Achilles injury?

[Katie 8]

Hey,
For about 6 weeks now I have had a terrible pain in my achilles when I attempt a kicking motion or rise up onto my toes. In everyday life it does not particularly affect me, however I play football and have been unable to begin pre-season due to this.
I have suffered with this ankle in the past, and am aware that it is very weak, but this injury came on after i was simply sat on my knees doing some college work and i think is one of the reasons why I am getting frustrated.
The physio at my club is convinced that I have a bursitis, and that the only option is to rest for 4 weeks.
Iam not convinced though, as I have been reading a little about bursitis and do not have the symptoms consistant with this injury. Does anyone have any ideas as to what other injury this may be, as I do not want to treat bursitis to find out at a later date that it was not that to begin with??

Thanking you.

[Heidi]

Hi

If it is bursitis, you will most likely have a soft lump at the back of the heel, right where the achilles attaches to the bone:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/achilles/achillesbursitis.htm

It is usually tender to put any pressure on this area too.
It is possible to have both bursitis and tendinopathy at the same time, so be aware of this too.

Unfortunately, whatever the injury is, it will require a rest period. You can't expect it to heal whilst still carrying on with your sport as usual.
Treatment for bursitis and achilles tendinopathy tend to be very similar anyway. So you need to rest, for at least a couple of weeks. Ice when you have been on your feet. And stretch stretch stretch! Make sure you stretch both the Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles. Massage and ultrasound are usually effective too.