Achilles bursitis can cause pain and discomfort in the Achilles tendon. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for Achilles bursitis in this health video.
Consult a doctor
Take anti-inflammatory medications
Apply ice to the Achilles tendon
Thomas Clanton, M.D. is an orthopedic surgeon at the Roger Clemens Institute at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. He is also on faculty with UT-Houston Medical School.
DR. THOMAS CLANTON: Our topic is Achilles bursitis. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon located on the back of the ankle and heel that attaches to the heel bone. So if we are looking at a model of the foot. This is the back part of a right foot model with the Achilles tendon attaching to the bone in this area. So if we look at our X-ray, this is the X-ray of a right foot. This is the heel bone, and the Achilles tendon comes from the muscle in the calf down to the posterior part of the heel attaching into this area. So the tendon has a potential space in front of it between the tendon and the bone, and it is this area where the tissue called the bursa can become inflamed. And when it becomes inflamed, it produces swelling and pain, and that causes the bursitis. Now, that can sometimes be magnified by a shoe with a very firm heel counter that rubs on the back of the tendon or it can be caused by a blow to that area irritating the tendon. That can help produce the inflammation that is going on. In order to treat it, the idea is to reduce the inflammation, so anti-inflammatory medications can be helpful, the use of ice to reduce the inflammation and swelling. Sometimes adding a heel lift will reduce the stress on the Achilles tendon and move it away from the heel bone. So those are all methods of relieving stress from the bursa and improving the symptoms. It is very rare that you ever need to operate on an Achilles bursitis alone, but sometimes when you are operating on other associated conditions, you will also do something to treat the bursitis at the same time.
