Achilles Tendon The achilles is the tendon formed as the gastrocnemius and soleus - the calf muscles - sign up with to insert on to the heel bone. For example, I have no swelling of any kind around the tendon, no crepitation and the area around the tendon isn't really tender even if I squeeze it does not hurt at all. I have actually dealt with heel pain all my life and have had bone stimulates removed from both heels in the past with surgical treatment - together with the matching Achilles reattachment for that treatment. This is why moderate discomfort throughout the exercises is a good thing, and why including weight over time is needed to progressively enhance the tendon. We have a number of resources to assist in the recuperation of achilles tendonitis including our 12 week exercise check sheet and our downloadable VISA achilles pain questionnaire which is a fantastic way to keep track of how bad your injury is. If you have been using low-heeled very little" shoes, racing flats, or spikes, you ought to stick to more conventional shoes with a higher heel until your tendon is healthy again. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasounds can also validate an Achilles tendon tear; however, they are not constantly required. If not caught early this can be a difficult injury to treat but with the best treatment and particularly eccentric reinforcing workouts a full healing can usually be attained. It is necessary to be patient and not return too soon to sports and activities that stress the tendon. I've been doing the heel-drops for over 6 weeks and I'm still experiencing some discomfort in my left achilles. I have used this devices on and off for spells at fitness centers and at home for many years, however generally as an enhancement to running or soccer. My chiropractic practitioner mentioned that running more miles can in fact help one conquered AT by thickening the tendon and making it more able to work around" damaged fibers, however I have not investigated whether there is research study to support this. It keeps becoming worse and now the pain is v bad during the night from extremely minimal activity. To examine this, the doc may have you lie face down and flex your knee while he or she presses on your calf muscles to see if your foot flexes.