Insertional Achilles Tendinitis

jwerges

Barefooters
Sep 26, 2017
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Greeting fellow barefooters. I was not sure what forum to post this in so hopefully it is the right one. If not then feel free to move it. I have been running barefoot or in Luna Sandals for over two years. I started slowly and have been able to make the transition from Hokas to Altras and then to bare/sandals fairly easily, and even completed a 50k trail run wearing Luna Sandals in May of 2018. In October of 2018 I started feeling a sharp stabbing pain in the back of my right heel when I ran. At first it was not too bad and I was able to keep running, but eventually it got so bad that I had to stop running completely and had trouble even walking. I finally went to an orthopedic doctor who told me I had insertional achilles tendinitis. He offered to refer me to a sports medicine doctor but I wanted to wait and see if it would heal on its own if I didn't run. Fast forward to January of 2019 and it is still not healed. It is a little better as I can run short distances barefoot with minor discomfort. I am hesitant to spend money to visit a specialist who could just end up telling me I need to go back to Hokas, or to purchase $300.00 orthotics. So my questions are these:

Has anyone had similar injuries and how did they cope?

Does anyone know of a doctor in the KCMO area that would support minimalist running?

I am sorry for the rambling post but I am desperate. I just want to be able to run pain free...that's why I started running barefoot in the first place. Thanks in advance!
 
Please copy your post to our Ask the Docs forum. When I see it there, I'll get a doc to respond.

I think you need physical therapy. I went nearly half a year with a painful capsule pull injury to my right ring finger (from ramming it into a stationary soap dispenser) because I didn't want to waste my time and money on a doctor who may not be able to help me. I finally couldn't deal with it any longer, so I folded. And I'm glad I did. The doctor referred me to physical therapy. After the very first physical therapy appointment, I noticed a huge improvement in my pain level going down. Within no more than a couple of weeks of doing the PT exercises I was given, my finger was healed.

I highly advise you to see a doctor to get a referral to PT. Don't worry about what they say about shoes. You don't have to tell them you were shod or barefoot.

And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away from the Hokas! :barefoot: