UKC

Hi

I bought a pair of Scarpa Manta's last year, did a few winter walks in them, then did a big weekend in them. On the 2nd day in the last hour the middle of my achilles tendons on both feet were killing, had to hobble back to the hut. Paid a physio to look at them who thought I had just bruised them, said i'd be back to normal in a fe weeks.

Fast forward a year and they are still not ok (Ive had NHS physio since). I thought they were pretty much back to normal, but after going out a couple weeks ago, they are hurting again. What's wierd is they seem to get worse as time goes on for a while. For instance on the walk they were fine (saturday), it was tuesday before I felt anything, then wednesday before I got any serious pain.

I am wondering if anyone here has any similar experience with achilles tendons and stiff boots? or can provide any insight into whether it might be the boots themselves (which feel ok) or if I am having them too slack etc, or whether it might be something else entirely?

I had never had achilles problems before this, I do use superfeet and ortho's for collapsed footbridges. I would say my general fitness was good.

I am at a bit of a loose end and willing to do just about anything to get healthy again.

I'll probably cry if I have to be out of action again for another year. Any help and advice at all is appreciated.

Craig.

In reply to Pritchard: Hi Craig

The problem is almost certainly due to the combination of your feet and your boots, physio alone is unlikely to help.

In a nutshell I would say you overpronate in late stance, in a more flexible boot you will get away with this but in a winter boot you don't get the flex in the forepart and accordingly your foot has to compensate by overpronating even more. You almost certainly have a Functional Hallux Limitus that the foot cannot compensate for in a winter boot, therefore you end up with achilles tendonitis after a day or two on the hills.

It sounds serious but there is a solution, you need to find a good orthotist near you and get some custom made orthotics, the likes of superfeet just will not work for the problem you almost certainly have. Don't see a physio and be very cautious with a podiatrist, a few are superb, the majority will give you something off the shelf which will not do the job.

Were in the country are you? I might be able to recommend somebody. It will cost you a couple of hundred quid but you should be able to get a long term solution to your problems.

Of course all this is based on your description of your symptoms and could be a load of tosh but your presentation soumds exactly right.

Feel free to PM me if you wish.

Andrew

In reply to Pritchard: have used this to treat a few injuries over the last few years:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/15...

May not have any connection to your problem, but worth a look.

In reply to Jack:

Thanks for the tips and info guys! If anyone else has any other tips or advice, please let me know.

Regards

Craig.

In reply to Pritchard:

If you were okay with your old boots, have you thought about taking your old ones into a shop and looking for ones which are more similar to them than your new boots?

I bet you'll be glad to give your problem the boot...

()

In reply to Pritchard: I had the same problem when I first bought full stiffened boots and it took about a week to get over the pain but after that I had no issues. I thought my boots were at fault at first but speaking to experienced climbers they said it's pretty normal as your feet aren't used to that type of footwear.

In reply to Pritchard:
Hi,

My Manta's used to my my achilles tendons ache. I sold them in the end.
I found going LOTs of calf raises several times a day really helped.
Gary

In reply to Pritchard:

Hi

Both my partner (see link below although picture link is gone -- but you don't want to see it) have had/are having achilles probs linked to boots and mountaineering.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=395231&v=1#x5698325

My partner finally had surgery in Sweden almost a year ago and is still rehab’ing the heel.

Ironically, my heel is doing the same thing! Although I've always had knobbly heels (calcaneous) so that makes more sense.

Ditch the boots. At least temporarily. You don’t want to risk further aggravating them, while you sort it out.

My previously great-fitting boots just don't work for me and I've hunted around for some that don't aggravate my heel (Mammut Monoliths have plenty of space for me).

In all of the boot discussions I’ve seen on here Manta’s have often been found to have an aggressive heel. I found that too. Although they don’t work in the forefoot for me so have never been a serious contender.

Tendonopathy is a dull ache that often comes on after the event. Bursitis produces a sharper pain (and often swelling) that is more instant. Our current thinking about what went wrong for my partner is that pressure from boots (and bone shape, and old age: 40), caused bursitis and some tendon wear. The bursa eventually went solid (and now has been surgically removed). This swollen and eventually solid bursa further aggravated the tendon so that it became in very ill health. And the tendonopathy that resulted then became the long term and potentially unsolvable problem.

So in short: if you are getting a dull ache in the tendon that appeared to come on with these boots. Stop wearing them. Then google for eccentric calf exercises for Achilles tendonopathy (there are some self help exercises that should help keep the tendon in better health).

I know what you mean about crying. Getting out in the mountains means everything to us. My partner did it on crutches after the op. And she used Tevas with waterproof socks both before and after.

So take care. And best of luck.

Bruce

In reply to Pritchard:
After a hamstring injury I had this problem, on mountain trips
Lots of calf raises, stretching well and starting out slow to warm up seemed to keep it at bay until I recovered

In reply to KiwiPrincess:

Thanks for all the info everyone. Its making me feel a bit better that it is a sort of known thing that can be cured. Fingers crossed we will all be back to 100% soon!

Thanks again.

Craig.

Hi,

I regret that I am having the same problems. I use a 3/4 season Scarpa boot, fantastic for 5 years but getting worn and leaking. It the top of Central Trinity last year with my old faithful strap on crampons I realised that I might need a stiffer boot. I purchased the Mantas...great last year ...no problems, probably because I had used my old boots for grade 1/2 snow climbing for the previous month (what a great winter last year!) so calf muscles etc were reasonable exercised.

This season I started using the Mantas again in November and by December I was developing problems with the top of my heel and my achilles tendon, with pain moving up to my calf muscle on ascent...easing on descent.
After a few bad days and 2 weeks rest I went out with new Scarpa Cristallo GTX, purchased to replace my worn out 3/4 season boots...as a backup for a week in Scotland at the start of April. Great fit...no blisters after a 9 mile walk. The achilles problem re emerged after the first 1000 ft of climbing.

I have now read up on achilles tendon problems and the exercises, ibufen gel (can't take ibufen...dodgy gut!) and ice packs. I will see my GP to get referral for physio...especially ultra sound tratment which appeared to help when I last had this problem 25 years ago.

Any other ideas?...I don't really want to miss out when in Scotland. A trip on the Cairngorm funicular doesn't really replace a day in Sneachda (if the snow is still there in early April)