UKC

I wonder if anyone can help advise on rehabilitation from this particular variant of the more regular achilles injury.

I've got a lot of pain that started with a fairly conventional Achilles tendon injury but which has worsened and spread higher up the back and sides of my calf, starting at around 5 inches off the floor. I think I brought it on myself by over-enthusiastic efforts at applying eccentric exercises for the achilles tendon problem. The area is now very tender at the back and sides above where the tendon merges into the calf muscles and I'm walking with quite a pronounced limp.  From my research so far it sounds like it could be a soleus strain, as described on this Physiopedia page:

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Calf_Strain

I've found a programme for rehab here tailored for runners but as a non-runner the latter part of the programme won't be particularly relevant:

https://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/rehabilitation-of-soleus-muscle-injuri...

If anyone has any experience or knowledge of this condition I'd be pleased to hear from them - particularly anything relating to rehabilitation for the less athletic amongst us!

In reply to Bob Kemp:

The stock advice I've absorbed, which has become my own, is 'go see a physio', I don't know where you are, but in Sheffield there's a couple of places which specialise in leg related injuries, from running and cycling, and skiing etc.

If you can afford to, go see a physio...

In reply to Bob Kemp:

I've had various problems, whilst a muscle strain is often a symptom, the cause can in part be related to low stretch in tendons leading from it to the foot(it runs right down the side of your leg, over the ankle and just under your foot), even running shoe soles, weaker muscle strength on the injured side... a good sports physio would be worth the cost, as the cause might not be directly related to only the muscle.  

In reply to Timmd:

Thanks. I will probably end up at my usual physio anyway but I wanted to know a little more about the condition and its rehabilitation first.

In reply to summo:

Thanks. I hadn't thought of the foot as an element in this. I am almost certain that the cause(s) will involve other muscle-skeletal structures as my legs, pelvis and lower back are all out of kilter after fifty years or so injuries and operations. 

In reply to Bob Kemp:

At the physio we probably did an hour measuring range of movement and strength, usually low on the injured side, plus a lot prodding! You'll have to rest, but keep it mobilise at first, then I did a mixture of calf raises, double and single legged, massage, stretching, rubber band exercises, balance work ... there's a lot going on in the region, so there isn't really a simple or quick solution. 

Even if you don't run consider a trip to a running shop with sensor pads, so you can see how your feet land and roll etc... special inner soles aren't cheap but if they help then I'd consider them worth the cost. 

In reply to summo:
Thanks - this is about what I’d expected from previous Achilles experiences. Difficult to actually rest in this household! 
I did wonder if there was anything more specific I could do about the soleus muscle problem. At the moment I can only walk a very short distance with a pronounced limp, and the only thing that seems to help is repeated application of Voltarol. I’m wearing a splint for plantar fasciitis and Achilles injuries but I’m not yet convinced it’s making much difference. I also have a nighttime sock thing to stop the tendon shortening. That just makes it less painful when I get up. 
l’ve been thinking about the custom insoles route - I’ve heard good things about Andrew Stanley’s Rebound Clinic down at Settle. Not cheap but might save me a lot of pain and physio fees in the long run!

In reply to Bob Kemp:

NSAIDS are going to have a negative effect in healing in the long term, they are best used acutely when there is swelling and then dropped off. Paracetamol would be better in that context.

A splint for PF is going to stretch the calf and in my simple view this is likely going to aggravate the achilles and soleus rather than help them. The two/three injuries and their treatment add considerably to the complexity here.

I would rest up until you see the physio again or a different one of your choice.

https://www.running-physio.com/achilles-tendinopathy/

(edit) P.S. I would tape the calf at home if I was in your position 

In reply to SouthernSteve:

Thanks Steve, very helpful. I'm just using the Voltarol on the calf area that's painful rather than the tendon itself so I guess that should be ok. I'm doing my best to rest, but life does  rather get in the way. 

I've seen references to taping the calf - I'll follow that up and drop the PF splint.

Found out! In looking for internet resources about my condition I was pleased to find this very useful page:

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Calf_Strain

- but in the section on soleus injuries I was less pleased with this:

"This condition frequently occurs in the middle-aged, poorly conditioned and/or physically active patient." 

Oh well... 

In reply to Bob Kemp:

Google tennis leg! Named because it's typical of folk of a certain age or generation sitting around Mon to Fri, then trying to do something explosive on a weekend. I'm not suggesting you have this though.