teresamichele

I have a history of Achilles tendonitis, and it seems to be coming back - in both feet. I had started a running program that I think triggered it, and I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon this afternoon. I'm at the point now where it hurts to walk and I have to turn to go down stairs, since I can't bend my ankles very well.

That said, I'm 99% positive she'll tell me no more running for now, but what are the chances I'll be told no more cycling as well? I am a triathlete - and I figure swimming is probably great for the tendon but if I have to give up running AND cycling, that's going to put a damper on training. I've already decided this season is a loss, but I'd like to be able to work on my swimming and cycling so I can rock those next year.

Plus, I'd like to train for a century ride or two in the meantime.

Any words of wisdom? I'm trying not to obsess but considering I bought my bike less than two months ago - I road a loaner mountain bike last year - I am going to be Not Happy if I can't ride for a long time!

enigmaT120

I used to get that sometimes from running, but so far bicycling hasn't caused it. Or anything else bad, for that matter. Now I only run once every week or two, just to keep my legs used to the pounding.

fietsbob

every once in a while a runner comes in to buy a bike,
after overtraining for road running..

Treat the Tendonitis , before you get ambitious about 100 mile day conquests..
you may have done damage thru running as competition.. and training for those events.
IDK, not there or an MD..

now JRA for transportation will not be that stressful.. 5 miles at a time.. perhaps.

I'm just a slow tourist, but 7mph for 7 hrs a day,
gets you down the road quite a ways, after a month or 2.

Looigi

Tendonitis can be a real problem to heal. Usually the best thing is to completely avoid aggravating it which means don't do anything were there is any pain or discomfort. Anyway, FWIW, I've gotten quite different recommendations between general practice orthopedic surgeons and those that specialize is sports injuries. Those that specialize in sports medicine understand the importance of maintaining fitness and skill so modify treatments, therapies and advice accordingly. I'm not advocating disregarding your doctor's advice. Just consider the source and maybe get a second or third opinion.

Doohickie

My wife is dealing with the same thing right now. I guess maybe I can keep you posted.

rdtompki

After you start to get this under control move your cleats back. This will take a lot of pressure off your achilles. I used to run 50+ miles a week many years ago and had a severe case following a run on a slippery, muddy trail. Takes a lot of time to heal. About a year ago had a minor flare up and moving my cleats back even as little as 1/2" made a big difference.

teresamichele

My ortho actually does specialize in foot-and-ankle orthopedics with a "clinical interest" in sports medicine - so I know she knows it's important I stay active. Plus, I'm twice my ideal body weight, so cycling (and all the rest) has helped me control my eating and actually lose some weight!

I use platform pedals right now - I planned to move to clipless this month or next, so I'll keep the placement in mind when I get them set up.

I WILL say - if she puts me in walking boots in both feet, I am going to walk like a duck. It'll be worth it if it works, but I'm afraid I'll feel the urge to quack!

Thulsadoom

I had horrible Achilles tendonitis in my left leg a few years ago. From over ambitious running, of course. Swelled up every night. I stopped running but I still rode the bike. I actually rode more since I couldn't run. I took it easy on the standing and hammering, and learned to spin up hills while seated. Probably didn't help it heal, but didn't seem to make it worse. It's completely healed now.

teresamichele

Well, I saw the doctor.

Orthopedic boot on the left foot. PT for both feet, though focusing on the right foot till the left foot calms down.

No running...or biking...or SWIMMING for at least 6 weeks.

I am going to go out of my mind.

MyBikeGotStolen

I used to get bad achilles tendonitis in my left heal from running. I have been running the past two years either completely barefooted, or in a pair of $8 water shoes, and have not had a single tendon problem since then. You might want to look into that. I still have a pair of running shoes for times I am running more that ~7 miles, or on unfamiliar territory that might be not very foot friendly.

Thulsadoom

Can't imagine why you can't swim...

Looigi

FWIW, I'd get a second/third opinion. Check with your insurance first, but most will cover it.

enigmaT120

My massage therapist helped mine (requires a high pain tolerance though!) and taught me a new stretch. I stand on a stair or something and dangle my heel off the step, and rest my weight on my toes and lower my heel until the tendon is supporting my weight. I use hand holds to ease myself into it, and to catch myself if my foot starts to slip off the step.

I also hunker a lot. I hate standing anyway, so I hunker. But I do feel like I should be poking a fire with a stick....

Thulsadoom

Can't say that I'd recommend stretching an already inflamed achilles tendon.

ThermionicScott 

Sucks about the running...

Machka 

I developed Achilles tendonitis a few years ago from cycling.

Go to your Sport Doctor and get some good advice, and then make sure your bicycle is set up correctly. If your saddle is too high, you'll aggravate your Achilles Tendonitis quite badly. If your saddle is too low, you will as well, but it's more likely you will if your saddle is too high.

If you do a lot of climbing, you'll want a slightly lower saddle height as well.

Wraps that are specific for Achilles Tendonitis can help as well. If I've got a hilly ride coming up, I'll wrap my ankles before riding.

Good luck ... it takes a long, long, long time to heal a bad case of Achilles Tendonitis. It was 6 months of relatively short, easy rides before I started to feel better.

teresamichele

I could get a second opinion. I considered it. However, the problem is...she's probably right. Keep in mind I've been seeing this doctor for 5+ years and she's the one who did surgery on me in 2008. She knows this problem keeps coming back - and the only way I've been able to calm it down when it flares up so badly is by total immobilization.

We did have a little chat - kind but firm - about the fact that I basically cannot run until I get my weight down. My body can't handle it. I'm not a little chubby - I'm pretty much twice my ideal body weight.

I'm going to try HARD to get down 10 lbs in the next 6 weeks till I see her again. I'm hoping then I'll be allowed to branch off into swimming and cycling again.

I'm also going to cross-train, as I can, in the meantime. Pilates and strength training! Whee!

BlazingPedals

Don't assume that swimming should be good for your Achilles tendon. When you swim, you point your toes, which contracts the muscles and stresses the tendon. That's what you DON'T want. Tight tendons are tendons that are susceptible to tearing injuries. Follow doc's advice, but here's what I did.

1. Toe lifts on a stair. Balls of feet on stair, drop heel slowly and stretch tendon, then rise up onto toes and repeat. I had good luck with a variation: rise up using both feet, then put all my weight on the sore tendon and slowly (and smoothly) lower the heel. Then use both feet to rise up again. Make sure you stretch gently.
2. On the bike, shorten up the seat-to-pedal length, to make sure you're not reaching and unduly tightening that tendon.
3. Spin, don't mash. That's good advice anytime, but especially for Achilles problems.
4. Cleats ALL the way back. That may require lowering the saddle even more.
5. A Strassburg Sock, even though it's designed for plantar fasciitis, may help too, to wear at night. Probably works similar to your boot.
6. Aspirin, or some other anti-inflammatory.

Running? Do you think you're a horse?

teresamichele

Yeah, that was kind of the doctor's point. This is an *overuse* injury, therefore, I need to stop using the tendon. That said, I'm curious if I could swim with a pull buoy. I wouldn't be using my legs that way! I'll ask at physical therapy.

1) I'll get exercises at PT this week. They're too inflamed for toe lifts right now - my guess is I'll be spelling the alphabet with my toes for a few weeks.
2) I just bought the bike two months ago. I needed to get the saddle adjusted anyway (nose is too high) but that'll wait till I can actually ride it again.
3) I don't have any idea what that means.
4) I don't use cleats yet.
5) I wear a special brace at night - it's basically like a hard plastic L with straps - just a tiny bit of padding in the plastic, but it's not a huge thing like my walking boot. It's actually FOR PF, I think, but it works!
6) I've been on several. Most didn't work (even the prescription ones) so I'm on Advil. It works. 800mg 3x/day, but I might decrease that as I'm not really in that much pain now and I don't really want a stomach ulcer.

I'm not really sure what, "Running? Do you think you're a horse? If you do, you should know that a 50+ horse is already dead!" means. Care to fill me in?

Thulsadoom

Your doctors opinion sounds correct to me. If you are heavy and you have chronic AT, I would lay off stressing, and certainly stretching your achilles until the inflamation subsides, and then very slowly begin to train again. Certainly cyling before running, or even walking. (as in hiking or long walks) Learn to spin a high cadence.

Contrary to popular belief, you can get a lot of aerobic conditioning in a weightroom. If you try to lift heavy weights for low reps, and you are already heavy, you might furthur stimulate your metabolism and I doubt you'll lose the weight you need to. You can do higher rep sets to failure and moderate weights that won't tear your muscles down as much. That way you can lift longer and more frequently, without being so hungry.

BlazingPedals

3 - to spin is to maintain a high cadence so as not to be pushing hard on the pedals. That reduces pressure on the tendon. Mashing is just the opposite. Mashing without a proper warm-up is a good way to *cause* an achilles injury.
6 - ignore the horse comment. Since Achilles injuries are common for 50+ year olds, I forgot which forum this was in and treated it like a 50+ thread. (Ever see a 50-year-old horse?)

chasm54

Take the advice about rest. Tendon problems are just made worse by trying to work through them, even if you think you aren't doing anything especially stressful. And, sorry to say this, lose the weight. It's hard to exaggerate the beating your joints will be taking from the running if you are twice the weight you should be.

Nightshade

Tell me....what is wrong with people like you?

You complain that you can't do the activities you love to do but you won't stand down long enough to heal.

You know what to do to heal so why the hell won't you just do it??

teresamichele

Where did I say I wasn't going to rest? I'm the one who said I was taking my doctor's advice for total immobilization. I keep getting reinjured (about once a year) because I'm fat - not because I'm not giving myself time to heal. After we treated the tendon last June (just the left one) I was pain free for almost a year.

Before you bring out the "tough love" you might want to try actually reading what I wrote - specifically where I said I didn't LIKE being told to not swim and bike, but I'd do it. Yes, I may ask my physical therapist - someone *trained to deal with this sort of thing* what activities I CAN do so I can continue to use my upper body to burn calories and build muscle. There is nothing wrong with trying to remain active on a limited basis.

Nightshade

OK, now that you've cleared that up please do follow your doctors advice.

Best of luck in your recovery...........