Tendonitis

Several tendons support foot movement, but none work harder than the Achilles tendons. They bear the stress of lifting your heels so you can walk. Because of the extensive wear-and-tear on tendons, Joel Segalman, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAO, and Stephen Lazaroff, DPM, FACFAS, at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, frequently help people with tendonitis. They treat inflamed tendons with many conservative therapies, including innovative sound wave treatment proven to accelerate healing. If you have pain in your foot, call the office in Waterbury or Newtown, Connecticut, today, or connect online to request an appointment.

What type of tendonitis affects my feet?

Tendons are strong cords that connect muscles to bones. When a muscle contracts, it pulls the tendon and creates movement. Tendons endure a lot of stress. As a result, they often become inflamed, a condition called tendonitis.

Achilles tendonitis is by far the most common type of tendonitis affecting your feet. However, you have other tendons connecting leg muscles to various parts of your feet. Any of them could become inflamed, causing conditions such as peroneal tendonitis and extensor tendonitis.

What causes Achilles tendonitis?

Overuse injuries are the primary cause of Achilles tendonitis (and most types of tendonitis). When you’re active, the tendons naturally develop tiny tears.

Resting between activities gives the tendon time to heal. Without rest, the tears get worse and become inflamed, and the result is tendonitis.

You can also develop Achilles tendonitis if you suddenly increase your training or boost the intensity of your athletic activities.

What symptoms occur if I have tendonitis?

At first, you may notice a mild ache. Over time, the pain worsens and becomes more frequent. You may experience:

• Heel pain (Achilles tendonitis)
• Midfoot pain (other types of tendonitis)
• Pain along the tendon
• Ankle weakness or instability
• Tenderness when pushing the tendon
• Severe pain after exercising
• Thickened tendon
• Nodules on the tendon
• Limited movement
• Swelling

Long-lasting inflammation gradually damages the tendon, leading to a complete rupture. If that happens, you’ll experience sudden and severe pain.

How is tendonitis treated?

As long as you seek treatment before the tendon ruptures, your treatment primarily includes:

• Resting and elevating your foot
• Immobilizing your foot
• Stabilizing your ankle with a brace
• Avoiding activities that stress the tendon
• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Taking anti-inflammatory medications
• Getting a steroid injection
• Using orthotics

Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, also treats tendonitis with extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT). EPAT uses sound waves to reduce inflammation and speed up healing.

In most cases, you only need surgery if you have a severe tear or tendon ruptures. A ruptured tendon may heal with casting to hold the tendon in place. But surgery to replace the damaged tendon is the only way to restore maximum strength.

If you notice pain in your ankle or foot, don’t wait to seek treatment. Call Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, or book online today.