Achilles injury

secretsam

So, GP has confirmed that I've slightly torn my Achilles tendon. Did this a while back, was hoping (in a very male way) that it would just "get better". Physio Monday...sigh...

Anyone got any experience of this, and advice?

pblakeney

Feel lucky. Mine is still fully fractured with what looks like a massive gap after 4 weeks in a cast.
Still six weeks to go in a cast. Minimum...

Advice - Don't "man up". I did and made it worse. Rest and listen to the physio.

defever

Ouch! So sorry to hear your injury SecretSam and PBlakeney.

A couple of month ago I also experienced pain / ache in my left Achilles tendon. Fortunately for me it's gone now, and I've learnt something.

Initially I thought it was tendonitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon) due to putting a lot of strain by pedalling hard from stationary and possible heel drop habit. So I applied some kinesiotape, some placebo rubbing of the area and calf stretching. Tape helped the most but on the ride when I didn't have the tape the ache came back instantly.

By off chance I came across this on YouTube: Prevent and help fix achilles tendonitis

Basically, by rolling your calf muscles on to a yoga / foam roaller, it releases the tension created in the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) which both attach to the Achilles tendon. When I first tried it on my left leg (the painful one), I was in agony! The right leg (no pain) was no problem. Then I felt the calf muscles on my left leg and it was all tender and knotted up. I came to a conclusion that somehow the left calf muscles because so tensed up that it was pulling up the Achilles tendon so hard, hence the pain / damage on the Achilles. The cause of pain / ache in my case was the calf muscles, especially the soleus. After a couple of days of roller exercise (it was quite painful at the begining but I felt the immediate release and decrease in pain after a while), the pain has gone completely.

Even now, from time to time, I check my calf muscles to see if there's any sore / tender spots and if necessary I'd roll my calf muscles to release any tension.

Your physio might mention this sort of exercise to minimise the excessive tension on Achilles tendon, but hey I'm just a keyboard warrior so I'm probably wrong. It's good that you've got referred to physio service, though.

I hope you get better soon and back on your bike in no time.

Happy rehab!

pblakeney

Yeah! Lesson learned the very hard way.
Advice to all - Do stretching exercises and massage. Or pay a massive price later on.

gratziani

Snapped my achilles 5 years ago in December 2012 ,

Took a long while to get back to fitness , was 41 at the time and took me 3 months in a space boot after a cast for 3 weeks to even be able to limp about.

Do everything the physio says , strengthen it back up and spin them gears if you bike

When i got the go ahead the physio told me cycling was a great exercise for building it back up.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Hope this doesn't mess up your Cheddar Gorge plans, but if it does, there will always be other opportunities in the future.

squired

I did similar a couple of years ago (slight tear to right achilles). Went through the process of Physio via the NHS (waste of time to be honest). You'll do better from looking out some of the reputable channels on Youtube. Although mine is technically healed it does still flare up occasionally (with the bump growing larger on the tendon), so I know to be careful with it. The most important thing is to listen to your body.

I was avoiding most exercise to help it rest, but found that it would go when walking, so ended up having to really reign myself in and rest it as much as possible, like it or not. Gentle cycling wasn't too bad for me to be fair, but I never tried to push it.

pblakeney

PS - A naturally healed rupture has a high rate of repeating. Google it. I am about to take a hit on my car to trade it in for an auto as it is my left. Something else to consider should it be your left.