Achilles Tendinitis Pain Management

Achilles tendinitis is a painful condition that occurs due to overuse of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The tendon is used when you climb stairs, run, walk, and jump.

The Achilles tendon is able to withstand great stresses (jumping and running). Even though the tendon is strong, it is prone to a condition known as tendinitis. The condition is associated with degeneration and overuse.

Dr. Raju Mantena is a specialist in diagnosing and treating Achilles tendinitis. The 360 Pain Treatment not just treats the symptoms but the root cause of the problem too. This helps in providing long-term pain relief to the patients.

Types of Achilles Tendinitis

• Insertional Achilles Tendonitis

Affects the lower portion of the tendon that is attached to the heel bone.

• Non-insertional Achilles Tendonitis

Affects fibers in the middle portion of the tendon. The condition is most likely to affect young persons who are active.

Causes

Excessive walking or exercise (especially for athletes) is the most common cause of Achilles tendinitis. Infection and rheumatoid arthritis are conditions that are linked to tendonitis.

Any activity that repeatedly strains the Achilles tendon is a potential cause of tendonitis. The common causes include:

• Straining the calf muscles with repeated activity or exercise.
• Sudden increase in physical activity.
• Wearing ill-fitting shoes.
• Exercising without a proper warmup.
• Wearing high heels for prolonged durations.
• Presence of bone spurs in the back of the heels.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:

• Tight calf muscles.
• Swelling or discomfort in the back of the heel.
• Limited range of motion when flexing the foot.
• Thickening of the tendon.
• Bone spur.
• Severe pain that worsens after activity.

Treatment

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Rest

The first step in reducing pain is to avoid the activities that aggravate it. If you do high impact exercises (running) it is best to switch to low impact exercises. This will put less stress on the Achilles tendon.

The low impact activities that put less stress on the tendon include swimming, elliptical exercise, and biking.

• Ice Packs

Placing ice packs on the painful area of the Achilles tendon will reduce pain. This should be done throughout the day. Hold the ice pack on the affected area for 10 - 15 minutes. This will help the inflammation go down faster.

• Compression

An athletic tape or bandage around the tendon will compress the injury. This prevents swelling. Avoid tying the bandage too tightly as it can affect blood flow.

• Elevation

Raising the foot above the level of the chest brings down swelling.

Surgery

If non-surgical treatments are not effective, surgery is the preferred choice to repair the Achilles tendon. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause sharp pain in the heel area. The type of surgery to be performed will depend on the amount of damage to the tendon and the location of the tendinitis.

Dr. Raju Mantena provides patients with individualized rehabilitation programs to relieve pain, promote healing, and prevent future injury. 360 Pain Treatment is a minimally invasive holistic treatment that enables patients to get back to their active lifestyle.

Visit today to relief your pain by visiting 360 Pain Treatment Website http://www.360paintreatment.com/