What do y'all know about achilles tendon problems.

I am walking and have slowly worked up to two miles a day.

Now the achilles tendon in my left leg is getting swollen and sore.

I don't want it to develop tendonitis, bu ti also don't want to stop walking unless I have to.

I have had some really ouchy tennis elbow for several years.
Maybe I just have bad tendons?

What do y'all know about achilles tendon problems.

I am walking and have slowly worked up to two miles a day.

Now the achilles tendon in my left leg is getting swollen and sore.

I don't want it to develop tendonitis, bu ti also don't want to stop walking unless I have to.

I have had some really ouchy tennis elbow for several years.
Maybe I just have bad tendons?

I had AT issues and didn't rest them and ultimately tore one(in a 50K) and damaged the other. Both had to have surgery after 2 years of trying to rehab in PT.

Do RICE(Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate) until better. Rest now or rest for a lot longer. Not something to play with.

Do you do any flexibility exercises? You might try stretching it gently by sitting down on the floor with your leg out in front of you, then hook a towel or yoga strap around the bottom of your foot near the ball. Pull back gently on the strap and hold for 30 seconds. Or do it the way it says in the link below by holding for two seconds and repeating 10 times.

Here are some illustrations of stretches (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-287--8969-0,00.html).
Preventing Achilles Tendinitis (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--8271-0,00.html)

I had tendonitis in my achilles tendon. Some things my PT told me...

-No sandals. They allow your arches to drop so there is no arch support. Sneakers with a good arch support are what you need.

- taking a towel or a yoga band like steph said but lay on your back with your leg in the air (you can bend at the knee) and while your foot is flexed rotate your foot in and back center again.

-Make sure you stretch and warm up those achilles tendons before long walk and after a long walk.

-Make sure when you are walking that you aren't favoring the inside or outside of your foot. I had to reteach myself how to walk properly because I put absolutely no weight on the outside of my foot. When you take a step make sure your weight is evely distributed.

That's all I can remember for now. If I remember anything else I'll let you know! Good Luck!

It is great to ask for advice from those who have had issues before, but everyone is different and every injury doesn't heal the same from one person to the next. I have no doubt you are getting good advice, but you need to go get great advice: go see a doctor who is experienced with these kind of injuries.

For example, I never stretch. I have run six marathons and with any injury that I have had I have rested and just warmed up for longer. I have never had an injury that has lasted more than a week to ten days. In other sports, every time that I have stretched, I have gotten injured. I rarely have any aches or pains when I do not stretch and go through a good warm up. If you follow my freakish lead, you may end up in a wheelchair. I have great intentions, but I am in the minority with various muscle, tendon, and connective tissue issues. The only adequate advice you should take from me is to go see a doctor.

Thanks y'all.

I skipped my walking group tonight...which I hate to do.

I'm afraid that I'm going to lose the progress that I have made, but I don't want the soreness to turn into tendonitis which would probably really mess things up.

And somehow this kind of stuff always happens right before vacation!