Achilles pain!!

[pagey1505]

Hi,

I was wondering if maybe you can help regarding my Achilles tendon pain as I'm at the end of my tether. I have been suffering with this pain for nearly 2 years now. Let me try and explain, here goes :- In May 2010 I started to experience pain in my Achilles on my right leg ( I must mention here that I have been playing Netball for 17 years and have pulled the ligaments in both ankles several times) when playing netball and after playing the following morning it was a bit stiff, at this point I choose to ignore the pain and carry on ( boy do I regret that decision) as time continued the pain was evident in both Achilles, I rested from Netball for 4 weeks and the pain seemed to improve so I started playing again, and my first game back the pain in both Achilles was back. It got to the point where the pain was not just affecting my game but for a few days after, when getting out of bed in the morning or when I have been sitting down for a while I am having to shuffle the first few steps until I can walk normally again. I went to my Doctor in September 2010 who referred me for physio where she done sports massage on the Achilles and calf muscle and gave me stretching exercises, and said that I could carry on with Netball, she also used ultrasound treatment, after 3 months the pain was reduced but was still there so my physio referred me to a podiatrist. My podiatrist has made specific heel insoles and I have have had an ultrasound scan, which does not show any tears, thickness, inflammation etc. It came back normal and showing good blood supply. My podiatrist started me on eccentric exercises in October 2011, 3 sets of 15 heel drops (on the stairs)on both legs, she also told me to stop netball and absolutely no impact exercising at the gym. This improved the pain and they were not as stiff in the morning but were still tender to touch. When these exercises stopped causing pain when doing them she said to put a 5kg bag on and repeat the exercises which I started doing in December, and they were fine, but in the last week or 2 I seem to be back to being stiff in the morning and feel like I'm back to where I started. I accepted in October that it was the right way forward to stop playing netball but it has been nearly 5 months with what seems like only a tiny improvement. Any ideas as I'd love to go back to playing netball as soon as.
Regards

Kerry.

[Heidi]

Hi
It sounds like you are doing all the right things which I would recommend. Definitely you should have stopped playing earlier, but apart from that make sure you keep stretching the achilles several times a day, keep up with massage, ultrasound and the heel drop exercises. Are you still wearing you insoles every day in all your shoes?

[pagey1505]

Thanks for the reply, yes I am still wearing my insoles. Maybe I was expecting things to happen faster. How long do you think full recovery will take or is this like asking how long a piece of string is???

[Heidi]

Yeah, a bit like how long is a peice of string to be honest. Unfortunately achilles pain, once it becomes chronic, can be a pain to get rid off. You could try alternative therapies like acupuncture?

[pagey1505]

Ok thanks. Have you heard of Prolotherapy treatment? If so do you think this might be an option.

[eviecullip]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your problem..... it must be driving you mad!! Prolotherapy may be an option as it does encourage healing and strengthens the ligaments, i would consider it for myself : )

[pagey1505]

Hi, Thanks, I'm seeing my podiatrist at the end of February so will talk to her and see what she says about Prolotherapy. I am prepared to try anything.

Kerry. x

[pagey1505]

Hi, just a quick update, my podiatrist is now refering me for shockwave therapy which i will hopefully start soon!! She is also looking in to high volume image guided injections. So fingers crossed one of these works.xx

[joyce99]

If acupuncture didn't work at all to you, consider having an appointment to the nearest chiropractor clinic in your area. What you consider a simple Achilles pain might be something worse.