My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

It sounds like you've strained your achilles tendons (the tendons that fasten your calf muscles to your heel). Try icing them and resting up - if no improvement then got yourself toa physio. BTW you may need a professional fitting for your shoe supports - a podiatrist wouold be a good idea.
Sharon.

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

:)thanks so much, as always, spinal music!

Yeah, ...there I go thinking my feet are permanently wonked by a weekend of walking ......and it is probably the achilles. That's such a normal thing, a common thing, to happen, isn't it?

I have heard of it ---achilles tendons---, of course, but had never had first-hand experience, ...or I didn't know exactly what it was all about, to be honest.

Well, ...how can I go about avoiding that "pain in the leg" happening again!? 😉

How the heck did I get that? I have done a lot of walking in my time, and I don't remember having the back of the bottom leg feel so out of sorts!

(Combined with the pronating issue , long-term, ...got me rather worried yesterday...)

Cheers

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

Support all good advice from SpinalMusic & agree that it sounds like an achilles problem.

Just wanted to add that there could be underlying mechanical dysfunctions in knee, ankle, heel or foot.

In particular the subtalar joints in the heel may have stiffened up, which would cause more strain on the achilles tendons - just a thought. An osteopath would check & treat as appropriate all the above & hopefully more.

I recommended 'orthaheel' orthotics for several years, which maybe the type you have, but now moving over to MBT's. No, I dont sell either.

MBT, which stands for Masai Body Technology (I think), in theory and in my experience is a better idea as they encourage mobility of joints & work the muscles more. Although, as said, may be adviseable to get an osteopath to release any resicted/compromised joints and reduce any excess tension in the muscle & other soft tissues first.

Andrew.

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

hey there guys!

mm, well the strained achilles is ...still, kind of strained!! [:'(]

I'm wondering, ..basically, what's the go!

It's been about a month now.

The cause: I went for a massive (some would say crazy) expedition ...lots and lots of walking over 2 days. I have a strong feeling that that caused it.

The aftermath: I have been doing lots and lots of bike-riding since then. But, I didLOTS of bike-riding before the strain as well.... I don't think riding is causing anything.

But, what is aggravating it is the continuing walking/jumping/running I'm doing either of necessity (house-hunting) or job (jumping around with kids)!

Any advice I'm really thankful for. I'm wondering.. a couple of big questions...
How long do 2 strained achilles take to heal?
Once they heal, can you walk far? (I want to do some moderate walks in a month).
How can I avoid this shocker happening again!? 🙂

edit: thanks very much Andrew. I will take strong note. I've been with Orthaheels for 8 months now. My problem wasn't majorly serious (I hope) at the time I started wearing them. I thought they were helping me........ (They probably have, although this strain sux.)If it is any kind of underlying mechanical problem as well, it's probably related to that pronating foot thing. But I have walked long and far for ages, with no trouble. This is the first time.

I'm living in Asia, ...osteopath.. bit tricky, but I'll go for it. Thanks heaps for your advice. Appreciate it!

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

oh dear you've not been able to rest then have you? Those tendons take such a lot of strain when you are walking and cycling. (think about the angles at the ankle joint when you cycle and walk -and the pressure, especially when going up and down hill).
Just a thought - I'm an EFT practitioner, as well as a Pilates instuctor. Today my son's girlfriend mentioned that her knee wasgiving her such a lot of pain she might have to pull out of one of herdrama exams which was particularly physically demanding. We tapped on the circumstances that led to the problem (a car drove into her) and her current stresses - guilt at leaving my son with their two year old while she was rehearsing intensively, and the stress of exams. She left the house pain-free. Previously we've successfully tapped on her carpal-tunnel syndrome, where she was contemplating an operation, (she was also feeling undersupported by my sonat the time).Both of these problems had a physical basis compounded by emotional issues. Perhaps your pain is compounded by your moving problems and your job?
Why don't you take a look at [link= http://www.emofree.com ]www.emofree.com[/link] and look up the basic technique. It might help your painful achilles tendons. You'd get support here on HP from myself and other practitioners if you ran a post on the mind therapies forum.

However you play it, I hope you feel better soon.

Anahata MBT, which stands for Masai Body Technology (I think), in theory and in my experience is a better idea as they encourage mobility of joints & work the muscles more. Although, as said, may be adviseable to get an osteopath to release any resicted/compromised joints and reduce any excess tension in the muscle & other soft tissues first.

I'm a fan of [link= http://www.mbt-uk.com/ ]MBT's[/link] myself (Masai Barefoot Technology - basically they give you a cushioned but unstable sole)- but I'd have reservations in your case at the momentas they don't have a heel - would that be good for him Andrew?Certainly something to consider in the future.

Kind regards,

It sounds like you have a really interesting and fulfilling life!

Sharon.

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

I always hate writing very short replies, cos I am so appreciative of your and everyone's help... not having a computer of my own means I get a minute here and there...:D but a huge thanks for all your help in all the threads.

I will keep at it, keep (trying to) be very gentle on the old heels!

I (a little bit) can't believe how they are still kinda aching after a month+ now. Now. I know how delicate they are.

I just hope they will be OK in 3 weeks time, when my parents are coming to visit, and I've got big walking plans!

What's got me just confused and a bit troubled is...:
How does this happen? How can a big weekend of walking cause a strained achilles, ...especially when I've been a big big walker in the past?

Concerning the future....: Is there anything I can do to avoid a repeat? (After it's healed, naturally)

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

Hi Fox1,
I would recommend seeing a professional, I am sports therapist and find this a common problem
everyone is open to injuries if they take part in any activity, I have found that if someone has been walking for example for years, then gets an injury , then uses orthotics to raise or support the heel, you actually cause a bio-mechanical c=hange to the natural walking gait, so you never return to the pre injury condition.

I have successfully treated Achilles injuires with basic massage techniques, cross fibre frictions and just purely exercise therapy, it can be a dysfunction in the calf muscles causing exessive pull on the insertion at the calcaneus, do you roll forward on to your toes when walking .. if not try to do so to use calf muscles thru full range, plenty of stretching,
try wearing sandal type shoes that dont rub the affected area to see if it improves, rub the area
remember the RICE rest ice compression and elevation advice and I hope things get back to normal soon.
Gaz

RE: My heels are suddenly in agony! (I'm a guy for what it's worth) 🙂

Hi

I have also had HORRENDOUS problems since I started with MBT's. Not only have my trainers disintegrated after just a few months they have also done me damage to my legs pretty much liek you describe.

I am now wearing EARTH trainers with negative heel technoology and got no problem.

Hope this helps but theyare far more wearable than MBT.

Mary