!@#$@#^$ Achilles tendon(s)

[Bike Chick]

I hope you get to feeling better soon! I was in a walking boot for about 5 weeks last fall after taking an antibiotic that produced micro-tears in one of my Achilles tendons (this is a known side-effect - I am one of those fortunate people who get the weird side-effects). I know what it feels like...

Catrin, it wasn't Cipro, was it? I suffered the same thing after taking Cipro while I was on RAGBRAI two years ago. I rode the entire week and had to miss the last day because I could hardly walk much less ride. It still bothers me when I run.

Oak, I'm so sorry this has happened. You have worked so hard. I hope it heals up in time for the marathon. Hang in there.

[OakLeaf]

Thanks Michele.

It's specifically motorcycling that did it, it's not a new occurrence but I sure wasn't expecting it to bite me this hard this time, and I don't know what it is about the fit of my motos (both of them) that does it.

Lowering my seat height on the bici helped a LOT, because it's helped me reduce plantar flexion - so I'm surprised to read your post recommending raising it. It's been step by step, little by little, lowering my saddle and learning to stop plantar flexing so as to protect both my calves and my knees.

Been icing on and off most of the day - yeah, should've started earlier, but didn't think it was going to turn into this. Traumeel, near-infrared therapy, taking in your good wishes and radiating gratitude all around, keeping my fingers crossed.....

[redrhodie]

(((Oak)))

I've only been on a moto once, but it was a 4 hour ride in the middle of the night in March in New England. Long story (I'll just add I thought I was going to die ). So, this is a total newbie question, but could it be your boots?

[Catrin]

Catrin, it wasn't Cipro, was it? I suffered the same thing after taking Cipro while I was on RAGBRAI two years ago. I rode the entire week and had to miss the last day because I could hardly walk much less ride. It still bothers me when I run.

No, it was Levaquin, which is the same class of drugs as Cipro. Baaaad stuff! It still twinges from time to time but I pretty much ignore it - resting it doesn't seem to have any effect so I pretty much ignore it if it is only occasional.

[OakLeaf]

Ouch Catrin. Hope they heal completely before too much longer.

Red, I've thought about that, but the trouble is that if I go to a MX or roadracing style boot - the kind that doesn't let you bend your ankles - I'd need to lower the bike a LOT to be able to get a toe on the ground at a stop. I don't want to lose that much ground clearance if I don't have to (plus I don't really have a shop I trust to set up the suspension properly on a lowered bike). But I've got my eye on a little CRF230M for a play bike. If I get one, and I still have trouble in that very different riding position when I wear my street boots, then it's low and light enough that I could experiment with rigid boots.

At any rate, I'm MUCH better today. It was four days of WAY worse and WAY longer than I'd ever experienced before (literally I could hardly walk, even most of yesterday), but I guess sometimes there's another RICE I need to treat my injuries with: Relax, Inhale, Chill, Exhale. I did Yoga this morning but I'm going to take the rest of the day off just to be safe. Tomorrow's a cycling day which shouldn't bother my ankles now. Monday will try to run again.

Thanks again for all your healing wishes, I have no doubt that's part of why I'm feeling so much better.

[Bike Chick]

Glad to hear it, Oak. Hope your healing continues and you are back to your training soon!