Achilles tendonitis

[MadCityRef]

It's also called plantar fascia, inflammation of where the tendon attaches to the tarsus bone.
I switched to New Balance shoes and my problems have subsided, but they do linger.
I wear socks to bed to keep the tendons extra warm, and sleep on my side. Sleeping on your back or stomach causes the tendons to be tensed, but they are relaxed when on your side.
Stretch a lot with range of motion exercises. I also take chondroitin and glucosemine tablets every day.
Warm up early before games. Good luck.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by MadCityRef

It's also called plantar fascia, inflammation of where the tendon attaches to the tarsus bone.
I switched to New Balance shoes and my problems have subsided, but they do linger.
I wear socks to bed to keep the tendons extra warm, and sleep on my side. Sleeping on your back or stomach causes the tendons to be tensed, but they are relaxed when on your side.
Stretch a lot with range of motion exercises. I also take chondroitin and glucosemine tablets every day.
Warm up early before games. Good luck.

Actually, plantar fascitis is an inflamation of the tendon connecting the heel and the toes. The achilles tendon connects the calcaneus (heel) and the gastrox and soleus muscles in the calves. While both cause pain in the heel, they are completely different injuries.

[fonzzy07]

I suffer from plater facitus I am one of the youngest my doctor has seen. One thing that helps after a game when I get home is in the morning fill a water bottle and freeze it, then when I get home I roll the ice bottle underneeth my feet. I did the whole PT thing even had medicine magnetically forced through my foot some how and that did not help. Aqua therapy did help a little but the best thing is just to put them up, let them rest and change your shoes often. I can tell when my shoes are getting bad because my feet start to hurt. One last thing do not spend 100's of dollars on custome orthodics, I did then went to the shoe store and they recommenede an inser that cost me 20 dollars it was called super feet, they have 2 types, the green works best for me.

[zebraman]

I had achilles tendonitis so bad that I would just about go through the roof when my achilles got bumped at all. Even the sheets rubbing against it in bed were hurting. It started about 8 years ago and just kept getting progessively worse.

After resting my leg an entire off-season (which was very tough because I am an avid weighlifter and a golfer and biker in the summers), it settled down a little bit. Then when I stared reffing again in the fall, it immediately flared up and I was back to square one.

Two off-seasons ago, I had achilles debridement surgery. It has made a world of difference. The only time I even noticed my achilles so far this year was when I had 6 boys games in a week (snow make-ups). Other than that, the pain is completely gone.

Surgery is a last resort, but it sure worked for me.

[Terrapins Fan]

I thought I had a problem with my Achilles tendon, but after seeing 3 or 4 doctors, and having tons of tests done, it looks like a pinched nerve in my lower back. I start PT Monday....I'm 51....I expect pain, we are on a 1st name basis.

[fonzzy07]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

I thought I had a problem with my Achilles tendon, but after seeing 3 or 4 doctors, and having tons of tests done, it looks like a pinched nerve in my lower back. I start PT Monday....I'm 51....I expect pain, we are on a 1st name basis.

Just a warning makes sure they know exactly what is wrong with your back before they start therapy. This fall i had a freak accident where the disk inbetween 2 of my vertabrae in my lower back slipped. When they MRIed it all they saw was a blob and sent me off to PT to help get over a slipped disk. Well the pain go worse, and worse and when I went back in for another MRI it showed one of my vertabrae in my lower back touching the other. I feel this when I reff if I make a quick turn around my entire rightleg goes numb from the damage that the slippage cause the nerve.

[buffett]

Karin had some great suggestions. The 2 I have used are the heel lift and the
straps. In 2004-05 I limped through the 2nd half of the season because of achilles problems. After a long rehab that included wearing specially made boots for both ankles, I was able to start running and reffing again. The therapist fitted me with heel lifts early in the rehab. My doctor directed me to wear an ankle strap which has worked out nicely. He had me perform 2 achilles strengthing exercises. You stand on a raised object (stairs) with just your toes touching the stairs. With your legs 1)bent and 2(straight, you slowly raise and lower yourself up and down 15 times. I was ready for the 05-06 season and it went well. I am still wear the lifts and use the straps every time I officiate or run. The achilles are fine today. The lifts I use are 1/2" ones. Check with a doctor, therapist, or a store that would sell such items. I purchase my straps from an online company. Here is their website: www.medspec.com/. The product I use is the ASO ankle stablizing strap which comes is black or white.

GOOD LUCK!!