Achilles still grumpy at week 6 of wolverine stack, adding GHK-Cu worth it?

Posted by grinder265 in Healing & Recovery - 1 points, 3 comments.

Been running the classic BPC-157 + TB-500 combo for a cranky left Achilles that I tweaked on a downhill repeat about 6 weeks back. Partial tear confirmed on ultrasound. I'm dosing 500mcg BPC daily subq near the tendon and TB-500 2.5mg twice a week, plus actual rehab (eccentric raises 3x a week, lots of slow cycling).

Pain is better, like maybe 60% of where it started, but the tendon still feels thick and tender in the morning and if I push pace on a run it swells up again by mile 4. Ngl I'm getting impatient.

Thinking about layering in GHK-Cu either topically around the insertion point or subq. Anyone run all three together on a tendon like this? Curious if GHK actually moves the needle on the connective tissue side or if it's more of a skin/hair thing. Also is the topical version even doing anything down at the tendon level or do I need to pin it to get penetration where it matters.

Comments

• weekendnate: Real talk on the topical question, I tried GHK-Cu cream around a cranky elbow epicondyle a few months back and honestly couldn't tell you it did anything local. The molecule is tiny and supposedly penetrates, but for deep tendon work I'd be skeptical you're getting meaningful concentration at the actual insertion unless you're pinning nearby. On the stack itself, six weeks is still early for a partial tear. The morning thickness and reactive swelling past mile 4 sounds like the tendon is still
• grinder265: Yeah that tracks with what I was suspecting tbh. Topical was kinda my lazy option so sounds like subq near the insertion is the only way it makes sense, if I add it at all. Six weeks early is a good reality check, I was comparing it to my other leg niggles that cleared faster and forgot this one actually has a tear on imaging. Gonna keep the eccentrics rolling and maybe push the cycling harder before I add another variable. Did you pin GHK or just ditch the idea entirely for your elbow?
• grinder265: Yeah i kinda figured topical wouldnt reach deep enough on a tendon, the elbow is one thing but achilles is a thick chunk of tissue. Might pin it nearby instead if i add it at all. The remodeling point is fair, i just hate sitting on the bench when im used to running 80+ mpw. How long did yours take before the morning tenderness actually went away?

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