Roadwork pains

..........Could be any number of things, but first off, the basics: Do you strecth before AND after you run? If not, you should. Stretch easily before your run, as it's not a good idea to do exaggerated stretches when the muscles are still cold. Ease into the run and warm up properly, then after you're done, stretch your calves out. Getting a gel insole with added support in the heel can help too, as this means the achilles doesn't have to stretch as far in the motion of running. Try that.

With the added propblem of ankle pain, though, my guess is you pronate when you run (feet tend to point inward). This needs to be corrected, as this ankle pain will begin to graduate into knee pain, then possibly hip pain, since all those joints are used in concert when you stride.

My advice would be to get to a specialty running store, where they have staff that can watch you run and analyze your stride. They will only then be able to pick the right type of shoe for you. Some are better for pronators, some are better for more neutral runners with a cleaner stride, etc. Not all running shoes are alike, not by a long shot.

 

Calves, hams, quads, hips --- no problem.
Just stretch alot, swimming and hot whirlpools to keep from tightening up.
Dont be afraid to cut back your mileage or take a few days off.
Then when you feel good -- pick it up.
Now --- Achilles ?????
Thats a different storey.
Get professioanl (specialist) to do a proper accessment.
It is not unusual to have chronic achilles problems last 1, 2, or even 3 years before it subsides and goes away.
If its not operable, then stretch , ice, rest and topical anti inflammatory.
You may even have to stop roadwork for a while.
Substitude with biking, swimming and cardio machines.

 

...........Overall good advice, but I have to take issue with the part about achilles pain taking two or three years in cases to go away. If it's at THAT level, then something's seriously wrong. Most achilles pain is a function of improper stretching and/or mechanical problems. This can and should be addressed LONG before he resigns himself to a year or more of discomfort.

 

take care of your achilles tendons when there's pain. It's no joke. Tendonitis can lead to a achilles rupture where it tears completely away from the bone. This mostly happens to the weekend warrior types but any prolonged irritation can jumble the way the collagen strands are repairing and weaken the achilles.

 

probably is tendonitis.. i had the same thing. i also had a lot of problems with the lower front of my shins.

the only thing that was really ever an option (which i havent done yet) is take a 3 month break in which a proffessional physical therapist works with me on it.

 

Sounds like plantar fasciitis.

 

.............Nah, I had that a couple summers ago. It was a pain on the bottoms of your feet. For two months I walked around the house with bags of frozen peas taped to my feet. :rofl

 

Awesome.

 

take some more time off, i made a mistake similar to you, i used to have shin splints and ankle problems but i continued to run and now i have messed up my knee.

 

buy some triflex fast action (glucososamine, chonodrotin, msm)

 

..............It's actually "cold-then-hot" not the other way around. Ice it first to reduce swelling and muscle inflammation, then after a couple hours add heat. Otherwise, you're just feeding the swelling.

Shin splints aren't usually serious, and are most common among relative beginners to running. With added fitness and strength in your calves, this will typically subside, as it's your calves that are causing this. Again, remember to stretch out before and after, and in time this should go away.


..........Unless of course you have a stress fracture.