Bloody doctors

[Taylor]

Doc- Stay off the bike was her helpful answer to my Achilles pain.
Me- For how long?
Doc- Try six months.
Me- feck, right, off.

It's all your fault Stu, I never had this problem 'til you started dis-organising WRT.

Can't run, so football's out the window, can't ride, suppose I'll get tennis elbow now from all the wine I'll be quoffing.

[Ian]

Tendons can take a while to fix themselves - the achilles in particular.

You might try gentle rides with flat pedals with the middle of your foot over the axle to reduce strain on the tendon in order to maintain some activity without over stress. You might also think if anything has changed in your set up to cause it.

I also have a problem with my knee. Wales Coast to Coast, fine no problems four days on the singlespeed. Two weeks later I do the BB200 on the same bike and have only ridden the bike once since due to knee pain. The only thing I changed between rides was changing the insoles on my shoes to some sorbothane ones. Going to rest it a bit longer and switch the insoles back to old ones and see if it makes a difference.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Speaking as someone qualified to mend a puntured lung with some gaffa tape and an old inner tube ... I'd say ignore her and just ride your bike man, it'll do you more good than harm as long as you don't go mental.

Have you considered giving flats ago? ... might put less pressure on the damaged area.

EDIT: Ian beat me to the pedal bit.

[valleydaddy]

MTFU :D

Ask for a second opinion, is this your GP saying this?

Maybe ask for a referral to a consultant if this is not who you have seen already???

OMG you will have to become a Pro walker now fella to use all this lightweight gear you have amassed

[Taylor]

4th GP I've seen and none will refer me.
It won't stop me riding, it's just annoying that I've been off football for longer with this now(5.5 months), than it took to come back from a broken kneecap(2.5 months).

[didnothingfatal]

Break your feet into barefooting, I use Vibram Fivefingers, Vivo Barefoot and Merrel Barefoot shoes, the fives are the best. The argument for padded shoes with heels is getting questioned more and more. By not having your heel raised your tendons will stretch and posture will be natural, obviously if you've always worn shoes you'll need to adapt, I hurt like hell when I started it nearly 4 years ago

[Ian]

I use Vibram Fivefingers, Vivo Barefoot and Merrel Barefoot shoes, the fives are the best....

Reminds me of this comic strip: http://xkcd.com/977

Are you a Dymaxion sort of guy, DNF?

[MM-on-POINT]

As Ian said tendons do take a while to heal. My advise would be to listen to the doctor but also ride gently and buy a bio skin ankle sock for when riding, I used one for a similar prob and it made recovery a lot quicker.

[didnothingfatal]

Are you a Dymaxion sort of guy, DNF?

Too much David Icke and a appreciation of the Icosahedron

[Pyro]

Break your feet into barefooting...

< cringes >

Sorry DNF, but if he's already got achilles pain, that's probably one of the worst things he can do in the short term. Yes, minimalist running helps stretch your calves and achilles, but if there's pain there's existing injury/tearing, so elongating the tendon is only going to do more damage.

R.I.C.E it (rest, ice, compress, elevate) and LET IT HEAL. There's no point hammering it back into things and either doing more damage or, at best, slowing recovery right down. When it's the fourth doctor telling you the same thing, d'you not think they might, just maybe, have a point?

On a less ranty note, get well soon dude. Take it steady and let it heal, maddening as that might be.

[Taylor]

Doc 1= let it rest for a couple of weeks then come back if its still sore.(I gave it 5 weeks)

Doc 2= same as doc one.(6 weeks this time)

Doc 3= take anti-inflamitories for three weeks if it doesn't heal come back. (took for three weeks as instructed)

Doc 4= lots of stretches.(surely thats going to make the problem worse?)

[Pyro]

Doc 1= let it rest for a couple of weeks then come back if its still sore.(I gave it 5 weeks)

Doc 2= same as doc one.(6 weeks this time)

Doc 3= take anti-inflamitories for three weeks if it doesn't heal come back. (took for three weeks as instructed)

Doc 4= lots of stretches.(surely thats going to make the problem worse?)

Youch. Right, push for a damn referral.
Tell them how it's affecting your day-to-day life, GPs don't tend to see your leisure activities as their remit. And don't leave until they give you one. That length of time is ridiculous, and they should see that...

[royAB]

Suggestion; Go to France

What?!!

Bear with me, a story:

Mrs B - ex dancer, ex tandem MTB rider - 2 years ago had a knackered back and had to stop doing both on account of the pain. Couldn't sleep properly, sit, walking not good etc. etc. Saw a string of docs here, referred to physio by one - couldn't walk at all the next day. Put on anti-inflamatories, pain killers, sent to chiropracter etc. etc. In 8 months, no change.

So,

Got on Eurostar to Paris. Saw doc same day (E 111/EHIC can't remember which, so £0 cost apart from E*) - had scan, thorough examination by 2 specialists apart from doc. Diagnosis - 'jelly' between disks in lower back failing (age related) so nerve trapped/disks grinding. Prescribed a bunch of meds, back brace, exercises. Now, no pain. leg movement AOK, ready to start riding again.

Key was, of course, diagnosis - seems the French fellows do whatever it takes to find the problem & damn the cost. Here, I can only assume because of it, they faff....

[didnothingfatal]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Achilles-Healin ... 12_rsrsrs0

It came up on a 'also looked at' list on Amazon, may be of use

[Cheeky Monkey]

Have you tried a (decent) sports physio? Always works for me when I've spanged myself and the GP has been, without being nasty, nay use.

[Taylor]

Was trying to get a referral as I've private health care which will pay for things like physio but all four doc's keep fobbing me off, even though it'll cost the NHS nowt.

[valleydaddy]

If you have private health care ring the provider up and ask for a private consultation, worst case you may have to pay £100 for it (excess) but at least you'll get into the system

[thomthumb]

Was trying to get a referral as I've private health care which will pay for things like physio

did you tell them straight up, "i want a referal".

some doctors seem pretty resistant to all the hints in the world.

[Cheeky Monkey]

I just go and see the registered sports physio who's at the bottom of my road, no referral or anything. Can claim most of the cost back through some Hospital Saturday-type policy.

First assessment is usually a bit more expensive and longer, think it was £35 last time. I am in the grim and gritty north mind Subsequent treatment sessions are usually a bit shorter and consequently cheaper, c.£25. All depends what's up and how serious it is.

Personally, I've always had better and more effective treatment of twists, strains and pulls from these sort of guys than GPs. Costs has always seemed reasonable and focused on getting you sorted and back to odoing stuff. GPs always seem to be rest and allow to recover or avoid activity. That doesn't work for me