Paying for a sports therapist/physio

A question about : Paying for a sports therapist/physio

Hi

I started having problems with my achilles tendon mid August. I have run regularly for years but was doing more than usual when the problem started. I decided to rest it completely but even though I have not done any running for a month am still having problems.

When I get out of bed on a morning it is sore and stiff - not good when you are only 44!

I know its not my trainers, I get these properly fitted. I dont know if I can afford to see a sports therapist.

Whats your experience of the NHS in these circumstances? If you have paid to see a sports therapist how much did you pay? I am so fed up not being able to exercise, all though I have done a bit of cycling which seems OK.

Best answers:

• Argh posted long reply and then lost it!!
  Bottom line - not been to NHS physio or Dr with running problem as referrals can take a long time and sometimes docs aren't sympathetic to 'just' running injuries. Also, most of my physio visits have been 'emergencies' when things start to hurt a month before a race I have been working hard for. At that stage I could not have waited on the NHS.
  I have paid Ј45 for a private physio session and about Ј45 an hour for a massage. I have also paid for 3 physio sessions at Ј30 each at a uni gym when I was a member, but that also sorted out a general problem that was not just running related - poor patella tracking so I couldn't sit for a long time without stretching my legs out.
  I have found the private physios very efficient, give good exercises and have been very keen to get you back up and running ASAP.
• I had tendinitis in my Achilles a few years ago so my sympathies! I saw a physiotherapist about it (privately) and paid about Ј40 for a session. I was advised to do some exercises like sets of the stair stretch described above a few times a day. I followed the instructions and it improved fairly quickly.
  As the other poster said, there are plenty of blogs/tutorials/youtube videos online that should help you find exercises that will help with the problem.
  Also, if you are in work it may be worth talking to the occupational health team there (if you have one) as your employer may have a system for referring staff who need it for physiotherapy. I had a really bad experience with NHS physiotherapy after an operation a few years ago (long wait, rubbish treatment) but my employer stepped in and arranged for me to see a private physio and they paid for it. I got superb treatment, that would have cost a fortune if I'd had to pay for it myself, for free.
• Went to the Drs with a running injury that hadn't sorted itself after 3 months of rest. He referred me for a scan (12 week wait) which would enable them to identify which scan I needed...and after that they could start thinking about treatment.
  Went to a sports physio who resolved my problem in 20 minutes.
  Also gave a lot of additional exercises to improve things I didn't know were wrong - and were likely causes of my problems in the first place.
  If you're really tight for cash, I'd start on the heal raises, as they'll likely help and you don't have much to lose....but if you can spare 40-50 quid, I'd say it's well worth getting a professional to take a look...could save a lot of pain (and expense) down the line....
• I had achilles tendonitis a few years ago half way through the football season. The physio discovered that my pelvic girdle was unbalanced, corrected it with some strong arm manipulation (!) and gave me exercises to counteract it. That was abroad, but here in the south of England I've recently had a session (knee this time..) at Ј50 with a top sports physio.
• Thanks all, really helpful. I have downloaded some exercises to do and I am going to give it a few weeks. If its no better (or worse) then I will pay a private physio.
  Good suggestion BrownEyed, we dont have that at work but I know some places do and not all employees take advantage of it.
  Strangely the stiffness and soreness seems to have moved into my calf now.
• I'm a runner / squash player and have had achilles tendonitis on and off for a while now. I'm lucky in that I get private health cover through work, which gets me Ј1000 towards outpatients costs, including physio. So I tend to go to the physio with minor injuries before they get too bad, referred by my GP.
  The problem is.....as you've found rest didn't help you. Until you know exactly what it is you could end up taking loads of time off to no avail. A GP will help diagnose it and will suggest rest. I don't think it would hurt going to a good sports injuries clinic to get a diagnosis so you know what you're up against. My physio basically massages the area and applies ultra sound.
  I'd also recommend stretching your calf and achilles to loosen it off on a regular basis throughout the day. Paddle your feet before you get out of bed in the morning. I'm exactly the same as you but with increased stretching you may find that things settle down.
  Good luck.
• Well I have been doing the exercises I downloaded religiously for a week now and whether its coincidence or not my achilles is so much better. I know a week is nothing in terms of rehabilitation so I am going to keep going with it. I have done one aerobics session and one bike ride this week, plus brisk dog walking, and that seems OK.
  I spoke to someone at work who saw their GP (same practice as me) a couple of weeks ago for achilles pain. The GP prescribed anti-inflammatories and complete rest - and that was it. I wasnt impressed with that but I will go and get medical advice if things go downhill.
  Thanks all, feeling a lot more positive!
• I've just started this, it gets good reviews https://www.kinetic-revolution.com/30daychallenge/
• Just a thought but have you ever tried taping and strapping on the problem area ?
• Unfortunately, any injuries to do with running can take many weeks to heal. The problem is that running (like other sports) is addictive, and we value how long it should take to get over an injury on the basis of how long we can mentally cope with resting! It doesn't work this way.
  My own experience and that I have seen with friends is that time alone will heal most problems unless they have become chronic. Exercises can help, but won't cure.
  I went to a sport physio once at the cost of Ј40 when I was desperate. She is highly qualified, but although her assessment was interesting, it certainly didn't do much in helping me get better. She wanted me to come back for exercise, but as it's been said, you can work these out yourself. There are no rocket science and in the end, it's probably the time elapsing during these exercises that makes most of the difference.
  I hope you are now back running without trouble.
• In the long term the most useful thing I got out of a physio assessment was guidance on which of the several imbalances which could have caused the problem had been most at fault in my case. So rather than going through the whole list of exercises for evermore I have one to concentrate on as a preventative.
• I had a serious sport injury last year, the NHS were no help and I paid to see a private physio who is outstanding and its Ј45.00 per hour. If I hadnt seen him I would have had months of pain.
  I've been to NHS physios before and they have been not very good. I had to cure my own siaticia with videos off you tube.
  The Physio who was good gave me sports massage as well as accupuncture and the injury felt better straight away and it continued to get better. Prior to going I was in a terrible state.
  OP this guy is very good https://www.elitephysio.co.uk/ hes called Ian Blackburn.
• Thanks all
  I am still not running. The achilles is slowly improving, so much so that I dont really notice it at all now. I am doing aerobics, kettlercise and cycling but not running. Although I really miss it my gut feeling is that running is still a bad idea at the moment.
  I havent seen a GP or a physio, just kept doing the exercises that I got off the internet. I also talked to a friend who tore her achilles and she had some good suggestions for exercises and stretches.
  I am told that it can take up to 6 months before I might be completely recovered and I am just relieved that I am making good progress.