Achilles tendinitis

@elwooodsdad It takes a lot of patience to be a patient. Tendinitis just takes its own time and things heal very slowly. Tendons don't have a blood supply so they don't get as much oxygen as the rest of the body. I go through the same things and my ankle takes turns as to where it wants to hurt. Custom orthotics do help me a lot by supporting correct foot and ankle alignment. I also broke my ankle badly in 2020 which was also a bad sprain and dislocation, and it won't ever be the same. I still have muscle weakness with a side to side stabilizing movement of my foot, so my tendons and ligaments can get irritated easily, and then pull the joint out of slight misalignment and I take a step and my ankle collapses under me. My physical therapist showed me how to use 2 firm balls about 3-4 inches in diameter to press on and release calf muscle tension next to both sides of the Achillle's tendon. I was able to sit on the side of the bed and hold the balls on the side rail, and just let the weight of my leg do the work for me. That helped relieve the pain within a couple days because it took pressure off the tendons. After you can get past the tendinitis, the key to preventing it is to stretch the calf muscles regularly which also stretches the Achille's. Wait until it heals or it will just get further aggravated. There is a very fine line between how much the effort is that will strengthen and too much that injures and inflames the tendon.

Myofascial release work helps too by releasing tight muscular tension that is all over the body. Here is our discussion on MFR therapy.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
You can search for a MFR therapist at this link. http://mfrtherapists.com/

It's good you did not have an Achille's tear. My husband had a partial tear that went half way across and spent at least 6 months in a boot while it fibrosed back together. Luckily he avoided surgery that way. We were told that since the surgery would involve moving another tendon to replace the Achille's, that a patient looses some normal motion in the foot after that. Wearing a boot that is higher than the other shoe throws the pelvis off and causes other problems. That is how he got the Achille's tear because he had a stress fracture on the other foot and wore a boot for that which caused the Achille's tear to happen.

Have you heard of myofascial release before?

I have been seeing a physical therapist after a consult with an orthopedic specialist since July. I am on an anti-inflammatory and using a CBD ointment per the advice and prescription of my physician. I have no complaints about my care, but am wondering if this will ever resolve. I also have an ankle brace. Any wisdom or concurrence. I’m an impatient 74 year old only child…

Well...I too am impatient (at my best) and waiting for pains to heal might be one of my hardest things to do.

Did the doc give you any stretching or exercises to do daily? Also, what have they said about footwear? When I had it, I learned to wear proper, supportive shoes ALL day. I now have separate walking shoes for in the house and outside instead of running around barefoot all day.
It took 6 months for mine to go away.
Sue

Thank you for your prompt response. Your experience seems parallel to mine. I have shoes which are worn indoors and out, heel lifts and an ankle brace. I have limited stretches at home, and a substantial PT program. It is better, but ever so slowly. When the male of the species actually books an appointment with an orthopedist without encouragement from his wife, it is both an index to the situation and borders on a miracle. I will hold forth, and thank you.

In comments someone said wear good “houseshoes”. That seems important. I wear Evionic in summer but what type is good, or recommended for winter?

For my Achilles tendonitis, I have been treated with "Shockwave therapy".
This is done by a physiotherapist.
Although the 4 minute treatment is not the most pleasant, it is incredibly effective. The pain was gone after 2 treatments. The swelling is reduced and is slowly disappearing.
The 'wand' is moved up and down the tendon. It sounds and feels like a miniature tazer! Is painful when near the bone, but OK for the rest.
My Achilles 'blew up' on May 22, and has been effectively reduced by June 8th.
Well worth it!

Icing and topical diclofenac helped resolve mine in four weeks. Jogging and psoriatic arthritis don’t go well together.

As a former long-distance runner, I've had a few bouts with achilles tendinitis. It can largely be prevented by having the right shoes, heel lifts (sometimes), and running on flat surfaces. And of course, stretching. Lots of debate on when. to stretch. I always stretched before a run.

Achilles tendinitis occurs when there is swelling and inflammation inside the tendon structure. The tendon is attached to its sheath by small, accordion like attachments that allow the tendon to move up and down inside the achilles tendon shaft. Overuse and swelling can occur, the tendon cannot move like it should and pain and swelling at the site occur.

If you keep running, or worse, jumping, the tendon itself will tear, completely or partially. so at the first sign of swelling and pain, STOP! Ice the tendon several times a day and after a few weeks, gentle stretching can start. The time from when you first discover the swelling to the time you can start running again is about 40 days. I know, it sucks, but way better than a tear.