Achilles Tendon Pain

Lazy8s

Golden Member
Jun 23, 2004
1,503
0
0
So about 2 weeks ago I decided to get back into shape. It has been a few years since I have run or lifted weights with any regularity. I am 24 years old so it's not like I am middle aged (barring an accident) so I didn't expect any problems. In fact, I have been incredibly impressed with how well I have done. I am running 3-4 days per week and the first day I ran (about 2 weeks ago today) I barely made it a single mile in 14min. I pushed myself pretty hard (though I could have easily pushed harder) and Tuesday for the first time I ran 3 miles in 30min. I was so proud of myself.

Then yesterday I just hit a "zone" and I ran 3 miles in 27min. My left foot cramped a slight bit while running but I ran through it and by the end it didn't hurt at all. Long story short there was a storm while I was at the gym and a tree fell on my car. After getting that sorted out I went home to eat dinner. It had been a couple of hours since the gym and I stood up from eating. All of a sudden I could feel both my achilles tendons were incredibly tight. I started walking and at almost every step there was a cracking from both of my ankles. My buddy that I ate with noticed it (we are in dorms for my internship) as we walked down the hall and we thought it was kinda funny. I made sure I stretched before bed but it continued to be sore until I fell asleep.

I woke up this morning and my left ankle was fine but the right one is pretty sore right where the shoe connects to the foot at the back. The pain is clearly in the achilles tendon. If I stand or sit I am pain free though if I concentrate really hard I do notice a dull ache. When I walk however I can feel how sore it is whenever I take a step forward with my left foot and the right heel stretches. It really sucks. I kinda want to run again tonight and see if I can just run it off but I did some googling and it sounds like I may have Achilles Tendonitis. From the reading it sounds pretty serious. Since the Achilles Tendon gets very little bloodflow it heals pretty slowly and can become chronic if not taken care of. It can also tear or break. ::shudders::

Anyone here with experience? I do know my running shoes are about half a size too small and they are like 3 years old so the air pockets and all are blown. They are in bad shape but I haven't had trouble before really (though again I haven't run in forever). I really do not want to stop running for more than a couple of days. I am making truly unbelieveable progress but I also don't want to end up with a chronic ankle disease. Anyone know? Signs to look for? Best method of dealing with it?
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: Lazy8s
So about 2 weeks ago I decided to get back into shape. It has been a few years since I have run or lifted weights with any regularity. I am 24 years old so it's not like I am middle aged (barring an accident) so I didn't expect any problems. In fact, I have been incredibly impressed with how well I have done. I am running 3-4 days per week and the first day I ran (about 2 weeks ago today) I barely made it a single mile in 14min. I pushed myself pretty hard (though I could have easily pushed harder) and Tuesday for the first time I ran 3 miles in 30min. I was so proud of myself.

Then yesterday I just hit a "zone" and I ran 3 miles in 27min. My left foot cramped a slight bit while running but I ran through it and by the end it didn't hurt at all. Long story short there was a storm while I was at the gym and a tree fell on my car. After getting that sorted out I went home to eat dinner. It had been a couple of hours since the gym and I stood up from eating. All of a sudden I could feel both my achilles tendons were incredibly tight. I started walking and at almost every step there was a cracking from both of my ankles. My buddy that I ate with noticed it (we are in dorms for my internship) as we walked down the hall and we thought it was kinda funny. I made sure I stretched before bed but it continued to be sore until I fell asleep.

I woke up this morning and my left ankle was fine but the right one is pretty sore right where the shoe connects to the foot at the back. The pain is clearly in the achilles tendon. If I stand or sit I am pain free though if I concentrate really hard I do notice a dull ache. When I walk however I can feel how sore it is whenever I take a step forward with my left foot and the right heel stretches. It really sucks. I kinda want to run again tonight and see if I can just run it off but I did some googling and it sounds like I may have Achilles Tendonitis. From the reading it sounds pretty serious. Since the Achilles Tendon gets very little bloodflow it heals pretty slowly and can become chronic if not taken care of. It can also tear or break. ::shudders::

Anyone here with experience? I do know my running shoes are about half a size too small and they are like 3 years old so the air pockets and all are blown. They are in bad shape but I haven't had trouble before really (though again I haven't run in forever). I really do not want to stop running for more than a couple of days. I am making truly unbelieveable progress but I also don't want to end up with a chronic ankle disease. Anyone know? Signs to look for? Best method of dealing with it?


Get new shoes, STAT. I would suggest going to a running shoe store near you, such as Dick Pond, and have an employee there assist you with a shoe that fits your needs. Quality running shoes are extremely important, anything less and you are asking for an injury.
 
Mar 22, 2002
10,483
32
81
You probably just rushed into things too quickly. Start at a shorter distance and lower intensity then work your way up.
 

Megatomic

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
20,127
6
81
Make sure to stretch your feet after running too. If you stretch out the plantar fascia it will help a lot. Been there, done that.
 

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
9,148
0
0
Shoes. Not just new shoes, shoes from running store where people actually watch you run.

I started running a month back, sucking bad and I give up after 1.2km, which is amazing for me (sad). Last year, I could barely do 150m without being completely winded. Anyways, I bought a pair of $80 Nikes from a department store, and $150 Brookes from a running specialty store. I've tried both. The foot comfort during and after running between them is like night and day.

Go easy on your foot for a few days, and get better shoes.
 

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: Imp
Shoes. Not just new shoes, shoes from running store where people actually watch you run.

I started running a month back, sucking bad and I give up after 1.2km, which is amazing for me (sad). Last year, I could barely do 150m without being completely winded. Anyways, I bought a pair of $80 Nikes from a department store, and $150 Brookes from a running specialty store. I've tried both. The foot comfort during and after running between them is like night and day.

Go easy on your foot for a few days, and get better shoes.

Note, you don't need an expensive pair of shoes, just a pair that fits one's foot and running style correctly.

And OP, make sure that you tell whoever is fitting you for a new running shoe of your current ills. It's possible that you'll need a shoe that provides enough flex so that you're not straining your achilles.
 

Lazy8s

Golden Member
Jun 23, 2004
1,503
0
0
My friend's mom is a P.A. and I talked with her. She echoed your guys' view on the shoes and said it is definitely achilles tendonitis. She told me to take 600mg of ibuprofin breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed with food for 3 days because one of the biggest problems getting this to heal is the swelling. Also, she said when I get back that I should start jogging half a mile and then walking the rest (If I really want) and maybe adding .2 a mile per day (our track is .2miles so add a lap per day) until I get back to three miles. She said I definitely pushed myself too hard (just because your body can do it doesn't mean it should) and I need to concentrate more on how if feels when I run instead of how far I can go.

Thanks for all of the replies. I am just glad I took some time off instead of trying to run through it and hurting myself.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Getting over tendonitis sucks. I've fought bicep tendonitis for a long time, let it rest before it gets really bad.