Workout Wednesday: Ouch

Word is, I likely have a small tear in my right Achilles tendon.  I went to the orthopedist a couple of weeks ago.  He noodled around with my foot and figures that's the problem.  He suggested four things:

1. Aleve every day for a couple of weeks to see if that helps w/inflammation.  I dunno if he suggested Aleve in particular or if any NSAID is good.  I didn't think to ask at the time.
2. Physical therapy.  Still have to get that started.
3. Use those gel heel lift things.  Got those.  I dunno if they're really making a difference or if I'm looking for it.
4. And, finally, wear this attractive article on my foot at night:

And yes, those are snowman flannel pyjamas.  What of it?

I think this means I'm Officially Old.  I tried it for a coupla nights.  Seems I get part way through the night and then, at some point, I take it off in my sleep bc it's gone by morning.  It appears to be designed to treat plantar fasciitis, but I think it's used here to keep my foot in such a position overnight that the Achilles is stretched all night long.

I ordered it according to the instructions (basically, according to your shoe size), but I wonder if I need a smaller size bc my foot in it doesn't look like the snug fit in the pictures on the website or the paperwork that came with it.  And they talk about how you can walk a few steps in it if necessary; that makes it sound like walking in it should be quite difficult, but I don't have much difficulty walking in it at all.

I have to find out where to go, insurance-coverage-wise, for physical therapy.  I go in late tomorrow, so that's my charge for the morning: contact insurance, find out where I can go that's covered by my insurance and get on their appointment books.

It has helped quite a bit to avoid impact as much as possible.  Puts a bit of a crimp in workouts, but Mike the Trainer Guy comes up with creative alternatives.  I do still walk to work about half the week.  And I use the treadmill some days.  I wonder if that's good, bad or indifferent for my foot problem, but one can't really stay off their feet entirely, can one?  Stretching does feel very good for it and I expect the physical therapist will give me some homework involving stretching.  Mike always incoroporates some stretching into our sessions, but I should do it at home on my own, too.  Should, should, should.  So many shoulds in life sometimes. 

Anyway, it sounds like this could take months and months to clear up!  How boring.  Apparently, my left Achilles is pretty darn tight and a prime candidate for a similar injury, so I should do stretching and physical therapy to prevent that.  More shoulds.  I find shoulds to be very oppressive sometimes.

Comments

[gottagopractice]

One of my rare comments, only because I can totally commiserate. 20 years ago I had serious issues with achilles tendinitis, but then I got one of these: Prostretch - Heel Stretch Device. I don't have problems any more, nor does my husband, whose tendons were worse than mine. For the longest time we kept it in the kitchen and stretched while fixing breakfast. It was enough. Highly recommended. (This link is from amazon, but you can find these in lots of places - running stores and physical therapy stores for sure.)

[Annie]

Wow! Thanks for that link. I've seen those things plenty of times and never knew what they were! I will certainly get myself one of these.