Going militant on the tendon: update

What a difference a day makes. I woke up before dawn this morning, head full of despairing thoughts about jacking in the walk altogether as my tendon is little improved after ten days of anti-inflammatory drugs. By four in the afternoon my left leg was being brutally worked over by a sports physiotherapist who has made it his mission to get me in shape for starting my walk in four weeks' time.

During the day a nurse friend had advised going straight to a sports physio. Cue frantic internet searching and comparing reviews and testimonials. I found a place that sounded ideal and they booked me in for the same day.

It's the start of an aggressive campaign to fix my anterior tibial tendon, and prevent a recurrence of the problem. This physio company specialises in getting troubled athletes (professionals and rank amateurs like me) sorted out at short notice for events such as the London Marathon. The physio who treated me was thorough and competent and really seemed to know his stuff.

It's a two-pronged approach to treatment: firstly, sorting out the immediate problem of the inflamed tendon, and secondly, rehabilitation to identify and treat the underlying bio-mechanical problem that made me vulnerable to this injury. Today's session focused mostly on the former, with acupuncture and teeth-gritting massages of my lower left leg muscles and tendons. My left foot was also firmly taped up.

The physio did also identify tightness in the left thigh muscles, so the rehab process will focus on loosening it up and finding out what's causing it - maybe a weakness in the hip. I've got the first rehab session on Friday and will get exercises to carry out at home. In the meantime it's ice packs every evening, comfy trainers only, and as much rest as possible without being totally sedentary.

So, there's hope, depending on how well my body responds to the treatment.


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