My initial thought is it may be a case of “Chronic Compartment Syndrome” a condition where fascial compartments do not expand adequately to allow increased blood flow into the area during exercise causing burning pain and occasionally nerve impingement (typically a burning sensation). This syndrome is typically characterized by a decrease in symptoms quickly after stopping exercise.
If this is the case, a practitioner qualified in myofascial release (also known as ART) will be able to release sticking points between the fascial sheets allowing more space for blood flow within the compartment.
A technique called “cupping” also helps separate fascial layers which could help relieve your symptoms.
As for your concerns regarding a negative response from practitioners, just ensure you explain your needs to them and if they are negative or un-sympathetic to your cause seek help else where.
Thanks for the feedback, if i have that Syndrome, would rest be the best thing then? No calf raises, as i can’t do that anyway, but running doesn’t sound a good idea either, the thing is, i do a lot of walking, and it has begun to affect this too. Is there an alternative to ART? I have a foam roller and tennis balls avaliable at home for some self help, but of course it may not be up to scratch of a pro.
However, if i must go to an ART specialist i guess i’ll have to, it sounds like something which could be treated within perhaps just one session, or does it seem a long condition?
I don’t want to come across as tight as i know you can’t put a price on your health, but of course im looking for possible alternatives as im young and my income is pretty limited at the moment with learning and living costs, hope you can understand, thanks for your reply, means a lot.
Let me first say that is not a diagnosis just a thought and nobody can make a full assessment without a hands on examination of the ankle and foot.
If money is an issue you have a couple of options:
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Inquire at local medical universities / massage schools / tafe institutions etc to see if they have a student clinic (which will be fully supervised and below half the cost of normal fees). Just a plain deep tissue massage may relieve symptoms
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a “rough” version of ART is to find a sore spot of the lower limb musculature (e.g calf) pin it down with your hands as hard as you can whilst plantar and dorsiflexing your foot. this wont compare to a pro but its a way to start
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Seek Alternate Calf Exercises for the time being, check out this old article Functionally Correct Calves and also dont forget the clafs also assist in knee flexion, so going hard on your HS will help claf development.
Thanks for the suggestions, i have no idea what’s causing the pain, it’s affecting me walking now, i do a lot of walking, and now i notice i can’t do any long distance walking without what i believe is the Achilles tendon hurting. I did a search for tendinitis but i don’t think that’s it, as the first few steps in the morning are supposed to be the most painful, my ankles are stiff in the morning but i wouldn’t say the steps are painful, there is also no swelling or tenderness.
I think know a local massage place where students do panicures and all, i could try that.
I’ll give the calf direct exercises a miss as i have been, although i would like to rid this pain so i can work on the pain. Ive tried rolling the achilles tendon with a tennis ball, but the ball kept falling off, i also tried rolling the bottom of my feet. My right acbilles tendon is a bit worse, but my right knee is a bit worse than my left, so hopefully there’s a connection and im a bit worried and concerned about what you posted before, about the chronic condition, but there is no numness or anything like that.
if you can complete a walk with mild discomfort and not seering burning pain near the calf good, then its most likely not CCS.
Given your Achilles is giving your greater drama, focus on stretching the gastroc and soleus sepratly and as frequently as possible
Also check out this site for great mobilisation techniques = mobilitywod.com/
These two posts may help you:
mobilitywod.com/2011/05/episode-258365-ankle-mobility-self-mulligan-technique.html
mobilitywod.com/2010/09/heel-cords-of-cheetah-achilles-well.html
Thanks for the suggestions mjeffo, i appreciate it. I think a large deal of the problems is coming from other problem areas, my knees, pelvis, are all going through problems, i have only noticed the walking pain as late with the knees, so im guessing it’s something like that. I don’t see how it can be tendinitis or anything similar as those are normally over use injuries and i haven’t been overdoing it at all.
I can’t walk much now, at least today, i was fine when i woke up, did about 20mins then the pain was hurting, so i took my shoes off did some calf stretching and headed back, but now though, i can feel it’s a dull ache in my achilles, even sitting down, it has limited my activity as i have been in all day as i don’t have a choice. I notice when i take my shoes off then that’s some relief. I have used some techniques from MWOD, such as heel cord love where i had a band on my achilles tendon and did a calf stretch and his felt great in my knees, i hope my ankles are better tomorrow and im able to walk.
Guess i can’t really do much else?