Achilles Tendonitis

[Guest]

About three years ago I started picking up pain in both achilles tendons at the same time. It has grown and I am taking prescribed Vioxx now, but it still is pretty heavy pain, especially when I sit or lie down for a long time. I am 6', 300# and I am losing from a high of 345# heading for about 220 over the next year. I have had circulation problems and edema (more in rt leg)causing swelling. When the circulation is bad(sit/lie down) the pain is worse such as when I get up in the morning.
I have researched it and gone to the podiatrist and physical therapist, but haven't been given any specific cause or target for treatment. I have been stretching as told, I have used a heel insert and I should have had some difference show up by now from losing 50#. In research I have looked at calcium and cholesterol deposits on the web and asked the podiatrist about it as well as my regular doctor. If I had a target for treatment I could do whatever was needed. This is not from any specific exercise or "different" kind of shoes over a long time.
Does any of this zero in on a specific cause/treatment? I am swimming 2 miles a day on my back with flippers to concentrate the exercise for 1 1/2 hours a day on the legs and achilles. There is no change in the pain + or - after a month and 60 miles. The circulation is getting better and I'm getting in better aerobic shape, but the Achilles is still my most debilitating problem. Any Clues? If it's some form of bursitis, cholesterol or calcium deposit, does that ever go away ? Am I on the right track?

[Guest]

You are definitely on the right track. Losign weight is an exercising are very important to help you become painfree. Furthermore, pool exercise is beneficial because it takes the stress off the joints. The one suggestion I would make is that you seem to be trying to get rid of the achilles pain by exercising them. This is a mistake because they are inflammed and painful because they do too much work already. Therefore, try to stop using the flippers and use more of your upper body while you are in the pool. Your achilles' are being overworked so try to take some strain off of them when you are doing aquatic exercises. You can still get a great wokout and lose weight without stressing your lower body and particularly your achilles. Have a nice day.
[quote] About three years ago I started picking up pain in both achilles tendons at the same time. It has grown and I am taking prescribed Vioxx now, but it still is pretty heavy pain, especially when I sit or lie down for a long time... [/quote]