According to Sports Injury Clinic, 11 percent of all running injuries are the result of injuries to the Achilles tendon. Most of the time, Achilles pain can be alleviated with home treatment under the care of your doctor. But Achilles problems tend to become chronic if not treated properly, and chronic Achilles pain is difficult to treat.
You can help prevent Achilles injuries by stretching and strengthening calf muscles, wearing proper shoes, increasing exercise gradually and cross-training.
The Achilles Tendon
The Achilles tendon is a large tendon at the back of the ankle that connects the large calf muscles to the heal bone. It is used when you walk, run, jump or raise up on your toes. Achilles pain is usually the result of either inflammation of the tendon or because of degeneration of the tissue. The latter condition is called Achilles tendinosis or tendinopathy.
Causes of Pain
Achilles tendon injuries are often caused by running, jumping, or other activities that strain the tendon and calf muscles, according to the MayoClinic.com. Sports with sudden stops, starts and switches of direction, such as basketball and tennis, are hard on the Achilles. Running up hills or climbing stairs tend to shorten the Achilles tendon and calf muscles, as does wearing high heels. Poor calf muscle flexibility can cause problems, as can over-training.
Treatment for Minor Problems
Achilles pain tends to gradually develop and worsen over time. For minor Achilles pain, MayoClinic.com recommends rest, ice, compression and exercise. Pain relievers such as Aleve or Advil might be added to icing. Slow and easy stretching exercises are prescribed to stretch out the calf muscles. For example, raise up on your toes and then slowly lower yourself back to the floor. Orthotics to relieve stress on the Achilles tendon are sometimes recommended.
Chronic and Severe Pain
Chronic Achilles tendon problems can develop if you don't treat a minor problem or don't give the Achilles tendon enough time to heal. Chronic problems often are hard to treat, especially for older athletes, in part because the heel area receives less blood supply than other areas. If you experience sudden and severe pain in the Achilles area, if you can't bend your foot downward or walk on your toes, or if you can't put weight on your foot, you might have torn or ruptured your Achilles tendon.
Treatment for Chronic and Severe Conditions
Treatment for chronic Achilles pain might include cortisone injections or platelet-rich plasma injections--the use of your own stored blood plasma--to heal degenerative conditions. If several months of conservative treatment doesn't bring relief, surgery might be necessary. If you partially or completely rupture an Achilles tendon, surgery might be necessary.
