things by saying I hadn't been to any physio, and the only exercise was through the handlebars of my bikes.

I don't know what you can take out of this. Maybe check the fit of your bikes concerning saddle height. If it is obvious that there is no tearing, and gout is not considered an issue, and recognising your pain management, then resting when the pain is worst, spinning while on the bike, and a bit of massage with ice and heat alternately might be useful.