Achilles Tendon

A snowHead

A few weeks ago, I seem to have tweaked my left achilles tendon slightly with an occasional sharp, knife like, pain about 5cm above the heel sole and orientated to the outside of the ankle.
I don't recall any particular knock or over stretch.
There is no obvious swelling or inflammation compared with the right ankle area.
It is only painful if I lean forward with a straight leg, as in a straight leg calf stretch. Normal skiing ankle flex is fine, proved in Snow Centre.
I don't think a GP will offer much other than pills/gel. MRI scan is probably the only useful option, although an xray could bowl out a stress fracture. I don't think there is a stress fracture as there is no visible internal discoloration from blood rushing in to heal the area.
So I've taped up with kinesio tape and I can feel the extra support.
I guess a physio might be useful.
Any other thoughts?

A snowHead

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@colinstone, I had something similar a couple of years ago, which culminated in a suspected rupture of the achilles tendon which needed 12 weeks in a plastic boot with a followup MRI to determine why I wasn't able to pass the single leg heel lift test the consultant asked me to perform before he'd sign me off. The initial A&E consultant had described it as a classic rupture based on probing for the ends and the lack of response to the Simmonds-Thompson test. The MRI showed a number of healed micro tears, and a healing longitudinal tear in the tendon with no indication on the MRI of a full rupture. The most likely explanations for the failed heel lift test were excess weight, and the 40% muscle loss on that leg.

Thinking back, I'd had minor achilles pain for a few months beforehand, mainly from running (I'm a kids rugby coach and occasional referee), and the main issue came from a sudden acceleration.

You can ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist, but I suspect that in the absence of any immediate mobility issues you will simply be told to rest it and come back if there is any negative change.

A physio would be a good first step (!) - they will be able to advise on what may be causing it, and should have a better understanding of both the likely culprit(s) and the most effective course of action to resolve it than any GP will.

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@colinstone, I suffered a similar achilles tendon pain after an otherwise uneventful 5 mile run in the summer and advise you see a physio (the recovery exercises for different types of tendinopathy are very different). After three months of rest from running plus strengthening calf muscles, I'm largely pain free again.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@ousekjarr, thanks for those tests. After a goggle to get details, both single leg heel lift test and Simmonds-Thompson test are fine. Same on both legs with no pain.
Must be just an old age twinge. Kinesio tape definitely having a helpful influence.

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@colinstone, those tests are for full rupture, so doing them in response to an occasional episode of pain won't tell you much unless of course the additional stress causes an injury wink

Still check in with the physio if you can - they could spot a developing problem now and avoid it becoming a major issue

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@colinstone, those on here that know me (follow each other on Strava) know I've been cursed with Achilles tendinitis over the years in my right leg.

I've had various physios look at it, and it could well be linked to the fact that one leg for the past nigh on 64yrs is shorter than the other and that is now manifesting itself in calf/Achilles tendinitis issues.

It has a tendency to flare up when I'm ski touring hard at pace, and that's probably the liner of the boot rubbing the tendons and causing inflammation, what is now more of a concern is that it can suddenly flare up when I'm running, which has me paranoid about it being more than tendinitis and a precursor to a full-blown rupture.

In the mountains it's not too much of an issue running as going uphill it's almost comfortable as I'm stretching it, likewise going downhill there's no pressure.

The problems always come about when I'm back in the UK and running at pace on the flat, my running was going really well this autumn back in the UK and I was getting some good times for an old fart, and then on October 14th running at low tide on the sand on my OH's birthday the left one went....I did carry on and didn't rest too much after that, and what a surprise it just got worse rolling eyes

There's plenty of stuff on the Interweb about Achilles tendinitis and what you can do, stretching, and stretching - brushing your teeth with your eyes closed on one leg!

Rather than £45 on a physio get yourself an electronic massage stick and you can get right in behind the tendons, though of course see one if you're really concerned.

I'm back in the Mountains and have been back to running, taking it easy, though going up I've put a couple of good times in, but that could be my trim new alcohol-free body Smile

I stretch both every couple of km whilst waiting for the OH, I'm not back out of the forest yet, but I'm managing them.

After all it is free

Would an osteopath be a better option than physio?

@Gored, I had a mate who is an Osteo look at mine as well, it's interesting to see how they attack the problem compared to a physio.

After the thorough deep (painful) massage well above the tendons as in his eyes the issue was tight calves above the Achilles area, we then went through a series of stretches using stairs and as ever I've forgotten most of them rolling eyes

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I would go physio for sure. Not worth risking a rupture

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

FWIW eccentric Achilles/ calf stretches are what the sports medicine doc almost always recommends.

Help!!

Achilles Tendon

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