Exercise question - HELP!!

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Mom3
Mom3 Member Posts: 170
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I have Achilles Tendinitis. Ouch!! I began to feel my lower leg hurt yesterday but this morning just killed it. I felt HORRIBLE thru my run. Stupid me, kept going. I thought "oh, it's only b/c I didn't warm up, as soon as I warm up it'll go away"....wrong!! It didn't. When I got home I iced my leg and took some ibuprofen. It feels much better now but I read that I'm suppose to lay off for at least 2 weeks. I can't imagine doing that! I'll go nuts. Does anyone know if this means no workout or just no running. Do you girls think I can do the elliptical?

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited December 2009

    ooch-I hope you feel better and heal. I have no idea but   I am sure someone will come by with similar issue.

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited December 2009

    Are you taking an AI? I had similar issues with tendonitis all six years I took them.

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited December 2009

    From the person that tore her achilles and may never be able to run again, please take two weeks to rest it.  Two weeks before mine tore I had what I thought was a terrible leg cramp, did not rest it, but kept going then in one motion when I wasn't even exercising it tore...........  The 1st dr I went to did not treat it properly so I suffered for one year before another dr looked at it said it had healed wrong and did surgery to remove all of the scar tissue.  I spent months in PT and was told I would probably never run again.  Rest, ice, advil, rest, ice advil and work your way back slow with a LOT of stretching.

    Good luck..............

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited December 2009

    Since finishing treatment I have done the same thing twice to my lower calf muscle when running. Walking seems to not bother it. I am wondering if it is the chemo that weakens things. If you can \walk without it hurting, maybe just stick to that for a week or so...

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  • Mom3
    Mom3 Member Posts: 170
    edited December 2009

    Hi ladies, it's feeling better. Thanks for the advice, I'll heed it.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited December 2009

    i can say with confidence that immediate rest is the fastest way to heal injuries.  ice and nsaids are the way to go.  I wouldn't do the elliptical if it hurts in even the slightest way. 

    I'm sure there are other exercises you can do in the meantime. 

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited December 2009

    Maybe, as KerryMac speculates, it is the chemo that weakens things. I have heard that especially about the taxanes. But--please listen to the battered voice of experience here-- tamoxifen and the AI's make you especially vulnerable to exercise related injury. It's natural to want to get back to exercising after cancer treatment, but be very careful--muscles, joint and tendons are more easily subject to injury now. I've had to have three surgeries in the past few years to repair exercise-related injuries.

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited December 2009

    my experience is that it takes awhile for the body to heal.  i am very active and have noticed many aches and pains from all of this aggressive treatment we got.  stretching is really important before engaging in anything substantial.  the taxotere...and arimidex are very strong drugs; as well as rads...etc.  i have pretty much gotten used to it all now. it is hard for me to determine what is age related and what is treatment related.  i guess...as along as i am moving...whether i am aching or not...is the plus side.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited December 2009

    hate to tell y'all but Femara is the worst..

    it's so easy to 'injure' myself.. - i was playing some kick the butt game with son #2 and totally strained my whole thigh.. it felt like every muscle got pulled.. ouch..  then i hurt my hip bending over too many times..

    waaaaa

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited December 2009

    I wonder if Zometa will help with this in terms of strenthing our bones.

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  • Mom3
    Mom3 Member Posts: 170
    edited December 2009

    I just started taking Aredia. My oncologist wants me to have an infusion every 6 months. My next one is in Feb. I'mhoping you're right and that it does help with my bones b/c I can't imagine getting injured all the time while working out. As it is I'm bummed that I can't workout right know b/c of my stinkin' leg. It actually depresses me not to be able to get out there and do something for my health.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited December 2009

    i'm learning to make accomodations.  I used to be able to practice for four hours without getting up.. now i do 4 one hour sessions.. (that's what i would do it I have the time).  Also, it's hard to say what is natural aging and what is a femara result for me.  I am 53 with a body spent up by a life of hard sports, dancing, moving, biking, etc... it is natural that i should not be able to kickbox with the 12 year old...

    i still don't like it.

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  • Husband11
    Husband11 Member Posts: 2,264
    edited December 2009

    Keep up with the icing.  Ice it for 15 minutes, 3 times a day if you can.  Keep that up until it fully heals.  Don't walk on it until it has warmed up again afterwards, or at least exercise caution.  Let pain be your guide, and avoid any activity that causes the pain.  At this early stage, let it heal.  Take the necessary time off.  If you find you can stretch your calf, gently, do so.  Try to avoid activities that have you on the ball of your foot as that activates the calves, if you can cycle flat footed, or do the eliptical driving from the heals, that will stress the calf and its tendon less.  But take a few days off before even considering anything that could restress it.  The more you work a damaged tendon, the less chance of full recovery, and the more delayed and prolonged the injury will be.  Rest and ice, then gentle resuming of activity.  There may be some good advice about this particular running injury on the net and how best to rehab.

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