How to treat a hurting Achilles?

Question

I recently started playing volleyball and my Achilles is killing me. What creams of medications should I use? Should I keep playing? Help please!

Ouch!

p.s. I have flat feet.

Answer 1

For the pain use ice on the area for fifteen to twenty minutes per hour.  The question that is in my mind is whether you are strong enough in the plantarflexors of the calf.  These are the large calf muscles in the back of the leg.  To strengthen them stand on the balls of the feet while on a step or large book.  Let the heels down as far as possible and raise up on the balls of the feet.  Hold the highest position for a few seconds and slowly return to the starting position.  Do this fifteen times and rest then repeat this cycle twice more.  On the last one hold the down position for twenty seconds.  This should help you with flexibility and strength.  As for the flat feet get either Dr. Scholl's or Spenco arch supports.  They will put the foot as close to a neutral position as possible without getting into custom made orthotics.  

Answer 2

i would stop for a little bit

ice it every night and buy some insoles  

Answer 3

You should stop playing, use ice for 20 mins. on/off, keep elevated, consult a podiatrist. You may need to get orthotics which will help you a lot & may prevent future problems.  

Answer 4

I agree with blue.  You should stop playing until your symptoms resolve.  I have injured achilles tendons too and if you let them get bad, they will have a really hard time getting back to normal if they even ever do at all.  Achilles injuries are no joke, they're your most important tendon by far and they have to bear such a tremendous strain by design.  They need to be especially looked after and they need to be in great shape and very strong to function as they should.  You need to take a break right now and let it get better.  Pain means stop and if you keep beating them up, you could end up doing a lot of damage unwittingly that will be very costly to you.  A short time of playing volleyball isn't worth a long time of dealing with an injury which has been made chronic.

Achilles tendons are very strong but have a very small blood supply which causes them to heal more slowly than mucles do so when they get injured you have to treat them with care.  I didn't treat my achilles injuries properly in the early stages of thier onset and I really paid the price for it.  Proper treatment in the early stages of the injury is very important in ensuring your best chance for a full recovery.  An achilles injury is definitely one that can really get out of hand too, so take care of it now or you could pay later.  Here is a link to another question that I answered about an achilles injury that is another testimonial to the danger of what it can lead to. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Be sure to check the link in my answer to another answer that I gave to another achilles question that has some good general information that I have accumulated in my long hard and miserable battle with my achilles injuries.

Again, If I were put directly into your shoes with the experience I have with injuries (I've had about 9 muscle and tendon injuries) I would immediately stop all activity that is causing pain or worstening the injury (especially sports) and really devote whatever it takes to making sure that all steps are taken to put into place all of the conditions that will make for the best possible healing of the achilles, period.  Achilles problems are a nightmare that you don't want to have to deal with and I'm wishing for you that you never will.  Good luck and email me if you want.