Oh No - Tendinitis!

[makbike]

I've been enjoying both my bikes of late and now I've developed a serious problem. I have a raging case of tendinitis in my right Achilles tendon. Both bikes have been fitted to me so I'm at a loss here. I watched my right foot today as I was riding and did not notice any severe downward pointing of my toes. I have a new pair of shoes but have worn them since I obtained my Buenos Aires back in November. What is the problem? I'm going to keep it packed in ice tonight, take some Aleve and stretch my calf muscles. Any thoughts, suggestions? Help! I have just three weeks to go until I tackle the 3-State, 3-Mountain Century - this was not in my game plan!

[latelatebloomer]

poor makbike! :( Can't help with the "why" of it but...

When I have had tendinitis flare up in my lower back and most recently, in the back of my leg behind the knee, my trainer had me apply moist heat for long sessions at least twice per day. A warm, wrung-out cloth on the air, then heating pad on low (out of cloth cover) and then a towel wrapped over that. !/2 hour on, gentle stretching, 1/2 on again. He says it increases the circulation there and hastens healing. It helps me much more than meds.

Hope it helps, sending you healing juju!

[OakLeaf]

Something I read and haven't been very diligent about myself, is to self-massage trigger points in the posterior tibialis which supposedly can cause Achilles tendon issues. Sitting or reclining, use the knee of one leg to press out the deep calf muscles of the other, find any trigger points and work on them until they release. The source I was reading said to do that three or four times a day.

Healing vibes your way!