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Benn, are you stretching your calves? I have been battling this for a few months now (along with plantar fasciitis). I have been doing two things that seem to help - at least it is not getting any worse. I wear a night splint (http://www.orthoticsandbeyond.com/pc-56-3-thermoskin-plantar-fxt-night-splint.aspx)

and I stretch and use arnica cream and biofreeze. It is not completely going away but it has held it at bay.

Personally, though I do pronate pretty badly on the foot that I have these problems, I don't like to wear stability shoes (for me they make things worse for the rest of my biomechanics) though many will suggest you should.

There are many articles on achilles tendinitis (with stretches) on the internet.

Good luck,

Bonnie

Yeah. I've been heating and icing and stretching 4-5 times a day. I wear orthodics because I have very flat feet and am slightly bowlegged. So I just don't know. I'm just frustrated. I will try to take it easy for the day and see how it goes.

Hi Benn, as you commented I've got the same problem with my achilles at the moment. What has helped me in the past was to cut out the hills, stick to trails, really stretch the calves, keep the intensity down and the usual icing/heat and massage. I use a warming cream that someone recommended to me as they used it on their greyhounds, which goes to show when you've an injury it makes you desperate enough to try anything. What has never helped me personally is doing what my doctor told me, to take a break from running. It was straight away there when I restarted. I also daily (other than long run day) do toe raises/heel lowers on steps. 6 sets of 15. Oh, and I walk before I run so that I'm not starting cold and take the first few k slowly. Good luck, Ian.

6 miles a day 6 days a week sounds like a great idea. Do that, or even a bit less at first until the injury is better. My rule for aches and pains is to run the longest distance possible so that it is not worse the next day, which often means easing off on pace.

See if you can fet someone to rub out the calf as deep as you can stand (be tough) or what I do is while standing, I put my shin on the bed so that back of the calf is exposed. Then with the knuckle side of my hand I make a fist and rub down form top to bottom. But I can put myself in alot of pain.

I think you have just really listen to the body if you decide to run through an injury. Be in tune.

Oh ya maybe do a little crosstraining this weekend instead of running. I swear by crosstraining to keep you in some sort of shape.

Careful non painful stretching is always good.

Easy crosstraining is a good idea.

Slow treadmill miles might bother you less than road miles.

Ibruprofin 600mg/4-6 times a day to reduce swelling might be in order.

Running through serious tendonitis is not recomended.

Does it hurt when you first get up and walk down the stairs or only when you run?

Um as far as walking around theres no pain, it's just that there's that feeling of tightness/stretching that I can feel through the skin (as noted on my thread on the webboard). I just was wary to run because of all the talk of people's achilles blowing out on them