Hugh Williams – Recovery

People have different reactions to pain. Some people panic at the first onset of it. Others can suppress it; fight it for an extended period of time. For 18 months I ignored a crippling pain in my achilles, which on further investigation was achilles tendinopathy. Regular visitors to this website would have read Ben Liddy’s information sheets on the injury and its management.

For a year I managed it as best as I could without resorting to any invasive treatments (Rest, ice, eccentric raises, anti-inflammatories, nitrate patches and shockwave therapy). Following Zatopek 10km last year, I wasn’t able to get back to the level of training I was at prior to the race. It took longer to get rid of the morning stiffness in the achilles, I wasn’t able to train on soft surfaces due to the instability flaring it up and on the gentlest of touches, I was writhing in pain.

As the summer season progressed, the high’s that would appear regularly in each season weren’t happening and every race was becoming more and more painful. Some of my close friends in various training groups commented on an obvious limp whilst running around Centennial Park – something which I chose to ignore.  Then came rock bottom at the National 5000m Champs in April. When you’re limping in the first lap of 12.5, it’s probably time to panic. This was the final straw and after research and conversations with those that had been through a similar situation, I decided that PRP injections would be the solution to my problems.

For those that aren’t sure what PRP is, it is the injection of the platelets from your own blood into a troublesome tendon. As tendons (especially the achilles) have a poor blood supply, the injection of platelets helps to reduce the pain and accelerate recovery in the inflamed tendon.

I’m not going to sugar coat it, the injections hurt. At least until the anaesthetic kicked in anyway! Now all I have to do is wait until I’m pain free. I’m very fortunate to have the support of Sydney Uni’s Elite Athlete Program and Adidas who have stuck by me whilst receiving the treatment I need. In addition to this I have a great team behind me with Sean Williams, Dr. Corey Cunningham, Paul Penna, Stu Pavely and Jeremy Roff in charge of giving me the best treatment possible and are keeping me sane and in shape for the day I can start running again.

I have taken the opportunity to concentrate on my last year of my Masters of Physiotherapy degree and enjoying the chance to have a sleep in every now and then. I haven’t run since I hit rock bottom in April but I know that what I’m doing is the right thing. The time it takes for that first run without any pain or hesitation will be pure bliss and I can’t wait!

Cheers

Blue