Achilles tendonitis

About one in four people who are athletic will have an Achilles tendon injury at some time in their lives. One of the most common sports-related injuries is Achilles tendonitis (also known as Achilles tendinitis or Achilles tendinopathy).

The pain and swelling of Achilles tendonitis can keep you away from exercises or sports that you love. So it’s best to seek a doctor’s advice when you notice pain in your lower leg or heel. At Advocate Health Care, we can recommend the best treatment plan to get you back on track.

What’s the fastest way to heal Achilles tendonitis?

The fastest way to heal Achilles tendonitis is to seek care as soon as you notice pain in the area. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the longer it will take to heal the inflammation of Achilles tendinitis. Waiting longer also increases the risk of complications such as Achilles tendon rupture.

Achilles tendonitis doesn’t heal on its own. It often heals with help from resting the injury, putting ice on it, and other nonsurgical Achilles tendonitis treatments.

Achilles tendonitis symptoms

Some common Achilles tendonitis symptoms are:

• Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon in the morning
• Pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity
• Severe pain the day after exercising
• Swelling that’s present all the time and gets worse throughout the day or with activity
• Pain on the back of the heel when you wear shoes

Achilles tendonitis risk factors

Men are more likely to have Achilles tendinitis symptoms than women. Other risk factors for Achilles tendinitis are:

• Taking some antibiotics (fluoroquinolones)
• Psoriasis
• High blood pressure

What causes Achilles tendinitis?

You can have pain, inflammation, and swelling in your Achilles tendons any time you make a change in your routine. Runners may sustain an Achilles tendonitis injury when they run longer distances or run more often.

Some activities are more likely to lead to Achilles tendinitis than others, including:

• High-impact sports or exercises with quick stops and starts
• Jobs that keep you on your feet, putting stress on feet and ankles
• Practicing sports or exercise only on the weekend
• Running in cold weather
• Running on hilly paths or inclined equipment
• Wearing worn-out shoes

Achilles tendonitis diagnosis

When you see your doctor about potential Achilles tendinitis symptoms, they’ll perform a thorough physical exam and examine the area of your Achilles tendon pain to check for swelling or thickening. They’ll ask about your symptoms and ask you to describe your pain. They’ll also ask you to do things like flex your foot so your toes point upward.

Your doctor may order imaging tests to get a better look at the tendon and bones. X-rays can reveal if there are any bone spurs. MRI shows the extent of damage to the tendon to help plan for surgery.

Achilles tendonitis treatment

Achilles tendonitis can often be cured with nonsurgical means if it’s caught early. Your doctor may recommend self-care options such as:

• Rest: Decrease or pause any activities that make your pain worse. Your doctor may recommend switching from your usual exercise to low-impact exercises such as swimming or biking because they put less stress on the Achilles tendon.
• Ice: Put an ice pack on the painful area at intervals for the first couple of days.
• NSAIDs: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce pain and swelling.

Physical therapy exercises aimed at orthopedic rehabilitation provide stretching and strengthening for the muscles and reduce stress on the Achilles tendon.

Your doctor may prescribe a splint or brace to wear at night to reduce pain. This method holds your foot in a flexed position to help maintain flexibility of the calf muscles and reduce the tension between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone. Bracing often relieves pain that you feel in the morning.

Wearing special shoes, orthotic devices, or heel lifts during the day may decrease stress on the Achilles tendon.

Surgical Achilles tendonitis treatment

In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. Damaged parts of the tendon may be removed. In some cases, tendon transfer is used to replace the damaged tendon. Lengthening of the calf muscles also provides symptom relief for some people.

We use minimally invasive surgery techniques when possible to reduce scarring and shorten recovery time.

When your doctor approves resuming your exercise or sports routine, they’ll likely recommend that you take it easy at first. Cross-training, where you engage in different exercises, may be recommended to help avoid a repeat injury. Low-impact exercises like swimming or biking can also be helpful.