Southeastern Pennsylvania Achilles Tendinitis Treatment

Diagnosis & Treatment for Heel Pain

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body. This tissue connects your calf muscles to your heel, and is involved in most day-to-day foot movements like walking and climbing stairs. When this tissue becomes inflamed, it causes pain and stiffness along the back of the heel. This condition is known as Achilles tendinitis.

Identifying Achilles Tendinitis

There are many possible causes of foot pain and heel pain, but there are a few symptoms most that will point to Achilles tendinitis as the most likely cause. This condition usually begins as a mild ache in the back of the leg that grows worse over time. The pain will usually become more severe when running, jumping, or performing other sports activities.

Other symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:

• Swelling in the back of the heel
• The back of the heel feels especially stiff in the morning
• Redness and tenderness around the Achilles tendon
• Bone spurs

Achilles tendinitis is most common in male athletes, but it is not exclusive to them. People with high blood pressure and flat-arched feet also have an increased risk. Additionally, research has shown that the fluoroquinolones family of antibiotics can also increase the chances of developing Achilles tendinitis.

When to Seek Treatment

Most foot and ankle pains will heel on their own, but if you have been dealing with this problem for weeks or need to be on your feet for long hours during the day you should schedule an appointment with our podiatrist in southeastern Pennsylvania. In the short-term, over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen are often effective, and stretching the foot muscles can help relieve pain over time. When these conservative measures fail, surgery may be necessary to repair a severely damaged Achilles tendon.