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Achilles tendinitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Tendinitis of the heel

Treatment:

Treatment for Achilles tendonitis is usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen, rest, ice, and physical therapy. In addition, you should limit any activities that make the symptoms worse.

Occasionally, a cast, brace, or boot may be used to keep the heel still and allow the swelling to go down.

If these treatments fail to improve symptoms, surgery may be needed to remove inflamed tissue and abnormal areas of the tendon.

Expectations (prognosis):

Conservative therapy is usually successful in improving symptoms, although they may recur if the offending activity is not limited or if the strength and flexibility of the tendon is not maintained.

When necessary, surgery has been shown to be very effective in improving pain symptoms. However, if pain does not improve with treatment and vigorous activity is continued, the tendon is at risk of completely tearing.

Complications:

The worst complication is tearing of the tendon. This occurs because the inflamed tendon is abnormal and weak and continued activity can cause it to rupture. In this case surgical repair is necessary, but made more difficult because the tendon is not normal.

Calling your health care provider:

If you have pain in the heel around the Achilles tendon that is worse with activity, contact your health care provider for evaluation and possible treatment for tendinitis.

• Review Date: 9/21/2006
• Reviewed By: Jeffrey Kauffman, MD, Sacramento Knee and Sports Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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