High School Miler: Achilles Tendinitis Ruining Season

Elite Hobby Jogger wrote:

While undergoing Graston, the only additional treatments were running, stretching, and a little yoga.

Why no eccentric calf drops?

Other heretical things I have read on the internet concerning achilles teninits:

*Drink more water for crepitus.

*Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.

*Anti-inflamitory drugs prevent healing.

*Don't stretch the achilles when injured (frayed rope analogy).

*Wear low heeled shoes during the day.

Can anyone deduce on any of the bullets?

Personally, I think I can already deduce the last bullet, as, if I remember correctly, I wore very thin sandals upon a previous occurrence of Achilles pain, which seemed to be somewhat beneficial.

Achilles Tendinitis Miler wrote:

Why no eccentric calf drops?

Calf raises/drops were part of the stretching routine.

Achilles Tendinitis Miler wrote:

Other heretical things I have read on the internet concerning achilles teninits:

*Drink more water for crepitus.

*Eat an anti-inflammatory diet.

*Anti-inflamitory drugs prevent healing.

*Don't stretch the achilles when injured (frayed rope analogy).

*Wear low heeled shoes during the day.

Can anyone deduce on any of the bullets?

Personally, I think I can already deduce the last bullet, as, if I remember correctly, I wore very thin sandals upon a previous occurrence of Achilles pain, which seemed to be somewhat beneficial.

Additional other thing:

*Eat more carbs to help tendinitis

Its hurting following the icing. Back to the pool

dfasfads wrote:

Personal advice: See someone who does ART and Graston. Don't be stupid about running through Achilles tendonitis. Give it time to heal. Don't take anti-inflammatories; it's not an inflammatory injury anyways. Do eccentric heel drops, 3x15 with a straight knee and 3x15 with a bent knee, twice every single day. Start up running very slowly once you are ready to get back into things. Ice if you want to. Foam roll or use The Stick on your calves.

I second dfasfads' advice.

Although I am 3 decades older than a HS runner, my experience of last several years matches the above, with a couple notes below:

Under No Circumstances, run through pain with AT.

Patience. So many first hand accounts say this takes time. So common to be impatient and make it worse. I made it worse and it took me two years to get in race shape again (following unhelpful therapies most of that time).

For me, in addition to help from Excellent practitioner of ART/Graston, CORRECTING MY RUNNING FORM was crucial

Concentric heel drops did not seem to help me, however, they are so widely recommended and non-harming you should do them.

I've found these two videos to be very helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRGnTR8L8h0&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSXIr93ESrE&feature=player_embedded

You mentioned that you have done a lot of research. Have you come across the pots-gninihw method? It has definitely helped me in the past and it is much easier to do by yourself. If you want to resolve it on your own it is definitely worth a shot

I get it. "Stop-Whining Method". The definition of "Whining" is, to complain in a petulant way. I have injected a negligible amount of emotion into this thread in a statistical context. Therefor, your implied joke is not applicable.

However, if you meant "Whining" in the broader definition, of just complaining, I do not see how not complaining would help me at all. The definition of "Complaining" is, to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event. Without complaining, how am I supposed to gain any knowledge? Gaining knowledge is the purpose of this thread. Of course I am expressing dissatisfaction about an injury.

Although, I think you more likely were using the first definition, though there are other ways to interpret your post. Either way, your post is a hindrance to the purpose of this thread.

If your implied joke was meant in a playful way, than I admire the cleverness of the joke.

I have also incorporated heel walks when walking around the house, to strengthen my tibial muscles.

The Red Panda wrote:

I've found these two videos to be very helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRGnTR8L8h0&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSXIr93ESrE&feature=player_embedded

Thanks! I have read about these before, never seen a video though. Have you done these before?

Also does anyone know if it is bad to do eccentric calf exercises when there is crepitus?

Are you still trying to save your indoor season or are you focusing more on just getting ready for outdoor? That could determine which rehab method you want to go with

Hddpnrnjdnhvur wrote:

Are you still trying to save your indoor season or are you focusing more on just getting ready for outdoor? That could determine which rehab method you want to go with

Yes, I am trying to save my indoor season, but not if it will ruin outdoor.

Well best of luck to you man. Sounds like you know what your doing. I ran in NOVA way back in the day and always struggled to find good soft surfaces to run on. I think that's why I had some injury problems such as yours. Are you diligent about running on softer trails?

Hddpnrnjdnhvur wrote:

Well best of luck to you man. Sounds like you know what your doing. I ran in NOVA way back in the day and always struggled to find good soft surfaces to run on. I think that's why I had some injury problems such as yours. Are you diligent about running on softer trails?

I always run on soft surface.

Are you a bigger athlete or smaller or what?

Pretty big I would say: 6'3" 163-170lbs

You have certainly done a lot of research concerning recovery and returning to the sport. From reading your posts here, you seem like one of those kids who will put his life on hold for the sport. You have worked very hard and have been diligent about your training. You're probably looking to run in college (possibly on a scholarship). At this point, your indoor season must take a back seat to your post-highschool aspirations. This will be hard for you but you must take time off. Good luck in your recovery and run fast during your outdoor track season.

Thank you for that very heartfelt post. I am beginning to agree with this notion, unfortunately. I guess it is inappropriate that my longest break during this injury has only been a week and 2 days.

Two ongoing questions that I have:

*Why is it appropriate to take anti-inflamitories, Volteran in my case, if inflammation is necessary step in the healing process? (I have found this to be a gray area, in my research)

*If it depends on the scenerio, than in which scenarios are certain actions appropriate to take?

*I encounter this when I inflame it mild-severely, after eccentric calf drops for example, and ponder whether I should let the inflammation take its course or treat it.

*I am concerned because, in the society of the USA, people are so quick to pop pills and use other sorts of western medicine with little apprehension.

*If I further damage and re-inflame it on a separate occasion than the first occasion of the onset of the injury, can I consider the new re-inflaming a separate "acute-phase" independent of the beginning of the injury or is it just considered a continuation of the injury (another gray area)? Because I cannot consider this a chronic.

Cheers Everyone

I really appreciate all the knowledgeable responses.

Pardon my English