Hi Deborah, it can be difficult sometimes as when I start a run it can tend to sting every now and again but that subsides after a couple of miles. When racing I do liberally smear it half hour beforehand with Ibuleave max strength. All of this does not really help curing but it does allow me to keep training, and as I currently put in over 50 miles per week injuries do tend to pop up as it was the knees at xmas and now they are ok.

I tend to go for a sports massage every 6 weeks where the physio breaks down the scar tissue and that helps a little, I have just recieved an Aircast Achilles wrap recommended by the physio which I will wear when I am not running and this massages the achilles as you walk.

Finally other things like stretches, heel raises and foam rollers also come into play, I'm considering Plyometrics to strengthen the area, I've had a look on Youtube at some routines which I may incorporate. 

Hi Keith, stretching does some good especially if you have a desk job like me because I tend to sit with my legs outstretched as opposed to being tucked at 90 degrees under the chair which has a consequence of shortening the achilles due to my feet not being at the 90 degree angle to my leg.

If you feel behind the achilles and find some swelling and/or lumps that is scar tissue that is accumulating preventing the flow of blood around the joint and if not treated can turn brittle. Therefore when I go to the physio he breaks down this scar tissue with some very painful point massage in an attempt to get the blood flowing again.

When I visited this week he recommended that I try this Aircast product, that incidently I have just recieved today and what it does is the same as what the physio is doing but more gently and constantly whilst walking using the inflatable air pockets which gently massage the achilles thus preventing the build up of scar tissue.

I am going to start using it immediately and I shall let you know if the technology works as it is not cheap.

Hi,

Thanks for the responses.

I've been specifically stretching my Achilles before and after a run and haven't noticed a problem since then - whether that's it or it's gone away on its own I don't know.

Paul

I can relate to Andy's comment, I have had (and still have) Achilles Tendonitus which results in scar tissue building up as nodules on the achilles. I tend to hobble for the first mile of warm up then it eases off a little, but it can affect the way you run and other muscle groups.

I go for a sports massage every 6 - 8 weeks and the physio treats it with ultrasound and then works on it which is probably the most painful part of the massage as he has to break down the scar tissue by pinching and hard pressure finger massage.

He has recommended I purchase an Aircast Achilles AirHeel Wrap to be worn daily during normal walking (not for running/training) and claims that it constantly massages the sides of the achilles where the nodules grow using air pockets that inflate when the heal is pressed down, and deflates when lifted.

I shall see if that makes a difference when it comes.

I see no one has posted here so its clearly not in anyone's experience! Is the tendon sore when you press it? If so some gentle massage may be indicated to remove a little scar tissue which may have built up. Achillies injuries are notoriously hard to get rid of once they have got a hold so its worth keeping a close eye on.

I have been running for a just over a year now with the odd little injury but nothing major.

For the last few months I've noticed that for a day or two after a run, I can notice my heels "click", for want of a better description, as I go up or down stairs. There is no pain but it is a bit weird when it happens and I wondered if this is normal?

When I say heel I mean probably the achilles tendon but I'm no doctor!

Thanks

Paul