How much time off for sore Achillies tendon

You are right, Achilles injuries could be very serious. The old protocol for Achilles tendon pain was resting and taking anti inflammatory pills and icing.

The new protocol is to continue exercising, but at a reduced intensity and volume, while simultaneously doing exercises that strengthen and stretch both the calf muscles. There are some good videos on YouTube that can explain what to do and why.

When I used to just take off, it would usually come back very quickly after I resumed training.

Good luck to you!

Dealt with a lot of Achilles tendinitis. Time off does exactly nothing for me. I have found that I just have to keep running, do literally hundreds of heel drops every day and where high drop shoes (if you aren't already). Also, stay away from fast stuff and hills for a bit maybe.

Mine have been sore for years, you just get used to it. After a race I have to go down the stairs backwards, like it's a ladder

Thank you for sharing those videos, hopefully they will help a bit. I started checking out the bob and brad channel and found a few other helpful videos for other minor/early-stage things. Great channel

I have an update. The tendon is hardly sore when using the massage. I've found the pain is on the "calcaneus" on the side from the very bottom and going upward less than an inch. Could the pain be from something else? The pain is mild even after firmly pressing, but I still get occasional discomfort walking up hills. I haven't started stretching yet

Edit- I rewatched the bob and brad video in the thread and the painful area is below the bottom part of the zone they draw for the tendon treatment

Could be heel bursitis or a heel spur.

1.) Install heel lifts. ASAP. Even in footwear that's not typically used for running, like dress shoes and boots.

2.) Cut out all hill work and any runs on uneven surfaces (i.e., crowned roads). Run on flat surfaces only, even if that means doing all of your runs on a track.

3.) Lots of eccentric heel drops. If it's insertional tendonitis, don't go below parallel.

4.) Heat your Achilles before runs and ice them afterwards.

5.) Reduce your mileage and intensity, but don't stop running completely. Gradually add the volume back in as the pain goes down.

There are two types of achilles tendonitis, and the lower one is insertional; that could be your issue.