This is especially true when you cannot participate in your chosen activities due to the pain. Achilles Tendinopathy is common in runners, hikers, and volleyball players.

When someone has Achilles Tendon pain, the most common question they ask me is, “How long will this take?”

This is my minor favorite question because Achilles Tendon pain can be long-lasting.

How severe and how advanced your injury is

Achilles Tendinopathy is divided into 3 Stages

  • Acute (new onset pain lasting up to 2 weeks).
  • Subacute (immediately following sensitive, 3 weeks-2 months)
  • Chronic (3 months plus)

The longer it takes for a person to heal from an injury is generally the better.

In 3-4 weeks, acute Achilles Tendinitis should settle. (I use CALM DOWN here and wait to GET BETTER). The article will explain this under the heading called down vs. Gotten better.

It will typically take 2-6 months for subacute Achilles Tendinopathy to calm down. (Again, it is still the same.)

Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy can be a complicated condition. It can take up to 3 months for it to settle down.

FACTORS THAT IMPACT RECOVERY TIME

The list is extended so that I will limit my listing to the most important. These are:

Overall Health

Crappy Diet? Are you stressed? Smoker? Are you a smoker? These factors can prolong the recovery period.

Mindset

Positive thinking wins the rehab game.

Sleep

It is impossible to get 5 hours of sleep per night while recovering from an injury. If you want to heal quickly and prevent damage from returning, 8 hours is the minimum amount of sleep you should get.

Rehab Plan

Your rehab plan should be thoughtfully designed, progressive, and relevant to your current situation and the activities that you wish to return to. If your rehab plan doesn’t include running, it is inappropriate. Volleyball? Jumping is a must in any project. But not too soon …)

Calm down or Get Better

This happens repeatedly. I see someone who is in pain, and we can help them. They feel much better and decide to cancel their follow-up and return to their activities.

They are usually back in my office within a few weeks, two steps back.

Their injury wasn’t fully healed. Their PAIN is much better, but they are not fully ready to return to their sport at 100%. This requires time, effort, and a well-thought-out progressive rehab plan.

Moral of the story: Just because you feel better doesn’t mean you’re better (especially with Tendon injuries).

Rehab programs should usually have three steps.

Step 1: Calm Stuff Down

Step 2: Rebuild Your Base

Step 3: Bridge the Gap

Most rehab plans end with calming down. SOME plans can help you build strength and endurance again. Significantly few programs can bridge the gap between injury recovery and being able to perform the way you want.