Me again,
After 10 months ago, one morning when I got out of bed I went down on my knees because my achilles tendon and calf were in excruciating pain. I went to my family doctor and he told me to stretch, ice, and take nsaids. I was already taking max dose of nsaids from WC injuries. Over the months, the pain never went away. It would hurt first thing in the a.m., get a little better, hurt later on in the day, but I was already having so much medical treatment that I chose to let it be.

Well, now that I am not taking nsaids because of my cervical fusion, the achilles tendon has started acting up again. Bad pain. I can walk for max of 5 mins. and then can't walk on my foot correctly. I went to a foot surgeon on my own and he took xrays, said I had a lot of scar tissue, and decided to do 12 sessions of P/t and see how things go. I went to my first session two days ago and the next day my foot felt pretty good. But today it hurts no matter what I do.

I think what caused mine was for 3 solid years prior to injury, I faithfully walked at least 3 miles a day, and was very active outdoors on most weekends. Then it just stopped! Several times I tried to start back up the walking again but it never worked. I think I pushed too hard on a tendon that wasn't used to the stress.

Has anyone else had any experience with achilles tendonitis?

Thanks again.

This post was last modified: 05-29-2008 06:42 PM by wontgiveup.

My son in law has that same problem He does excerises to help it out .. Hopefully Pt will help ..

HEY CHRIS

I HAD THAT LAST YEAR. I KEPT WORKING UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER WALK. YES IT IS VERY PAINFUL AND IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT WILL BREAK AND YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY THEN IT BECOMES CHRONIC. IT TOOK MONTHS BEFORE IT FINALLY HEALED, WHAT HELPED ME WAS MY CHIROPRACTOR, HE WOULD PULL IT AND PULL IT AND I DID THE STRETCHES. IT CAN BE A VERY SLOW HEALER BECAUSE YOU KEEP WALKING ON IT YOU NEED TO REST IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU LAY IN BED TRY AND STRETCH YOUR FEET UP AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. AND REMEBER STAY OFF OF IT!! THERE IS A SITE ON WEBMD THAT CAN TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT. I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON

Sithie

rholmes is right about the bone breaking. When I was in the army, I got Achilles Tendonitis and eventually because of the lack of medical treatment in the army at that time, I ended up cracking my bone. Now I was lucky that they caught it while it was still a green stick fracture. I work a soft jello cast for 2 weeks, then wore a hard regular walking cast for another month. (trust me I still did everything everyone else did with the cast on - even qualifying in the physical part of the army.)

It does take time to heal, they eventually sent me to a civilian doctor and he discharged me. When I got home, I was still on crutches for another 2 months while the ankle finished healing.

Continuing with the achilles tendon. I completed Physical Therapy. It was nice and it helped, but I can still barely walk 5 minutes without having to rest my foot. I re-visited the surgeon yesterday and he ordered an MRI to see the extent of damage and said surgery is my best option if I want to remain active.

So, my question is, has anyone had this surgery? What can I expect? How long before being released to work?

I'm hoping that I can coincide this surgery with the recovery of my spine surgery and maybe, just maybe be able to return to work by August. Does that sound reasonable to anyone with knowledge of either of these injuries? My spine surgeon doesn't even want to talk about RTW until my next visit. Maybe I'm just trying too hard, or dreaming that this may actually happen. Oh, and then there's my psychologist. He has said I'm not ready to RTW yet. I really have too many doctors! LOL!

I finished my PT last week for the achilles tendon, and I start back up today for my neck. I'm beginning to feel like I live there!

Chris,
Check with your surgeon about being allowed to use your NSAIDS again. Mine left me start them back up when he removed my collar at 6 weeks and started me on the PT. I'm off of them again because of tomorrows lumbar surgery. I definetly notice the differance with out them. Thank goodness for heating pads and ice, lol.
Get well soon.
Vickie

Vickie,
I wish you the best with your lumbar surgery tomorrow. It just seems like it never ends.

I started back up on the celebrex, and I'm also taking norco 10-325, but they don't touch the pain coming from the achilles. I wonder what, if anything, would numb that type of pain.

Keep us posted on how you are doing. Wish I could make you a dinner or something when you get home. I don't remember if you gave me your address but if you p.m. it to me I'll have a pizza or something delivered when you get home.

Please don't overdo after your surgery.

CC, I am wondering if it was the Uatrasound that had made you feel good for a day. Being said, in some links here, you to can purchase one. As long as the tendon has not broke you can heal it.

http://www.aidmyachilles.com/?REF=GAchilles

http://www.footsmart.com/ProductList.asp...62ac1327ca

http://www.achillestendon.com/

http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp09009.htm

Chris
You are so sweet hon, thank you for wanting to make me a dinner. I have a few TV dinners, not the best thing, but they are microwavable,lol. I hope your recovery goes better and that your achiles Tendon gets better as well.
Love Vickie

Thanks BadBoy, I will know more after the MRI, and how to proceed. I think I had a very good P/T facility. Every visit became routine and this is what they did.

1. Heating pad
2. Ultrasound
3. 15 mins. on Tread Mill at 1 MPH
4. 15 mins. on Stationary Bike
5. Assortment of stretching exercises for the legs
6. Tendon/Leg Massage
7. Electrical Stimulation and Ice

Every session was 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. long, and the only part of this that really hurt was the massage. They did everything they could do for me, but the leg is worse now than ever. That's why the MRI and suggestion that surgery would be my best option for recovery.