Achilles Tendinitis

When you feel excruciating pain in the back of your leg or heel, it’s hard to do anything but stay in bed. For patients suffering from Achilles tendinitis, Marta Riniker, DPM and Jeffrey McAlister, DPM, FACFAS, at Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute in Phoenix can help treat your pain with innovative orthopedic procedures like amniotic membrane injections. Call or book an appointment online today to learn more about the treatments Dr. McAlister has to offer.

What is Achilles tendinitis?

The Achilles tendon, which joins the heel bone to the calf muscles, is the largest tendon in your body. When the tendon is under stress, it becomes inflamed, often causing a flare-up of Achilles tendinitis.

Fortunately, the Achilles tendon does not typically rupture right away from activities like sports or cardio, but microtears can occur over time and make you more susceptible to a major injury.

What causes Achilles tendinitis?

Overexertion is the number one culprit of Achilles tendinitis. Some of the most common causes of this debilitating condition are:

• High impact cardio
• Jogging, running, and sprinting
• Stairs
• Overuse
• Forgetting to stretch before and after exercise

Most cases of Achilles tendinitis occur in runners who have dramatically increased their mileage or speed in a short period of time.

What symptoms should I look out for?

It’s important to watch out for the warning signs of Achilles tendinitis, as early intervention can mean just taking anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce pain.

Achilles tendinitis symptoms to look out for before your next big race include:

• Heel pain or an aching heel
• Heel tenderness
• Extreme pain after prolonged running or exercise
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Leg pain
• Loss of ankle motion

If these symptoms worsen, make an appointment with a foot and ankle specialist like Dr. McAlister to find out which treatment option is right for you.

How is Achilles tendinitis treated?

Your treatment plan depends on the severity of your injury. If your Achilles tendon feels inflamed, but not extremely painful, conservative therapies like ice, rest, and doctor-recommended stretches may be enough to reduce your pain and swelling.

However, if the pain in your leg or heel is so severe that you’re having troubles walking, Dr. McAlister may recommend a more complex treatment, such as:

• An ankle boot or brace
• Customized orthotic inserts for your shoes
• Anti-inflammatory pain relievers
• Surgery
• Amniotic membrane injections into the Achilles tendon to reduce inflammation

Depending on your level of pain, Dr. McAlister may integrate more than one treatment option into your recovery plan.

Call Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute or book an appointment online today for more information on Achilles tendinitis.