Achilles Tendonitis in the parks??!!

[goofy's friends]

If this is a repeat--I'm sorry--It wouldn't go through last time. I just got back from the Dr. and he says my swollen ankle is tendonitis! YIKES! We leave for Disney World in exactly one month. To make matters worse, i am allergic to the anti-inflammatories he wanted to put me on. Anyone ever had this and know how to get rid of it fast???? Like in a month!!
If not, how can I cope at the parks--I really want to keep up with my family


Any suggestions would be very appreciated!!!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Sorry to hear... I've had tendinitis before but I've always been able to take some anti-inflammatories with a little rest and I was okay. Disney is a lot of walking, have you considered a wheelchair? You can rent chairs daily in the parks. You may want to post this questions over on the DISabilities board, they are great with any health @ disney related questions. I hope you are feeling better and have a great time!

 

[MareSINY]

You could always rent an ECV. This way nobody has to push you around in a wheelchair. We get one for my dad every time we go, it's a little costly but worth it not to have to worry about him needing a break every so often, it's definitely worth the piece of mind.

 

[donac]

This is tough. I have been to Disney twice with bone spurs (one set attached to the Achille's tendon) and I thought I wouldn't make it through the day. If it is really bad get a wheelchair. Don't forget to pack a heating pad. I don't know which will help you more heat or ice (talk it over with your doctor). Good luck I know how painful this is.

 

[Mermaid02]

I have this and osteonecrosis in both hips.... I will get an injection for my hips before our trip- and just hope the tendonitis behaves... maybe take some advil or the like.

Good Luck to you!!

 

[DrmWvr1299]

Ice, ice, ice and more ice. It will help to keep the inflamation process down a little. And as other people have said, use a wheelchair or ECV. Listen to your foot...if it begins to really start bothering you...take it easy until it is feeling a little better.

 

[keishashadow]

Have you discussed a steriod injection or PT with your Dr? I've used an Ace pull on neopryne brace before (blue & black ones), they seem to help. Lastly, try a pair of Crocs (Dick's Sporting Goods has had them in stock) they beat the custom orthotics IMO. good Luck.

 

[Inga]

Go see a Physical Therapist...they can work on decreasing the inflammation without rotting your stomach with drugs...

Inga

 

[goofy's friends]

Great suggestions. Thanks. I will definately get a brace and talk to Dr. about physical therapy. What is the (forgot initials--the thing recommended instead of a wheel chair)? I'm not familiar with these things.

 

[ekmdisney]

An ECV is an electric scooter. They use the power of a battery, not manual labor like a wheelchair. You just have a seat, push a little lever and away you go. You might want to rent off property, that is what I do. On my last trip I used this company: http://www.walkermobility.com/ it ended up saving me money in the long run. The ECVs that they have at the parks are a little to big for the parks, and if you like to park hop, you can't take the ECV from one park to the other. So you run the chance of not having one when you get to the next park. But check out the walker site, it has a pic of the scooter, and some more info.

 

[Elysiannn]

I'm due to go in 10 days and I have heel spurs. I'm just going to take it easy but then I have the luxury of doing that. Since you're going with your family I echo everyone's suggestion for you to get a ECV. It will help you keep up with your family while not stressing out your achilles tendon. And the best is to do stretching first thing before you get out of bed and icing your foot a few time before you go to bed. I've been told to ice twice a night with 10-minute intervals.

Also look into getting shoe supports for it. Most yellow pages will have foot product stores. I wear jelly type heel cups which cushion the spurs.

Good luck and Enjoy WDW when you go! - since you have a month you can really try various means to help it. Ely

 

[molly2004]

You can also ask your doctor if it is appropriate for you to wear shoes that have a slight heel. It helps relieve the stress put on your Achilles. This is not a permanent solution but might help in a pinch.

 

[minkydog]

I don't think there is anything more miserable than pain in your feet. You have to take care of them or the pain will only get worse. I have had post-tibial tendinitis(behind the ankle& into the arch pain) on & off for about 7 years; I totally sympathize with you.I've even been in a cast and on crutches--3 times! Recently I had a life-threatening reaction to Advil, so all I can do is take tylenol and use ICE--which helps as long as you don't continue to re-injure your foot day after day.

My advice is to get an ECV for the parks & hotel. It will save your vacation. If you let this Achilles' tendon get too inflamed, it can detach--more trouble than you want to know about.

In the meantime, talk to your doctor(I'm assuming you have a specialist of some kind) about using orthotics, PT or whatever to maintain full function without making things any worse. Rest & daily stretching exercises eventually made my tendinitis better.

Cathy--still walks funny

 

[keagansmom]

When I had this, the doctor gave me stretching exercises to do that really helped. Your PT could probably give these to you. Remember to stretch in the mornings and apply alternating ice and heat packs at night. Comfortable shoes are a must. I don't know about you, but I couldn't stand anything to touch my heel (where the tendon attaches to the muscle and bone) so I used crocs and turned the heel part up. Can you take advil? If so, take it because it contains a mild anti-inflamitory. Take it easy for a month and I hope it's better when you go!

 

[goofy's friends]

Wow you guys are great!!! I will call a PT I know and get those exercises TODAY!!! I will also start the icing. And go shopping for shoe supports!!! Hopefully, by Sept. 17th I will be doing !!!My DR. was ablsolutely no help at all--you guys are great!

 

[minkydog]

Wow you guys are great!!! I will call a PT I know and get those exercises TODAY!!! I will also start the icing. And go shopping for shoe supports!!! Hopefully, by Sept. 17th I will be doing !!!My DR. was ablsolutely no help at all--you guys are great!

If you don't mind my asking, are you seeing a GP or a foot specialist? Because in my experience, GPs just don't have a clue unless they have actually been through this. You need either a podiatrist or a sports medicine specialist. My podiatrist is the one who finally, correctly, diagnosed me(after an orthopedist nearly ruined one foot!) A good podiatrist will always try to fix something in the least invasive way(stretching, orthotics, massage), resorting to surgery only as a last measure. They are in the business of making feet feel better and I highly recommend them.

 

[holden]

I have achilles tendonitis and plantar fascitis in my left foot. PT helped a lot. So does wearing Dansko shoes and inserts in all of my other shoes (got two kinds at The Walking Company - one slides in the heel portion of the shoe; one you have to take out the footbed of the shoe and replace it with the insert). It took a good year to feel 95% better. I'm a teacher and on my feet all day, so that didn't help. It still bothers me once in a while.

One good piece of advice from the PT - NEVER GO BAREFOOT! After you stretch your foot in bed in the morning, put on shoes with arch support right away. You might feel silly wearing your sneakers with your PJs, but you feet will thank you! I also wore a special boot at night to stretch the tendon/fascia (ordered from a medical supply place). That helped too.

Hope you heal more quickly than I did!

 

[goofy's friends]

I went to see a orthopedist who diagnosed this. The GP said that he thought it was a high sprain--who knows, they may both be wrong!!!! It is swollen and hurts from mid-calf through the ankle to the arch. Mostly hurts at the end of the day and when pushed on. I can walk on it and use it for everyday uses, which makes me not as careful as I should be. The only thing the orthopedist told me was to take the anti-inflammatories and "hopefully they won't kill you" (because I am allergic to them)---he would stay and let me ask for other options and now I am trying to find some. The diagnosis may even be wrong--this is so frustrating!!!! I want a magic cure Oh, well---lots of great tips and tomorrow, I am going shopping for the best foot solution!!
Keep on suggesting and I am listening
Oh, is anyone a PT and can tell me the exercises that should help??? I can't get ahold of the one I planned to talk to. Thanks!!!

 

[minkydog]

Well, is certainly sounds like Achilles tendinitis. It is very painful. YOu need to be careful with exercise because you don't want to snap this thing off the heelbone(believe me, you know if that happens ) Be sure You are icing it every day--don't use heat while it's inflamed. And do see a PT, even if its only for a few visits to get you started. The stretching can take months to see any improvement, so don't lose hope. Getting off the foot will also help(as "on crutches"--weight bearing is keeping it sore.)

 

[goofy's friends]

I went to a Foot Store today and ordered orthotics to wear in my shoes. It is a 2 week process to re-align my foot, but then it should be pretty good for DW. The swelling is still about the same, but I am icing it. Thanks to all the great advise and I will definately be careful about the exercises.