What's up with my Achilles tendons?

[stephanier.1765]

They hurt. At least, the tendons are what I think the source of the pain is. One foot is dramatically worse than the other but they both are causing me pain. The right foot causes enough pain to keep me up at night. Going to bed actually worsens it. What's weird is when I Google my symptoms they all say repetitive motion from exercise are why they are hurting, except I don't exercise. I do stretch but only in an attempt to relieve this pain. It doesn't help. Heat helps for a bit but once it cools I'm right back where I started. It's beginning to affect my ability to walk. I know I need to go to the doctor but I really don't want to. I hate the whole wait for a referral for a specialist game and then drive 10,000 miles through traffic to get there. Sigh. I suppose this is really just a vent. Bodies are weird.

[bookbard]

You might have a tear. I jumped wrongly and tore both mine, one a little bit and one a bit more. Needed ultrasound for diagnosis and physiotherapy for treatment. Helped a lot but took a long time, I'd get a referral as soon as you can. 

[prairiewindmomma]

Bodies are weird.

Most people's achilles tendons issues are tied to overuse, but not all. You might find doing some gentle stretches (point your toe, pull it back towards your chin) several times a day helpful. 

Good luck!

[happi duck]

Consider checking if you have knots in your calves and along your shins.  On knots we use a roller called The Stick that we bought at a running store or just sort of press with hands.  They hurt!

[Terabith]

I have one Achilles tendon that hurts a fair amount, especially when I have been sitting for some time and then stand up and walk.  Once I get going for awhile, it hurts less, but it is uncomfortable most of the time.  

However, I was a toe walker into my 20's, and I still walk almost entirely on the balls of my feet, so "tight Achilles tendons" are a known entity to me.  I do some stretches, but I simply cannot point them backwards, and things like duck walks and squatting with heels on the ground were never possible, even as a child.  

[Paige]

My DD has CP, and she was primarily affected in her achilles on one side. Her neuro would have probably diagnosed you CP in a hot minute because he believed all toe walking was neurological and if you add in the other things you say it sounds mild, but familiar. Are you sure you don't have mild cp- it can be very mild. Diagnosis doesn't really matter, though- treatment of symptoms is what they'd do. Tightness in the achilles will have a cumulative effect on the body so you may be experiencing consequences of years of tightness now that you're older. I don't know how old you are, but probably old enough to have some years in...and even if it's not CP, toe walking (or anything without a good heel strike) will result in an abnormal gait that even if mild will cause extra wear and tear on your body. Has your achilles reflex been checked? 

It's also getting cold outside which will make things worse. Heat helps.

I would suggest- up your stretches a lot. My DD has something like this and this: http://www.afx-online.com/store/.

The 2nd one is pricey but better and she can use it while watching tv and it gives a side to side motion that is hard to practice on your own. You could also try hot yoga and heating pads. It's possible the cramping at night would be muscle spasms. I don't know what you could do for those without a doctor but maybe a mild muscle relaxer at night from your primary doctor would help. 

[GailV]

I remember hearing about a woman whose achilles improved when she got a shoulder massage - apparently the fascia train runs all the way down the back of the body.

Yep, bodies are weird.

[Terabith]

2 minutes ago, Paige said:

My DD has CP, and she was primarily affected in her achilles on one side. Her neuro would have probably diagnosed you CP in a hot minute because he believed all toe walking was neurological and if you add in the other things you say it sounds mild, but familiar. Are you sure you don't have mild cp- it can be very mild. Diagnosis doesn't really matter, though- treatment of symptoms is what they'd do. Tightness in the achilles will have a cumulative effect on the body so you may be experiencing consequences of years of tightness now that you're older. I don't know how old you are, but probably old enough to have some years in...and even if it's not CP, toe walking (or anything without a good heel strike) will result in an abnormal gait that even if mild will cause extra wear and tear on your body. Has your achilles reflex been checked? 

It's also getting cold outside which will make things worse. Heat helps.

I would suggest- up your stretches a lot. My DD has something like this and this: http://www.afx-online.com/store/.

The 2nd one is pricey but better and she can use it while watching tv and it gives a side to side motion that is hard to practice on your own. You could also try hot yoga and heating pads. It's possible the cramping at night would be muscle spasms. I don't know what you could do for those without a doctor but maybe a mild muscle relaxer at night from your primary doctor would help. 

How would you know if you have CP?  I've never heard of the CP/ toe walking thing.  

[Paige]

Just now, Terabith said:

How would you know if you have CP?  I've never heard of the CP/ toe walking thing.  

I don't know- you'd need to see either a neurologist or orthopedist for sure. My daughter was so mild everyone (even medical professionals) swore she couldn't have CP at first but the neuro and ortho took like 3 minutes and it was confirmed on MRI. 

One thing you can do is check your reflexes- hit both your knees and see what happens- do you kick once, not at all, or more than one kick? But that just measures one place. You could probably ask your primary doc to check your ankle reflex too. It can confirm CP (clonus) but I don't think a normal reflex rules it out. 

[prairiewindmomma]

3 minutes ago, Terabith said:

How would you know if you have CP?  I've never heard of the CP/ toe walking thing.  

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29309384/  If you haven't seen the % breakdown on toe-walking.... Often the link to autism (which accounts for only 15% of toe walking in this study) is overblown and the rest is ignored. CP is the most common cause for toe walking.

-------

Tight achilles tendons are also common with connective tissue disorders. The inflammation in the tendons isn't caused by overuse specifically, but it's tied to overall inflammation levels. It's usually correlated with tight calf and hip muscles also, or dysfunction in the foot structure itself.

[Terabith]

6 minutes ago, Paige said:

I don't know- you'd need to see either a neurologist or orthopedist for sure. My daughter was so mild everyone (even medical professionals) swore she couldn't have CP at first but the neuro and ortho took like 3 minutes and it was confirmed on MRI. 

One thing you can do is check your reflexes- hit both your knees and see what happens- do you kick once, not at all, or more than one kick? But that just measures one place. You could probably ask your primary doc to check your ankle reflex too. It can confirm CP (clonus) but I don't think a normal reflex rules it out. 

At age 45, I don't know if I need to follow up on this, but it is interesting, and I might ask the next time I'm in the office for a check up.  I don't know of any other issues that I've had, other than now in my 40's, one tendon kinda hurts.  

[Paige]

52 minutes ago, Terabith said:

At age 45, I don't know if I need to follow up on this, but it is interesting, and I might ask the next time I'm in the office for a check up.  I don't know of any other issues that I've had, other than now in my 40's, one tendon kinda hurts.  

I agree- it wouldn't make any difference because you'd just address the symptoms which is pain and maybe some tightness. 

[Pawz4me]

1 hour ago, Paige said:

(or anything without a good heel strike) will result in an abnormal gait that even if mild will cause extra wear and tear on your body.

I'm doing PT to work on a few issues, and the above is exactly what the therapist was telling me today, and something he's having me work on.

[stephanier.1765]

1 hour ago, Paige said:

My DD has CP, and she was primarily affected in her achilles on one side. Her neuro would have probably diagnosed you CP in a hot minute because he believed all toe walking was neurological and if you add in the other things you say it sounds mild, but familiar. Are you sure you don't have mild cp- it can be very mild. Diagnosis doesn't really matter, though- treatment of symptoms is what they'd do. Tightness in the achilles will have a cumulative effect on the body so you may be experiencing consequences of years of tightness now that you're older. I don't know how old you are, but probably old enough to have some years in...and even if it's not CP, toe walking (or anything without a good heel strike) will result in an abnormal gait that even if mild will cause extra wear and tear on your body. Has your achilles reflex been checked? 

It's also getting cold outside which will make things worse. Heat helps.

I would suggest- up your stretches a lot. My DD has something like this and this: http://www.afx-online.com/store/.

The 2nd one is pricey but better and she can use it while watching tv and it gives a side to side motion that is hard to practice on your own. You could also try hot yoga and heating pads. It's possible the cramping at night would be muscle spasms. I don't know what you could do for those without a doctor but maybe a mild muscle relaxer at night from your primary doctor would help. 

It's been quite a while since my Achilles reflex was checked. Because of my hip and back pain, they check my knees pretty regularly. I think I'm going to get the things your linked. I definitely need something more than just my hands manipulating my foot and ankle and and regular stretches. Thank you!

1 hour ago, prairiewindmomma said:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29309384/  If you haven't seen the % breakdown on toe-walking.... Often the link to autism (which accounts for only 15% of toe walking in this study) is overblown and the rest is ignored. CP is the most common cause for toe walking.

-------

Tight achilles tendons are also common with connective tissue disorders. The inflammation in the tendons isn't caused by overuse specifically, but it's tied to overall inflammation levels. It's usually correlated with tight calf and hip muscles also, or dysfunction in the foot structure itself.

Interesting! I do have tight calf and hip muscles. Have my entire life. I also have fibromyalgia so it could be having an effect on the tendons or maybe I've been misdiagnosed and as I age other problems are appearing that might show it's another issue altogether. Sigh, I really am going to need to see the doctor. Even the pressure from my sneakers is starting to really bother me.

[prairiewindmomma]

Achilles tendon pain is absolutely correlated to fibro. 

FWIW, am and pm stretching makes a huge difference for me.  I use therabands, and I found a link to the types of exercises I do. Here: https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/orthopaedics/sports-medicine/physical-therapy/rehabilitation-protocol-for-achilles-tendinitis.pdf

https://www.prevention.com/fitness/workouts/a32160586/best-calf-stretches/: downward facing dog & heel drops & banded calf stretch are the ones from here I find helpful

[Robin M]

I've pulled my Achilles tendon a couple of times and used solanpas cold patches which helped considerably along with pain relievers.  Easy stretching works.  Make sure your bed sheets and or comforter aren't too heavy and loose enough that it isn't mushing your foot down.  Can always put an extra small pillow down at the foot of the bed so tents around your foot.  Also massaging the calf up above provides some help. Talk hubby into providing leg massages, just not directly on the tendon.  My hubby's great at finding knots of pulled muscles.  Hope you feel better soon. 

[Robin M]

3 hours ago, GailV said:

I remember hearing about a woman whose achilles improved when she got a shoulder massage - apparently the fascia train runs all the way down the back of the body.

Yep, bodies are weird.

 Maybe TMI, but when my neck is hurting and ask hubby for a massage, you know men and where their hands naturally gravitate.  He always manages to find a knot in my lower back or butt.   Strange but true.  When my knee is aching, there's always one toe that hurts like heck when squeeze it, but the pain in my knee goes away.  Reflexology is a wonderful thing.  

[Terabith]

Hmmm.  Interestingly, my calf muscles are a bit tight, but not in any way problematic, and my hips are pretty flexible.  I've always been more flexible than most people expect (middle aged fat woman), but not alarmingly flexible by any stretch.  No dislocations or anything.  

[lmrich]

You could ask about getting physical therapy and get dry needling to see if that helps to release it. 

The only thing that worked for me when I had a rather inflamed achilles tendon, was extreme rest - really staying off it. Try to stay off it for a few days and see if that helps.