Pain in the area around the Achilles tendon could be Achilles tendonitis, a condition which needs prompt treatment. Dr. Adam Teichman, owner and founder of East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates in Allentown, Easton and Reading, Pennsylvania, talks here about what can be done to relieve the often debilitating pain.
First off, the Achilles tendon is one of the large tendons connecting the lower leg to foot. It extends from knee down to the heel. Usually Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation with the tendon itself.
There are multiple types of Achilles tendonitis, with insertional Achilles tendonitis the most common type of Achilles tendonitis that we see. That is where the Achilles tendon is irritated where it inserts onto the heel bone. It is painful and can be extremely debilitating, as the Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body.
The function of the Achilles tendon that it gives us the ability to rise up on our toes and helps facilitate the act of walking. Achilles tendonitis can make this impossible as it is sometimes so severe and painful.
Three stages go with Achilles tendonitis:
- Peritendintitis, which is localized pain during or following activity – this is the acute stage of Achilles tendonitis.
- Achilles tendonosis, which is the chronic state of a tendonitis. Sometimes you can feel hard nodules on the heel. Sometimes this does not produce symptoms, so it can be asymptomatic.
- Peritendintitis with tendonosis, which can involve pain and swelling with activity, and can lead to partial or complete tearing of a tendon.
Some treatments we offer are immobilization, physical therapy, orthotics, custom-made functional footwear, and sometimes shock waves. Shock waves is a new treatment that involves electronic impulses shot in the heel to retrigger or restart the inflammatory process in chronic cases of Achilles tendonitis.
Achilles Tendon Pain
Also for acute Achilles tendon pain we recommend Rice Therapy, which involves the four steps of Rest, Ice, Cold or Compression and Elevation. But everybody is different, and the treatment we prescribe is always done on an individual, case-by-case basis for best results.
Some people might need aggressive surgical intervention if they do not improve after four to six weeks, but most people get better with orthotics and therapy in four to six weeks. Call East Penn Foot and Ankle Associates today for more information about how to deal with this or any foot or ankle-related problem.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
