Achilles tendonosis and our Italy trip

Maybe use cabs when you can. Just take it slower when walking and rest when you can. Varenna is beautiful but it does have a lot of hills. Ditto for Tuscany. I haven't been to the Dolomites. I hope you make a speedy and easy recovery and are able to enjoy your trip.

Is your MD's concern that you will do more serious injury or that you will be hobbled and be in too much pain to walk?

In Varenna, you can stay close to the shore for level walking and ride the ferries to the other towns and enjoy the scenery from the boat on the lake rather than extensive walks into the surrounding hills

Dolomites you can just sit at the hotel and enjoy the view, read a book and possibly take a chair lift if you can manage a bit of walking and then ride.

Only u know your limitations. I too have Achilles discomfort but I can walk for about 2 hours on flat surface using athletic shoes with gd support, inserts.

liney,

Did your doctor offer any possible solutions that might allow you to have a reasonably easy trip? This website provides some good information - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/achilles-tendinitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369020 .

Depending on the severity of your condition, you may be able to manage if you limit the amount of walking you do, and use some kind of supports on your ankle. Of course, your doctor is the best one to determine that.

Last year, my wife and I took a repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale ending in Southampton. After a long weekend in London, we flew over to Ireland for another week. She was in a wheel chair the whole time, and I was towing her rolling carry on bag without assistance. No problems were experienced. She's since had a knee replacement, however she has mid foot arthritis that is almost debilitating by itself.

My wife swears by using Volteran Gel (prescription) and lidocaine cream (across the counter.) on her terribly aching feet. Without them, she'd be back in the chair. She also has prescription inserts in her shoes and she only wears Alegria shoes with a rocker sole.

I have insertional achilles tendonitis and I have been able to keep walking with a few adjustments to my normal routine. See if the doc can prescribe a topical pain reliever/anti-inflammatory (I use Diclofenac Sodium) and apply that a few times a day. Ice it every evening. A splint to keep your foot flexed while you sleep will help you walk easier during the day. Stretch gently each time you go out to walk. A lift in the heel of your shoe will take some of the stress off the tendon as well. You can do this! It's not worth canceling your trip! We hiked Mt. Rainier last weekend and head to the Grand Canyon in a few weeks.

Bring hiking sticks, useful even on pavement. There are many easier walks in the Dolomites. Where, exactly, are you staying?

Thank you all - I am feeling more encouraged. I am on a strong anti inflammatory for 2 weeks with specific exercises and icing regimen. As I get very bothered by sciatica (I feel like a mess!!), my doctors concern is it will get worse and I will be hobbling around in pain and then that is when I get in trouble with my sciatica issues!

When I have my followup appt I will ask about some of your recommendations. Thank you for that. She already mentioned possibly a lightweight brace to provide a little stability.

Thank you again.

Hi liney,

It is good that you are communicating with your doctor about this and getting prepared.

I am sure you realize that whatever suggestions you receive on the thread are "only" suggestions. Everyone has a different level of pain and injury.

Ask your doctor, if you can tolerate them, about taking Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen with you.

When you take the doctor prescribed dose, you can "layer it" thereafter with Acetaminophen; of course being careful to not overdo it. Also, take a few with you when you are out and about.

Unless you are in very bad pain, perhaps the stronger (script) meds can be taken at night when you are readying for bed. In this way, you will get a better night's sleep. Some meds may make a person "loopy," so it is best to keep your wits about you when walking about -- especially walking around in unfamiliar territory.

Someone mentioned hiking poles. I would suggest taking a folding cane -- just as sturdy as a stationary one. It will get scanned at security / TSA. There would be no need to pack it in your carry on or checked bag.

Even if you are doing okay during the day, I would still fold it and take along in a day bag. Yes, it will be a little heavy, but if you are hurting, that "third leg" would be so welcomed.

Ask your doctor about "ankle wraps" that you can slide on like a sock. Since it has a compression like material, you may not want to wear it all day and night. I have seen them in the Walmart pharmacy. They are small, lightweight and can fold into a pocket in your bag.

At the airport, ask for wheelchair assistance. Sometimes walks to terminals can be exhausting -- and you are dodging people going this way and that way.

Did you request an aisle seat on the plane so you can elevate and / or stretch out your affected leg? Ask your doctor about doing gentle "ankle pumps" and "circles."

You probably know this -- wear comfortable but "loose shoes" to allow for some swelling.

Oh, and they sell "travel, pouch-style" ice bags. I found them and see them at TJMaxx and Marshall's. Or, you can take heavy-duty ziplock bags. The airplane will have ice and most likely your hotels.

Are you in good shape otherwise? I’m 43 and thankfully I’m in good shape. I broke my foot 9 days before our family trip to Italy. I spent 2 weeks in an air cast and on a knee scooter. We went to Rome, Ischia and Amalfi. It can be done but if I wasn’t in shape, it wouldn’t have worked. I took Tylenol 3 during the day, elevated when I could and brought the ice packs you can activate. Compression socks helped with swelling.

Definitely agree with the above post about the wheelchair. We went to Italy several years ago and had a connection in Zurich. My husband had problems with his knee and was not moving fast. We barely made our connecting flight(and we had plenty of time-but the airport was a zoo) and after that I said no more --we would be getting a wheelchair. Even if it's a slight problem your pride won't take too much of a hit for a ride in a wheelchair.
As for the rest---just take it slow and use lots of taxi's.

As a followup and for anyone facing the same dilemma, here is what happened. When I went for my appt right before my trip, my podiatrist prescribed a steroid to use on the trip. The steroid dose starts high and then tapers which I did for three weeks. The relief I got from the steroid was amazing. I had literally no problems whatsoever. I had a heel lift I continued to wear, did my exercises faithfully even though I was feeling no pain or irritation and pretty much walked everywhere I needed to go. The only thing I passed on was walking up the myriad of steps to the bell tower in Lucca. Everything else was great. The relief from the steroid absolutely did the trick.

Thanks for the update. Really glad your doctor was able to give you something that solved your problem, at least for the duration of the trip, and you were able to enjoy the vacation.