Achilles Tendinitis
 

doctor says i have this in my left ankle. anyone else ever experience this injury. how long does it usually take to get back on the bike? i have to go see a physio therapist next week.:( i have a race in 2 1/2 weeks, hopefuly i can be ready for it.

Achilles tendinitis was one factor among many that led to my transition away from running being my primary physical activity with cycling being secondary to it now being the other way around. Don't do the race if you're not ready for it. Trust me, it isn't worth it. I was out for an entire high school Track season, for what it's worth. Trying to do a race in the middle of the season, thinking I wa sbetter, most likely made me have to wait longer to recover in the end.

Depending on how bad it is (mine had "micro-tears") ... it could be 3-4 months before they recommend you start cycling a little bit.

Do you know what you did to cause it, or how bad it is?

don't mess around with this. Rupturing your achilles is muy unfun and one of the worst injuries you can have. Personally I'd rather break a bone than rupture my achilles.

I had it pretty bad a while back from running. I had to quit exercising (cycling and running) entirely for several months for it to heal.

i don't know the severity of it yet. as soon as i felt it a little i got off the bike and haven't been on since last friday. so i will rest and ice it some more and find out more when i go see the physio therapist. as for the cause i have no idea. i jsu sort of showed up one day but has been feeling much better since i started resting it.

Is your only sport cycling? Or do you run or walk? Or any other sports?

If your only sport is cycling, your saddle might be too high.

If you also run (or even walk) that might have triggered it.

I've also noticed that I have just a hint of pain in my Achilles when I row.

http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0031.htm

I started getting tendinitis at the edge of the heel. These exercises worked for me. If you read the article above, wouldn't it suck to be in the control group for that study? No relief after surgery and 6 months to a year recovery? Yikes.

Had to stop running cause of it. Lots of streching, ice and advil and I was riding again at 100% in about a month.

My son had an achilles strain last spring and missed 8 weeks of soccer. The doc and PT both agreed 8 weeks minimum. Listen to the guys who are giving you the diagnosis, since they will know the exact injury and severity. Btw, it took much more than 8 weeks for his tendon to really settle down.

As for myself, I've been dealing with elbow (don't laugh!) tendinitis for 6 months. Very much a pain in the ...
I've had shots, advil, ice, exercises and still they flair up very easily. The doc and PT said: don't use the computer or play the guitar or lift weights (basically, don't use your arms). Jeeezus! What's a guy supposed to do for fun. So, I guess what I'm saying, is tendinitis can be quite serious.

you're in the exact same position as me. i have achilles tendonitis in my left foot as well. i got while running, caught it early, ice, advil, etc. wasn't going away so i went to a specialist, put me on prescription anti-inflammatories and i go to a physical therapist twice a week. been working great. i just keep stretching it and not pushing myself to the point to where it hurts. but i still bike, and just got back into running after about a week and ahalf off. just take it slow, easy, and do what your doctor says if you end up going to one.

Did it bother you all the time or only when running/biking?

- just noticed your screen name, skinnyguy. I could be described similarly, at 5'10", 135. I think skinny guys are more prone to tendinitis. I know I am. My elbows just happen to be the latest for me.

Btw, my son doc and PT said cycling would be fine for his, but to avoid hills, as this strains the tendons more.

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone dealt with peroneal tendonitis?? That's the tendon that runs along the outside/underside of the ankle bone...

Had a plantar wart on my big toe and it caused me to walk like a gimp for a good 8-12 weeks. Since then that tendon has been a royal pain. It's not so bad I can't ride or walk around, but it always flairs up. I Ice, stretch and use ibuprofen. Just as it starts to feel better something sends it off again.

Stretching is extremely counterproductive in dealing with my tendonitis (knees). YMMV, of course.

I currently have this. It has been flairing up since November. I took a couple of months off from cycling, and as soon as I started, it flaired back up. I hope to be able to ride and train until September, then get it treated. Treatment for myself is motrin, ice (when I can) and reducing the days I do hill training.

A couple weeks ago someone asked about achilles tendinitis, and I referred to the studies about eccentric exercises that BrooklynRider mentioned.

The same concept worked for my elbow tendinitis, and I felt relief in a matter of weeks. The idea just flat works.