Achilles Heel Pain With Inflammation - How to Treat it

What is it and How to manage it?

In cases of Achilles heel pain (Bursitis) there is inflammation to the bursa that surrounds the Achilles tendon. A bursa is a tiny sac of fluid that cushions the moving parts of the body such as muscles, tendons and bones, limiting friction between them. There are around 160 bursa in the human body, helping the body to keep moving. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, which is a common cause of achilles heel pain.

Symptoms can include:

• Pain and irritation at the back of the heel.


• Redness and swelling of the ankle.


• Pain when extending the ankle.


• Stiffness of the lower leg that is worse in the mornings.


• Mild pain after exercising, that gradually increases.

Causes

Lack of flexibility in the calf muscle, resulting in overuse of the tendon. Sprinting exercise involving stair/hill climbing. Flat feet are a major cause of achilles type problems with excessive pronation being one of the most common. Ill-fitting shoes should always be considered as a check when looking for causes. Overuse-Repeated stress on the Achilles tendon can lead to inflammation. Conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis are more prone to tendon bursitis.

Treatment for Achilles Heel Pain

Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition, but common treatments to relieve or aid healing include:

• Non- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is always a good idea to take these initially along with any treatment regime. But, always consult a medical profession should your symptoms persist.


• Rest-This allows the condition to settle. Keep both feet up as mush as possible to help with healing. refrain from your usual sporting activities to give the injury a chance to heel. Always consider an alternative to your usual sport such as swimming while your injury is healing.


• Physiotherapy or Podiatry Treatment -This can help to strengthen weak muscles.


• Steroid injections can help but there can be a problem with risk of tendon rupture.


• Surgery -On rare occasions this is used to repair tears and remove fibrous tissue.


• Shoe inserts such as orthoses, or heel lifts-To reduce stress on the tendon. Heel elevation helps to tip the heel forwards and decrease the pitch angle. This also helps the foot to slide forward in the shoe, reducing pressure on the projection.


• Properly fitting shoes, which are deep with a wide toe box, lace up or Velcro-will help to control any external shearing forces.