I'm a runner and cyclist. Mebbies 30 - 40 miles p/w running and 150 - 200 cycling mostly road. Last May I tweaked my left achilles, ignored it and kept on keeping on. It got to the point I was struggling to walk half a mile pain free, cycling actually helps if I spin and avoid any labouring.
I've been managing since through reduced mileage and intensity but finally had it diagnosed in October last year as Insertional Tendinitis with bonus Bursitis. Lots of low intensity foot drops and running max 3 days on the trot have improved things. I'm up to 8 - 10's now but on day 4 need rest or cycling to avoid pain.Â
I had the first installment of Shockwave yesterday after a week of 10, 8, 6 running then a 50 yesterday on the bike. I'm pain free this morning and the usual stiffness (in the tendon...) is not there. It hurt like holy f*** when he was bashing it but soon settled down. Apparently I'm on level 1 of 5 on the intensity scale as they're concerned about using Shockwave with patients on blood thinners (me).
That's just background. Any war stories, feedback or gotchas from the assembled please as I'm curious about others real experience. I got the impression, they really didn't want to proceed due to the blood thinners complication and even though they did, at the lowest level, there seems to be minor improvement and no downside (so far).Â
Whatchagot please?Â
What is it? I had achilles tendonitis last year, from running about on the rugby field (reffing). I had physio, but in the end it just went on it's own, with the help of running and riding. Never 'eard of Shockwave (except the hairgel)
Yes had a it a couple of times by a private physio mate of mine for a couple of different issues and amazingly effective I found. Over years of sports injuries and physio, I've always been very undewhelmed by what physios actually do to help recovery (especially ultrasonic), but this was very impresive on both cases.
It's a box connected to a pen-like device with a microscopically reciprocating ball bearing on the end which blasts shockwaves into the local, injured area. Was described to me as causing micro damage to the tissues and blood capillaries which then bleed bringing oxygenated blood into the injured area and accelerating healing.
Was described to me as causing micro damage to the tissues and blood capillaries which then bleed bringing oxygenated blood into the injured area and accelerating healing.
Caveat, I'm not a Dr or Physio but this is how I thought exercise affects the muscles. I.e. micro tears and general bashing about increases blood flow to accelerate recovery. The same as Shockwave. If this is so, I couldn't understand why they're so wary of bashing people who are on blood thinners. We're doing to ourselves every time we exercise...Â
Thought I was going to get some, but went to a really good physio who made some mechanical changes to how I used my foot/ankle and he cured me of plantar that I'd been dealing with for years. I may actually go back and kiss him soon as I'm so grateful for what he managed.Â
I do nothing like your mileage in a week though! My problem as all from many previous ankle sprains and hypermobility though. Â
No personal experience other than vets have used it effectively on our dog (agility injury, ligament damage) and horse (jumping injury, again ligament damage).
it was explained to us that it breaks down scar tissue as this can be tight or restrictive and also promotes collagen to the area, which rebuilds the ligament (IANAV!). it cant be used straight after injury though, as they have to wait for the initial swelling to go down first.
in both instances it 'appears' to have had a benefit, both animals are back to full health, but we have no idea if it expedited the recovery. in both cases it was complimentary to reduced exercise, box rest and no off lead shenanigans.Â
YMMVÂ
Had it in an attempt to treat tennis elbow. It made zero difference. I suspect from what I've read regarding how much it can hurt, comapred to how little discomfort I experinced with it that there is every chance that the physio who i went to for the treatment wasn't quite applying it right. Who knows?
To date, no physio has been able to help at all with it so maybe it's just one of those things that physiotherpapy isn't going ot help..
Finally had some PRP injections last year that started to help after the 3rd (and final) injection but it's come back and is slowly getting worse again. Given that I was advised that the next stpe would be surgery, with a real risk of loss of strength / feeling in my hand - I'm currently just living with it (and sulking a lot).
I'm intersted in trying this, had K laser infrared laser treatment at a Chiropractor and thats been very beneficial.Â
I've just finished 4 rounds of shockwave therapy for my Achilles grumble, its not the nicest thing, but I've had worse, think out of dental procedures and vasectomy I'd rank it below them both with dental coming out #1.Â
I was all ready to go back to low mile easy running and to keep up the strength stuff I've been doing, but I was in London over the weekend watching the hackney half and walking many miles with a child on my shoulders has twanged it again...but I'm resting it and doing cycling and its feeling okay again. But, nothing adverse from it for me and hopefully back to running soon!Â
It just helps me style my hair like any other gel......
