For the majority of people, especially during the beginning stages, Achilles tendonitis may seem like a pretty mild annoyance. You may have some minor or mild discomfort in your calf region after exercise or an extended period on your feet, but most people just assume it’s a temporary issue that will resolve on its own as they go on with their life. However, tendonitis responds much better to proactive care, and it can beckon additional issues if you opt to ignore it and hope it heals on its own. In today’s blog, we explain the potential problems that could develop if you ignore your Achilles tendonitis, and we discuss how to effectively treat the problem.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Treatment For Achilles Tendonitis

Your Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in your body, and it connects your calf muscle to the back of your heel bone. It plays a major role in helping you move, as the tendon stores elastic energy and transmits force to the heel as you move, walk and run. Tendonitis develops when the tendon becomes inflamed, and this typically occurs as a result of overstress, repetitive strain or as microtrauma from the natural aging process compromises the overall strength of the tendon. This inflammation tends to present with:

• Pain
• Discomfort that worsens with activity
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Lower leg weakness

Again, these symptoms are not going to keep you bedridden or force you to miss extended time at work, but you shouldn’t just push through the issue because symptoms are mild. Left untreated, here’s what could happen:

• Worsening Symptoms – There’s a high probability that if you keep doing the same activities that led to Achilles tendonitis onset in the first place, your condition is only going to get worse. Inflamed tendons are already weaker than normal, so continuing to stress the tendon can cause more tendon fibers to tear and additional inflammation to set in. Discomfort may be mild now, but without treatment, symptoms tend to intensify.
• Prolonged Recovery – No matter what health issue you’re dealing with, whether it be the flu, a broken bone or an issue like Achilles tendonitis, you want it to resolve as quickly as possible. Ignoring the condition and failing to pursue proactive treatments can cause symptoms to linger and extend the recovery process. If you’re continuing to strain the weakened tendon, the repair process can be interrupted or delayed. An issue that could resolve in a week or two may become a months-long affair if you don’t develop a targeted treatment plan.
• Tendinopathy – Untreated Achilles tendonitis can also lead to a thickening of the tendon, which is known as tendinopathy. This thickening and irregular tendon formation can lead to chronic stiffness and discomfort that is much harder to resolve than tendonitis.
• Achilles Rupture – Finally, unaddressed Achilles tendonitis can increase your risk of developing a larger tear or a complete rupture of the tendon. Again, the tendon is weaker as a result of the inflammation, so if you overload the area during a moment of acute stress, the tendon may tear or completely rupture. Achilles tendon ruptures typically require surgery to address correctly, and this will require many months of rehab, so it is much preferred to treat the tendonitis instead.

Fortunately, Achilles tendonitis tends to respond well to some simple conservative treatments. Protect the area by limiting stress on the tendon in the short-term. You don’t need to lay in bed for weeks, but try to avoid high impact activities that stress the tendon. Ice, elevation and compression socks can also help to manage inflammation and swelling and speed up the recovery process. Many patients also benefit from some controlled physical therapy exercises to restrengthen the tendon and the nearby structures that help the tendon absorb and distribute force, like the calf and the ankle. Finally, a gradual reintroduction into athletics, exercise or high impact activities can ensure you don’t overload the area as it works to get reaccustomed to handling stress and strain.

If you want some personalized assistance overcoming Achilles tendonitis, or you’re dealing with another foot or ankle issue that just won’t go away, reach out to Dr. McDonald and his team today at (860) 244-8889.