Discomfort in my left Achilles Tendon. Help, I'm paranoid.?

Question

My sports are football and track&field (100m and 200m sprinting).

I have discomfort in my left Achilles Tendon and I'm paranoid because football starts in 11 days and i know Achilles injuries can be slow to recover and serious

Here is how it happened:

I was lifting yesterday and doing some Clean lifts (5 sets, 3 reps, heavy weight). I don't really remember feeling anything painfull, just when i landed with the weight, i felt slight discomfort in my left lower leg that didn't feel normal. So i figured i'd stop after my 4th set.

When i got home i realized that if i went on my toes i felt discomfort in my achilles tendon in my left leg. It isn't painfull, and i can go on my toes easily, its just uncomfortable and feels wrong.

SO MY QUESTIONS:

Is this something I should worry about?

Is this normal?

How long before this should feel better? And can i keep training on it?

And can i sprint train in my new cleats to break into them? Or should not do anything until everything feels normal?

Answer 1

could be tendonitis

Answer 2

I injured my achilles and it's not healed yet after 2 years because I continued to use it without letting it heal properly.  I'd be careful with how you treat it, I don't know how bad it is but it may not be a problem or it might be a big problem if you continue to train on it.  Tendons have a small blood supply and heal more slowly than muscles and the achilles tendon has to bear a tremendous amount of strain so treat it with plenty of respect or it may end up being a problem for life with the inability to heal to 100% ever again.  The reason for this is called tendinosis which is a result of failed healing and excessive scar tissue and also even poorer blood supply due to the gnarled mass of scar tissue.  This is what I have and trust me, you do not want to have anything to do with this.  I'd take it real easy on it until you absolutely have to and if it's giving you pain, then stop using it.  

Ice it for 15 minutes 3 times a day.  Be sure to let your achilles warm up completely after icing before you try to walk on it at all or you will do damage to it.  I learned this the hard way.  

Use Ibuprofen 800mg 3 times a day as well.  This is a solid fundamental treatment regimine and was also prescribed by my doctor when I went in for an achilles strain.  Also, don't stretch it until it heals enough to hold the stretch.  Again, tendons heal slower than muscles do because of their low blood supply and you don't want to stretch a healing tendon or it will just tear apart what's trying to be put back together.  Also heel lifts are a really big help in taking stress off of the tendon by shortening it up due to the heel being slightly raised.  I would try them if it doesn't improve quickly and they were also recommended to me by my doctor.  The best ones by far are here: http://gwheellift.com/plastic-heel-lifts...

I'd get the 9mm ones and also every size on down because they are cheap and you will want to gradually step down as you heal.

You will also need these to provide cushion because the heel lifts are made of hard vinyl which is vital to them functioning correctly.  http://www.drscholls.com/drscholls/produ...

I'm not trying to scare you but I really want you to be careful with this because I have dealt with and am still dealing with the horrors of a mistreated achilles injury and I don't want you to have to do the same.  I was 28 when mine happened so you'll probably heal quicker than I would have and your injury might not have been as serious either.  You might even want to try some crutches for a short while to give a jump start on healing because the achilles really takes a beating when trying to heal even with simple everyday activity.

Good luck and email me if you want.

Answer 3

i tore my achillies tendon two years ago and it is painful as h**l. luckily for you its very minor.

1.you shouldnt worry about as long as you stretch it and stay off it for a couple of days before it feels better. you should always play it safe with something like this because if you think its fine then go out running and it tears youll be out for a few months. 2

it is normal dont be scared about it just get plenty of rest.

3. it should get better in a few days just get rest on it.

4.you shouldnt break them in yet. if you need to get a friend with th same size who does track to break them in for you.

good luck and im positive itll be better within days