Achilles tendinitis

Diagnosis

Your doctor will lightly touch on the affected area during the physical examination to pinpoint the site of any pain, soreness, or swelling. Additionally, your foot and ankle’s flexibility, alignment, range of motion, and reflexes will be assessed.

Imaging tests

To evaluate your condition, your doctor may request one or more of the tests listed below:

• X-rays. Although X-rays cannot see soft structures like tendons, they can help exclude other illnesses that can cause comparable symptoms.
• Ultrasound. In order to see soft tissues like tendons, this instrument uses sound waves. The Achilles tendon can also be seen moving in real time with ultrasound, and color-Doppler ultrasonography can measure blood flow around the tendon.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI machines are capable of creating detailed images of the Achilles tendon using radio waves and a powerful magnet.

Treatment

Self-care techniques are typically effective for tendinitis. However, if your symptoms are severe or persistent, other treatment options could be advised by your doctor.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe stronger medications to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain if over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen are ineffective.

Physical therapy

The following are some possible treatments that a physical therapist might advise:

• Exercises. To encourage healing and strengthening of the Achilles tendon and its supporting components, therapists frequently recommend particular stretches and strengthening activities.

It has been discovered that “eccentric” strengthening, a unique sort of training that involves slowly lowering a weight after raising it, is very beneficial for chronic Achilles issues.

• Orthotic devices. The Achilles tendon can be spared stress by using a shoe insert or wedge that lifts your heel just enough to soften the force being applied to it.

Surgery

Surgery to repair your Achilles tendon may be recommended by your doctor if several months of more conservative therapies have failed or if the tendon has ripped.

These are the surgical techniques:

• Gastrocnemius recession: The calf muscles (gastrocnemius) are lengthened by the surgeon.
• Debridement and repair: If the majority of the tendon is still healthy, the surgeon only removes the diseased portion while stitching the remaining healthy tendon together. You’ll need to wear a boot or cast for a few weeks after the treatment.
• Debridement with tendon transfer: A sufficient amount of healthy Achilles tendon is required for function. If more than half of it is injured, an Achilles tendon transfer is required. The tendon that aids in the big toe’s downward pointing is removed by the surgeon and moved to the heel bone. The injured tendon becomes strong enough to function after treatment. You’ll be able to walk, run, and even move your big toe. However, following this operation, you might not be able to play sports competitively.
• Hydrocision TenJet: High velocity saline is used in this minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided procedure to dissolve tendon scar tissue. On an outpatient procedure, the pressurized saline acts as blade to selectively remove unhealthy tissue.