Achi
I was going to physical therapy for the Achilles tendon. It was swollen and extremely painful back,of my heel. The first 4 weeks was helping but, the. The excercises became painful. I had to stop going.
Achilles tendonitis. Not Achi. I didn’t get a chance to ask, has anyone else had PT and got a flare or made other body issues worse?
, I can't do physical therapy. It's just too painful for me. But, we are all different and handle things differently. Here is an article I wrote that you might find interesting. https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/flare-afer-flare. How many times a week do you do PT? We would like to hear more from you. Diane (Team Member)
I just posted a lengthy reply to DianeT on her topic, Has Anyone Experience Pain And Swelling In There Calves And Ankles?
Here is a reply from @Eric__the_Eric.
A few things about Achilles pain. First and foremost, if you are wearing flats, throw them in the trash. You want to wear a shoe that has a good 8-10 mm difference between the height of the heel and that of the toe (referred to as "heel drop" in the running world), and 12 mm is best. This takes the stress off of your Achilles by ensuring it is not being constantly pulled on all day. For indoors, if you don't wish to wear what you feel are clunky shoes around the house, you can get some Oofos brand "recovery sandals". They're very cushioned, have a good heel drop, and good arch support. There are two main calf muscles that need to be stretched, the soleus, and the gastrocnemius. The standing calf stretch with outstretched leg most are familiar with is to stretch the gastrocnemius. To get a good stretch on the soleus, the smaller calf muscle on the anterior side of the calf, you do the standing calf stretch, but slightly bend the outstretched leg. It is the soleus that attaches directly to the Achilles tendon, so that is the most important one to stretch. Gentle stretching is important. You also need to do exercises to strengthen your glutes, as these are the muscles used to push off when striding. Weak glutes lead to a lot of overcompensation injuries, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles pain. It's important to know that tendons have very little blood supply, so taking NSAIDs for "tendonitis" isn't very efficacious, as they don't typically get enough blood to carry the medication to the sight of inflammation. I've had limited success with Diclofenac gel, but the only real solution is prevention. And prevention means maintaining adequate flexibility and strength in all of you muscles from the waist down. It's not what a lot of people like to hear, but you have to stay active. I always recommend getting with a personal trainer if your budget allows. If not, there are lots of useful video tutorials online to guide you through stretches. Yoga is an excellent option as a low impact strength and agility exercise. The important thing is to do all exercises correctly, so that you do not hurt yourself.Thank you Eric! This will help me. I have bought sneakers, shoes, sandals slippers (house shoes as the south calls them). Most recommended by my foot surgeon Dr. my feet are inoperable as PsA and osteoarthritis and osteoporosis have damaged with bones and ligaments and tendons. I will find the shoes you recommended and I know of the Ofos. So, this is a good start. I so appreciate this as Physical Therapy was making other tendons and ligament to inflame. It sounds like you could benefit from some really good quality cushioned running shoes. Hokas are great, but they only have about a 5mm drop (differential between heel and toe), and aren't always the best for people with Achilles issues. But, if you can find a pair on sale that you want to try out, I would recommend giving them a shot. If you go to a running specialty store, they can even advise you on your gait, whether or not you might need something with a bit of lateral or medical support as well as cushioning. Also, think about going with a wide width to accommodate your foot swelling. Bear this important fact in mind, though; if the shoes don't feel comfortable when you try them on, do not buy them. Modern shoes are made such that there is very little, if any, breaking in. Basically, if the shoe doesn't feel great the first time you put it on, it's never going to feel good.
