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Achilles pain getting me down - will it ever go away?

Posted , 6 users are following.

TLM
TLM

Hello

Brief background: I'm a 45 year old female with a six month history of right foot pain. This started out as top of foot pain but has changed to achilles pain. An MRI in May has shown that I have some mild achilles tendinopathy and I was referred to a physio who has shown me calf stretches and the protocol for eccentric exercises. I'm not a runner(nor a big exerciser) which is why I'm puzzled as to what has caused this. I have put on some weight recently and and have been told that I am flat footed in both feet. I have had orthotics made at great expense but as it is summer it's hard to wear them. The podiatrist recommended Fit Flops which I do wear but the pain that I experience is bizarre and I wondered if this is normal?

I wake every morning with a stiff and sore right achilles. I also have pain under my foot towards where the outside toes join the foot that goes away after a while. Originally the achilles pain would come and go but now it's here almost all the time. Sometimes I press the tendon and it hurts, but other times it does not hurt, or at least not as much. I iced the tendon earlier and I was in so much pain that I thought I would be sick. 20 minutes later it was as if I had no problem at all. If I stand for any length of time I get shooting pains up the back of my calf. If I walk anywhere for too long I get a similar pain. I find the exercises have almost made it worse. I also find it hard to do single leg calf raises - the back of the leg above the heel feels stiff and painful.

Is it normal to get on off pain with achilles in the space of 20 minutes? One minute I'm wanting to scream, the next it's OK. I find myself changing shoes about 4 times a day to accommodate the pain! Will this pain ever go / settle? I'm so depressed.

Any advice or help is much appreciated.

Thanks

 

1 like, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • Swampiesue
    Swampiesue TLM

    Posted

    Thank you for the good wishes and advice... X
    • Swampiesue
      Swampiesue Guest

      Posted

      Hi Unhappy feet, it's early day yet as you know, I am in a back slab plaster cast and walking a little on one leg with a frame. I found my arms a bit weak for the crutches at this stage. Although I mastered jumping up the small step at the hospital I found the entry to my Bungalow a lot higher and and to get in using the stall I was given for washing. I sat on it and my husband dragged me back.. I looked a right sight I can tell you. So far I have not mastered going out yet but I will have to find a way because I have my first appointment with the Consultant on Monday 11days after surgery. I am not in pain as such but the scar under my plaster feels a bit sore at times. I woke me a couple of times and it is for that reason only I still take one dose of morphine a day at night.. The main aches and pains at the moment are from all that sitting around.. I am on blood thinning injections everyday for the next six weeks which I have to administer myself and are no way as frightening as you expect them to be. How long was it before you were able to weight bear ? This hopping around is killing me, although I guess it will be a while yet. 
    • Guest
      Guest Swampiesue

      Posted

      Hi swampiesue, it sounds like everything is going really well, I'm very impressed with the self administration of your meds.....very brave. I too struggled to Get in home, I found a HALF slab supported on loose bricks worked and used it as an extra step. Try not to hop, it's kind of dangerous, you want to be careful not to strain your better leg while you wait for your fixed one to become strong, I kind of shuffled or half stepped and bore partial weight but used crutches or cruised using furniture to take the brunt of the force

      I stopped using one crutches at maybe 10 days except for stairs and distance work, and handed them both back at maybe 8 weeks but kept a stick in my car just in case.

      I forgot to mention I used a satchel like bag to move all my shiny stuff, books and meds and water round the house with me, washing was done in the d/s loo untill I could shower, I used clung film to keep my dressings dry....ish when showering later but tbh it was a poor attempt at waterproofing.

      The ache on your scar seems normal, I had it, it will let you know when it's had enough as you continue to get better. Remember to beep stretching your leg out and paddling your foot and wiggling those piggies , it helps the blood flow and so aids recovery and movement. Just be aware of any bad pain in your calves or knees pot thighs and act if you are concerned

      I think you will be impressed with your scaring when you see your consultant, mine has now almost gone at 1 yo and the 6 m o one isjust a touch achey and almost scar free, but as I mentioned I do push mine quite hard (48 hours on my feet in 4 days) that's some huge improvements over last year....give it time (there are occasionally dark days when you question is it fixing or how long will it take) but, you will know with patience and perseverance it's one of he best decisions you've ever made.

      Take care

    • Swampiesue
      Swampiesue Guest

      Posted

      Oh I do hope so, I had a Bungion operation on my left foot in February, it failed because I fell on it and broke my toe week two after the operation and needs doing again.. No way do I want that to happen again.. I have fallen and put my weight on my foot twice this time but nowhere as hard as happened with my toe... 

      How on earth did you manage without crutches after 10 days, when were you able to use your leg? 

      When you say paddle, how do you do that, my is foot fixed in one position in plaster and won't move..my toes are wriggling well though lol

    • Guest
      Guest Swampiesue

      Posted

      Hi swampiesue, my foot wasn't in plaster, I was heavily bandaged (i suppose each surgeon has his own style), these were reduced significantly when I had my follow up appointment. That allowed me to gently rock the ankle joint allowing the toes to rise and fall slightly.

      My op involved a small split being made in the A. Tendon to access my shattered spurs and clean up and shave the A.Tendon and calcanium but no tendon debridgement, the major incision was a 4 inch + cut laterally around the back of the heel and calcanium, stitches held the sit tissue in place and I believe a stitch was used to secure the surgically split A.Tendon. for that reason I was confident it wouldn't go twang

      when I started walking I walked in a very wooden style so as to not stretch the A.Tendon, 2 crutches were used from 3 hours after the op (my procedure took 1 1/4 hours) I used 1 crutch to bear the weight after 10 days, but it was used Jake the peg like with recovering foot in the centre, I never bore full weight on my fixed foot and only took conservative half steps. I'd say 3 weeks was the point when I could bear full weight but was very very nervous about stairs and never pushed off with my repaired foot never did more than one stair per stride (half stepped bringing fixed foot to good foot) and again only half stepped on the flat till felt comfortable with the A.Tendon and calcanium tissue stretching with normal walking. My swollen tissue was around the incision and puffyness around the ankle bones. My pain area was the calcanium and the bit where the tendon attaches. meds kept it ok, a little pain is a good thing, it keeps you focused and stops silliness, when I was stupid it let me know.

      Hope this helps.

    • Swampiesue
      Swampiesue Guest

      Posted

      Hi unhappy feet, oh yes thank you it's been very useful. My Tendon was detached, the full name of the operation was right ankle Haglands excision, tendoachillies deride end and axis ion of retocalcaneal bursa.I know more tomorrow about the scar tomorrow when I have the plaster temporarily removed and I see the consultant.. Will let you know how it goes. I might then, know how long I will be non weight bearing. 
    • jean34329
      jean34329 Swampiesue

      Posted

      Does anyone know what the non surgical treatment for this condition is please?

      Jean

    • Swampiesue
      Swampiesue

      Posted

      Hi unhappy feet, I went to the hospital had my stitches removed, looked like it was healing well, my Consultant came in looked at it seemed pleased, moved my foot very slightly and ordered a full plaster cast.. Still no weight bearing.. Which I guessed anyway.. I have another appointment in two weeks.. To top it all my husband has given my a cold... Something I didn't need....xx
    • Guest
      Guest Swampiesue

      Posted

      Great news on the check up, hope you got your new cast signed by your consultant... Shame about Mr swampies cold but it's nice to share :-)
  • Swampiesue
    Swampiesue TLM

    Posted

    How do people cope with all the sitting around while healing, it's not boredom so much but the bum and back ache....
    • jean34329
      jean34329 Swampiesue

      Posted

      Thats just what I also would like to now too.Does sitting around increase the pain and stiffness?
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