Any experience with tenex procedure for achilles?

I had it done January 2021 for mid portion tendinopathy not responding to PT. I was back to running in April of that year. My doctor thought I would be running by 6 weeks, but my body took longer to heal for some reason. Once I was back running, I still had some issues, but the pain wasn’t as bad as before surgery. Right around the one year mark from surgery, my achilles pain pretty much went away for good and I almost never feel it now. I set 3 PRs this year and hopefully a marathon PR soon. I also am on my feet for 13 hours at a time for work. Still no pain in the achilles anymore.

I’m in my early 20s and I’m not sure why it took me so long to fully recover. The achilles is a really tough tendon because it’s slow to heal. I know people older than me that have had it done and healed sooner than I did. Everyone is different and heals differently, but I highly recommend the procedure because I am back to pain free running and forget about my achilles most of the time. Physical therapy is still extremely important after the surgery though!

Thanks for the response! Appreciate it a lot.

Definitely gives me a little hope!

your story is so similar to mine. except that i tried to qualify for marathon trials and failed. never got the marathon right….i am mid 40s now but ran 1:10 half in my early 40s, just a couple years ago. have been struggling for last 15months with this. stopped running. biked, walked with weight vest etc to stay in ok shape. done all the conservative stuff. like you, no haglunds etc.

i am at the point where i am like- quit running and just bike and row, or do something like prp, tenex, shock wave, even surgery to debride the tendon. the evidence is pretty thin that any of those do much for it but anecdotes are common. i guess if the risk is low, trying it is fine if you have the money. anyway, i can let you know what i do. i keep thinking i am ready to run but then have setback. not giving up hope yet. we are young, right?

We really need to publish on the tenex more. I have a couple of docs I refer to that do it. This is a large academic institution so it's not high level hokiness or anything. On the chance that I get a patient back, I ask them how it went and virtually all of them said they are better. Now, of course the average 50-60 y/o just trying to walk pain free might not translate to your situation. Having said that, risk : benefit to ME is pretty good. Its not like they are detaching the AT. Just tenderizing it! The research (with tenex) that is more plentiful is published on tennis elbow. One article out there on plantar fasciitis. As always, be on lookout for blood clot (DVT) during prolonged immobilization.

This guy (A Saxena) is well known Sports Med guy in CA. I do think the article sounds a bit bias but has some good references as well. The greater point is well taken- that all procedures are not without complications.

One of the few other studies on AT:

Review ( Tennis elbow/PF/and AT):

I had tenex done on both of my achilles March 2021. Very similar story of trying literally everything other than surgery. I had chronic achilles pain and hadn’t been able to run for almost two years at that point. I probably could have pushed through 15-20 minute jogs, but I didn’t really see the point from a fitness perspective and I was scared to death of a complete rupture. Literally did not exercise in that time.

My doctor said I should be ready to run in two months after the procedure. I think it’s important if you decide to get the procedure done that you don’t go into it with expectations that it’ll feel 100% when you resume running. Like I said, I got mine done early March 2021, and I started running again end of May 2021. My first completely pain free run happened early spring 2022. But I still do feel it. It’s just not painful. My fitness is still coming back, but I had forgotten what it felt like to run pain free.

I guess I’m trying to say that it’s worth a shot. I understand that there aren’t many studies out there, but even pros like Karissa Schweizer and Vanessa Fraser had it done successfully.

I posted this on another thread last month. I had a highly successful Tenex procedure done almost two years ago. I'm currently back to 100% good, 100% painfree.

"Here's my story... My Achilles pain started when I was 54-55years old. I'm a lifetime runner. Suffered thru it for 5 years. I did all the usual treatments... 1000s of heel dips, orthotics, ice, heat, slept in a boot, meds. I almost gave up running but saw a IG post by Vanessa Fraser saying she had a double Achilles Tenex Surgery. And she was back running in a few months! Fast forward to Oct 15, 2020. I had my procedure done. It took about 45 minutes. I walked out in a boot and drove myself home. 4 weeks in a boot, 8 weeks before I tried running. My first run was 5 minutes at 10 minute pace! Pain free. It did hurt off and on a bit throughout 2021. But nothing like it was. I was very cautious and worked my mileage back very slowly. Biked and pool ran for cross training. There always seemed to be some slight pain after inactively like sitting, sleeping, driving. Occasionally during runs. Fast forward to Jan 2022. I have been 100% pain free since then. I can walk down stairs on my toes. Running is good again. Which is something I thought I would never be able to say. Unfortunately I'm 62 now. And quite a bit slower than when my tendonitis started 7 years ago. So it was about 15 months to full recovery. I'm running 55-60 miles/week and have gotten my 5k down to 18:37, so far!

I highly recommend the Tenex procedure. It was fast and painless. I only wish I had it done a few years earlier.

Dave

Tenex?

Did you have the procedure? If so. what has been the result?

I read your entire post because of my experiences with running injuries as a runner, coach, and now writer about ATHLETICS. I've been running for 54 years although I'm sure most people on LRC would not say I am not a runner!

1. Care about running a little less and get healed up. Then start strengthening your lower body, especially the calve muscles and feet.

2. Stretch and warmup daily even if you do not run. That might sound crazy or unnecessary but is the most important advice for anyone of any age!

3. When you do feel ready to return to running, start out with a walking program for as long as possible. (Hopefully that sounds like an ARTHUR LYDIARD principle to you.)

4. Then do what I refer to as SCOUT running where you walk to warmup, then alternate jogging with walking. You can stretch before and after running, but definitely do it afterward. (I've actually jogged for a count of 20, walked for 100 meters, and then alternated that for a mile the first day back.) Over time you will get better and might even be able to run in a race. For now please consider lower goals.

5. Most LRCers are laughing and making fun of me while reading this, but because I am using my registered name I will not tell you who I have interviewed.

6. The above advice is only as good as the user.

WHAT JED CLAMPETT MEANT TO SAY!!!

I read your entire post because of my experiences with running injuries as a runner, coach, and now writer about ATHLETICS. I've been running for 54 years.
1. Care about running a little less and get healed up. Then start strengthening your lower body, especially the calve muscles and feet.
2. Stretch and warmup daily even if you do not run. That might sound crazy or unnecessary but is the most important advice for anyone of any age!
3. When you do feel ready to return to running, start out with a walking program for as long as possible. (Hopefully that sounds like an ARTHUR LYDIARD principle to you.)
4. Then do what I refer to as SCOUT running where you walk to warmup, then alternate jogging with walking. You can stretch before and after running, but definitely do it afterward. (I've actually jogged for a count of 20, walked for 100 meters, and then alternated that for a mile the first day back.) Over time you will get better and might even be able to run in a race. For now please consider lower goals.
5. Most LRCers are laughing and making fun of me while reading this, but because I am using my registered name I will not tell you who I have interviewed.
6. The above advice is only as good as the user.

Hello,

Mind sharing who your doctor was? Im 50 and looking into it. thanks

Have you tried a round of oral corticosteroids? It took 3 rounds of it over a year and a half (you have to space it out for health reasons) but each time my insertion pain got a lot better and is now pretty much gone