What Are the Symptoms?
As with any strain, the first thing you'll feel if you've suffered an injury to your Achilles tendon is a low level ache, particularly after you've finished your run or whatever activity that has caused the problem in the first place. The pain in the back of your heel or calf may be much stronger if you've been exerting yourself far more than usually.
Aside from exercise-induced symptoms, your tendon might feel stiff or tender in the morning. You can expect this feeling to subside as you get up and start your day. If this feeling is constant and persistent, then it would certainly make sense to see a doctor. The most severe form of this injury is a ruptured tendon, something which will probably require surgery and then use of a foot orthotic or night splint.
Why Am I at Risk?
Some people are inherently more prone than others to injuries such as Achilles tendinitis. Often, this is just a fact of nature and you just have to be a bit more careful and perhaps use an orthotic device or a brace recommended by your doctor. Other times, there are certain things you can do to avoid recurrent injuries.
The main two independent risk factors are the male sex and increasing age. These are two things that you cannot alter on a biological level, and as such, they can only be borne in mind rather than changed for the better.
Other risk factors include your medication and underlying medical conditions. In particular, antibiotics like fluoroquinolones are known to increase the chance of incurring damage to your tendons so it's worth taking it easy if you're on a course of antibiotics. Psoriasis and high blood pressure are two of the main conditions which put you at greater risk of tendon damage, so if you suffer from either of these problems, then you need to take extra care.
Fortunately, there are a few risk factors which you can actively change in order to reduce your risk of tendon damage. Making sure that you are of a healthy weight and are using the proper footwear for running can be a great help if you want to reduce the likelihood of occurrence of Achilles tendinitis. Running indoors on cold days will also reduce the chances of this.
Should I Go to the Doctor's Office?
It would certainly be wise to get your ankle checked out by a professional. Even in the case of minor injuries, your doctor will be able to recommend some supportive measures like the use of a night splint or foot orthotic like an ankle support brace. The kinds of devices we offer are perfect if you want to recover from tendinitis in record time. What's more, the use of orthotics means that you reduce the chance of recurrence as well.
You may be asked to undergo a number of imaging tests to rule out other injuries and make sure that you get the right splint. These may include X-rays, ultrasound and MRI scans.
What Can I Do to Relieve the Pain of Achilles Tendinitis?
The simplest thing you can do is to take anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. While this will help with the pain, it does not, however, actually solve the problem of your damaged tendon.
The only way you can truly deal with your injured tendon is to perform specially designed exercises with the support of an ankle support brace. Ask your physiotherapist about a type of exercise known as eccentric strengthening, which uses the slow letdown of weights as a means of fortifying the joints. You can add the use of a night splint as an adjunct to this method of recovery.
We offer a wide range of specialized ankle support braces and night splints. Check them out and you'll be sure to find the right brace for your individual needs.
