Somehow I strained my achilles tendon during one of my workouts. I worked pretty hard last Sunday afternoon and I did some calf raises, I did a hard Pilates class on Monday followed by weights on Tuesday morning. I’ve been hobbling around ever since, unable to do any cardio and skipping a leg day. I’m a little better today though. I did get up this morning and lifted weights; upper body only. Hopefully I’ll be healed enough to work my legs by the first of the week.

Any advice on coming back from such a strain and how quickly I can get back going? I guess I can skip cardio for a week or two but I'm already missing my squats and leg presses and other weight bearing exercises like dead lifts.

I have a chronic soleus tendonitis that flares up periodically when I work out too hard. It all started with a bad slide into second base and a month on crutches for my effort....

Only thing that works for me is heat (docs will say ice but that makes mine hurt more) and rest.

Take a break from cardio and leg workouts until it doesn't hurt any more - do gentle stretches several times a day in the meantime (and forever). It takes time to heal and you can't rush it. If it's really bad, Ibuprofin will help.

http://www.spinalhealth.net/inj-ach.html

All the best, Julie

I took it pretty easy for most of the week and it got better each day. I did bicycle yesterday and that did not seem to hurt. I'm still a little tight this morning but most the soreness is gone.

I can't say I really rested my ankle through the week, but I tried to limit any stress.

It was such a nice day yesterday I just had to ride. No way I was going to sit around with my leg propped up.

Cleave, it has been a while since you posted this, but I have been nursing this same condition for over a year. I think you will find that serios stretching of the calf muscle and achilles tendon seems to help. I was doing PT for mine for a while. Another alternative if you are still having problems is Orthotripsy, which is a non-invasive treatment, that is done under total anesthetic. I had this done for Plantar Fasciitis and it worked wonderfully.