Okay, I started serious “barefoot” running back in February/March. I started slow, completely barefoot and only 5 to 10 minutes at a time on a treadmill. Eventually moved to mixed surface (road/trail) for 2-5 miles, slow pace. Did that for a couple of weeks and suddenly my Achilles tendon just went south.
I’ve read the threads on VFF/barefoot on this site and others. Did some searching around and found advice on eccentric stretches, etc. I’ve been off all running now for nearly 3 months and doing just light leg work and stretches (in addition to normal weight lifting). Started back last week with shoes and it still painful. Enough that I know barefoot is out of the question.
Am I doing something terribly wrong here? Any thoughts on what I can do to sort this out? I ran a couple of days ago with a taped up tendon, and it was okay (short and slow), but I dont’ want to have to rely on that too much.
Oh…and I’m 45 years old. Maybe that has something to do with it :shout:
Edit: and before someone asks “why” I want to continue barefoot…That few weeks was the first time since I ran the Marine Corps Marathon that I was able to run more than a mile or so with NO knee pain at all. I just loved it.
For the most part, rest is your best bet. Also, while I am currently a medical student, I am not a board certified physician, so I recommend a trip to see your doctor. If you’ve stopped running for the most part and still having issues, time to talk to the pro as there may be structural issues at play.
As to the barefoot issue, I only run barefoot on the beach for the same reasons you seem to want to continue that way. My knee, which was the reason I left the Fleet in the first place, has been operated on more than I care to remember. It is a source of chronic pain, even when I’m not running. Barefoot on the beach is heaven for me. When I’m not in the sand, I’ve got a pair of those Reebok ReeFlex shoes and they are amazing. Love them as they are lightweight, and free moving. Won’t be running in anything but them for the time being.
I appreciate the input. I was hoping to avoid a doctor up front - not because I don’t trust them, but because I can hear it now - “see a physical therapist”. My schedule does not allow for that very easily (or at all, actually).
Having said that, perhaps it’s time. Don’t they make a pill or something I could take to fix this? :lazy:
Oh no doubt, but you can ask them for “at home” physical therapy exercises after your initial eval. If nothing else, having a competent doc make sure you don’t have anything that is more serious than a strain is a good idea. Last thing you want is to have a minor tear turn into a full blown one because you didn’t get it eyeballed by someone with a fancy degree. Despite my current educational endeavors, I hate doctors, but there are some things that don’t just get better on their own.
As for the magic happy pills, they kind of suck if you need to drive anywhere, work, etc. I’m prescribed a handful of different pain meds, but because of my job, I very rarely take them. I cannot work with the stuff in my system, so I choose to just take the OTC Aleve when the knee gets intolerable enough.
Oh I know. On the rare occasions I do pop the happy-stuff, life is all beer and Skittles until they wear off…
Going long stints without being able to run blows. For a while, I got it in my head to buy a bike and ride to get my cardio in. Found out it ain’t the same thing only after the discomfort in the “tender region” sank in. Now it’s run or swim on days the knee is really bad.
H
PS: Speaking of swimming, it might be advisable to get into the pool for the zero-impact cardio. Just make sure you are increasing carb and protein intake, as it is a total body exercise and to avoid losing muscle mass. I learned the hard way back in high school.
I’ve had Achille’s problems for roughly 20 years now. One key for your treatment will be to identify whether you have a strain, tear, tendonitis, or tendonopathy. My pain has been good, bad, better, worse, gone for two years, back again, etc. The last specific injury was the worst of the lot and finally ended with an MRI and two specialist visits. The single most important info I got was: docs have been diagnosing and treating Achille’s pain wrong for a long time. The diagnosis is usually tendonitis, i.e. inflammation. The treatments often didn’t work, or worked poorly. The thinking was that the Achilles is just tough to treat for a lot of reasons. Per the most recently educated doc I went to and his APN (they specialize in ankles): Recent research has really emphasized that most of these injuries are not an -itis but an -opathy (deterioration.) Many of the -itis treatment modalities are simply not effective, or can actually be harmful. The only treatment that was found to be effective short of surgery was eccentric strengthening starting with no weight on flat ground, and progressing slowly to heavy weight over a stair edge. One paper found that most of their surgical candidates who were put on this program ended up canceling surgery. This was my experience as well. The other two keys were: no concentric exercises (like traditional calf raises), and no stretching. They were emphatic about both. This program was completely successful for me. NOTE: I am not a doctor, I don’t play one on TV, and I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so take this for the little bit that it might be worth. See a good doc with recent education and a progressive attitude before you try this. Make SURE you don’t have a tear which can be made worse. I’ve seen a complete tear during a volleyball game and I guarantee you don’t want to go there. Google Achille’s tendonopathy or tendonosis and related subjects and you’ll find a lot more info. Good luck.
I can only echo good advice-seek professional medical help.
Good luck and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Achilles tendonitis/plantar fasciitis sucks big time. The quicker you get to healing and fixing what caused it the quicker you can get back to normal living. Oh, “quick” is relative cuz it won’t be. Tendons have a limited blood supply and heal slowly. If you keep pushing and just pop pills to cover the pain you can end up with a full or partial rupture, need surgery and be in a boot for months.
You might want to get your bike-fit checked out by a competent shop. Also there is a real reason riders wear spandex bike shorts, and it’s NOT a fashion statement! They work.
As for getting your cardio in on the bike, you will have to ride smarter to elevate your HR, and/or increase your distance.
Some Achilles pain is considered “normal” while transitioning to barefoot/minimalist running, but it sounds like you may have actually damaged yours. Mine ached quite a bit now and then but it was never so painful I couldn’t run.
I would suggest downloading and reading this free copy of Jason Robbillard’s “The Barefoot Running Book” if you don’t already have a copy. He is making this available himself so don’t worry that it’s an illegal download or anything.
To echo some of the advice given earlier, get some medical advice. I have had a complete rupture of my left achilles tendon and had it surgically reconstructed/reattached. Takes a while to recover and the older you get the tougher it will be. Luckily, I had a great doc who did the surgery and managed my rehab.
Don’t make the same mistake I made. I was out of running for well over a year so listen when your body tells you something is wrong. And ya they will make you take therapy, but I think stretching is one of the best things you can do, a little before your run and a lot after your run
Barefoot running is great if your body can handle it. All of my friends in my martial arts school have been doing it. My buddy is up to 10 miles at a time totally barefoot. I tried it because I have flat feet and I have been at it for 6 months now and honestly it is just NOT working for me. So I think there are just some who can handle it and some who can’t. Maybe you are one of the guys who cant? I don’t know if this is helpful at all, but it’s getting so big I think people forget it’s not gonna be for everyone. I know your pain though because there are some days I can barely walk let alone run barefoot
Was never really a fan of barefoot running except on the sand, but thought the minimalist idea was a good one. Well, long story short, I was out at the Merrell Down and Dirty the other weekend and tried on the Trail Gloves. They were awesome, comfortable and my knees don’t hurt during runs.