I am new to the sport and have been training since June for my first Triathlon which will take place in may 2006. I have been running 6 miles approximately 3 times a week for the past several months. I have experienced a set back in my training and it is very disturbing since i have increased my time up to 8:10 per mile. The doctor states that it is tendonitis. I get a severe pain in my foot in the heal area just below my ankle. Very painful to walk, let alone run. The pain usually lasts several days and then i am able to run again, only to experience the same problem. The doctor has giving me medication to reduce swelling (which is not noticable) as well as heal inserts. He says that it is tendonitis and asks me to keep running on it. However, in my research on the internet, i have found that it is better to keep off of it so that it can heal. Any suggestions on what to do? How long does something like this last? Since i am new to the sport, i hate to have any setbacks that may discourage me from continuing.
Achilles tendonitis should not be taken lightly. The only way it will heal is with complete rest. I tried running through a track season in college with achilles tendonitis and it still hrts me to this day , 4 years later. I havent been able to train on it, even biking and pushing off the wall while swimming aggrivates the injury. Take time now, you still have PLENTY of time to get back in shape. I am at the point now where physical therapy does not help, nor does complete time off. I have taken 2 years completely off and still no luck. I have been doing research online about different surgical procedures to see if that will help. Bottom Line: Rest it now!!
DITTO--rest it
Hi,
there is two types of tendinitus in the achilles, tendonitus and paratendonitus. The first is inflammation of the tendon itself and the second is inflammation of the sheath surrounding the tendon. This tendon attaches your calf muscles to your heal bone. This tendon is very strong and not very pliable, as it has a very hard job, the calf muscle is the largest muscle that is the furthest away from the heart, demanding alot of oxygenated blood, but the last to get it, so the tendon has little blood supply, taking a long time to heal. Its job is to take the shock when running(if you are not running correctly your shin muscles take the shock and create shin splints!) Good trainers are essential. A heel lift will help keep the tendon stay short whilst walking or light jogging. Rest is important. depending on the tear it is a minimum of 6 weeks healing. you must ice when painful or swollen. contrast bathing will speed recovery and massage of the calf muscles.
pain is usually first thing in a morning, pain when you start running, pain will go off after you are warm, pain when you stop. You must ice straight after running if you insist on trg still. but be warned, push it too far and it will rupture - this is worse than breaking a bone and will take ages to heal.
contrast bath = ice cold water 4 min followed by warm water 1 min x 3 (3 times a day) (for 2 days)
2 min 2 min
1 min 4 min
hope info was useful