With just one week left until Halloween, you want to make sure you have all the finishing touches for your costume. Not invited to any Halloween party this year is Achilles tendinitis! If tendinitis is a problem for you, try staying off your feet for a few days and rest up so you can be ready for the spookiest night of the year!
Achilles tendinitis is often consider a running injury because many people suffer from this condition after spending a lot of time running. However, it’s not just for runners. Anyone can suffer from this overuse injury. Forgetting to warm up properly before exercising, or increasing your intensity level too suddenly are two ways that you might end up with tendinitis. So what do you do if you find yourself with a pesky case of Achilles tendinitis?
Treatment is usually simple and requires things that you can easily do at home. The first course of treatment is typically RICE, or rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This will promote healing, prevent swelling, and reduce pain. For most people this is enough to get them (comfortably) back on their feet. However, in other cases you may require more.
An orthotic device can help reduce pain by slightly elevating your heel and taking excess strain off of it. There are also exercises and stretches you can try to strengthen the Achilles tendon. Your doctor may prescribe or recommend certain medications to help with pain management. Make sure to check with our office before taking any medications, especially if you are already taking other medications. If these types of treatments don’t work, or if your Achilles tendon has actually ruptured, you might be required to undergo surgery. Surgical repair is only necessary in extreme cases, but it’s an option that exists.
To prevent future tendinitis, always make sure to warm up before physical activity and stretch afterwards. Additionally, be aware of the amount you are increasing your activity level. It’s really important to gradually increase intensity so you don’t overwork your body.
If you have more questions about treating Achilles tendinitis, call Dr. Peyman Elison and Dr. Viedra Elison at (623) 584-5556 to schedule an appointment at Fixing Feet Institute in Surprise, AZ.
