Your Achilles tendon links your calf muscles to your heel. When this tendon is inflamed as in Achilles tendonitis, you may find walking, stair climbing, and jumping uncomfortable. Orthopaedics in St. Thomas and St. Croix can help you manage your Achilles tendonitis. Your doctors, Dr. Jeffrey Chase and Dr. Ahmet Sayan, of Virgin Island Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists, can help you take care of your health.
What Is Achilles Tendonitis?
The condition featuring inflammation of your Achilles tendon is known as Achilles tendonitis. Your Achilles tendon helps you perform routine functions such as walking, climbing the stairs, jumping, running, and standing on your tiptoes because it secures your calf muscles to your heel.
Achilles tendonitis may be insertional or non-insertional. Insertional tendonitis develops around where your Achilles tendon attaches to your heel bone. On the other hand, non-insertional tendonitis develops around the middle region of your Achilles tendon.
Causes of Achilles Tendonitis
- Sudden Increase in Exercise Intensity - Changing your exercise routine suddenly, without giving your body time to adjust can cause Achilles tendon inflammation.
- Bone Spur - If bone spurs develop in your Achilles tendon, they can rub against it, causing inflammation.
- Tight Calf Muscles - Switching to an aggressive exercise routine when you've got tight calf muscles can increase your risk of Achilles tendonitis.
- Wrong Shoes - Wearing the wrong shoes during exercise can cause Achilles tendon inflammation.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis
- Swelling
- Pain down the rear of your heel or Achilles tendon
- Trouble flexing affected foot
- Thickening of Achilles tendon
- Excessive pain on the day after exercise
- Morning Achilles tendon pain
- Physical activity worsens pain along the Achilles tendon
Diagnosis and Treatment
Orthopaedics in St. Thomas and St. Croix can help relieve your discomfort from Achilles tendonitis. After sharing your symptoms with your orthopedic surgeon, he'll examine your foot. Imaging tests such as MRI and X-rays help in the proper diagnosis of Achilles tendonitis.
After diagnosis, your doctor helps you manage your condition through a personalized treatment plan. Treatment for Achilles tendonitis includes rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, ice, Orthotics, cortisone injections, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), physical therapy, exercise, and surgery.
Reduce your discomfort from Achilles tendonitis with orthopaedics in St. Thomas and St. Croix. Schedule a consultation with your doctors at Virgin Island Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists, Dr. Chase, and Dr. Sayan, by calling:
St. Thomas (340) 714-2845
St. Croix (340) 692-5000