Achilles heel pain is caused by an injury to the Achilles tendon that attaches to your foot at your heel. This condition often develops when you push yourself by running more than you usually do or when you run when your calf muscles are tight. This heel pain can also develop from wearing the wrong kind of shoes that place stress on the tendon. Here are some of the symptoms of Achilles tendon pain and how your podiatrist may treat it.

Symptoms Of Achilles Tendon Injury

Several things cause foot pain in various locations of your foot. If the problem is with your Achilles tendon, you'll have pain along the back of your heel. Your ankle may be swollen too. The pain is usually worse when you stretch the tendon by walking up stairs. It's often worse first thing in the morning after you haven't walked for several hours.

Treatments For Pain

Ice may help reduce pain by reducing inflammation in your ankle and the Achilles tendon. You may need to stay off your foot for a few days and keep your foot elevated. Your podiatrist might give you a walking boot that holds your foot in a stable position when you walk. This can speed healing and reduce pain from stretching the tendon while walking. However, a boot is usually used for a short period so your ankle muscles don't get weak and cause further injury. A night splint helps relieve the pain you feel when taking your first steps in the morning. You wear the splint while you sleep at night and it holds your foot in a stretched position so your Achilles tendon isn't tight when you first start walking and stretching the tendon.

Calf And Ankle Exercises

Your podiatrist may teach you stretching exercises or send you to a physical therapist for treatment. Tight calf muscles contribute to Achilles injuries, so performing calf stretches routinely can help speed recovery and prevent a return of the condition. In addition to stretching exercises, you may learn muscle strengthening exercises for the calf and ankle so the tendon is supported by strong muscles and flexible movement of your foot.

Orthotic Shoe Inserts

If you have a mild case of Achilles heel pain, your podiatrist may recommend over-the-counter shoe inserts to help relieve pain and assist healing. Your podiatrist can also make custom inserts that fit your foot if necessary. Inserts that lift the heel and provide padding relieve pain from an inflamed tendon. Other inserts stabilize your foot and ankle to provide support for the injured tendon. Your podiatrist may recommend wearing inserts all the time when you run to prevent a return of your pain, or you may only need to wear the inserts until your condition heals. In addition to shoe inserts, your podiatrist may wrap your ankle with a compression bandage to offer further support to the injured area.

Achilles heel pain could take weeks to disappear, depending on the severity of your injury. You may need to give up running until your tendon has completely healed or you may prolong your recovery time. Visit a website like https://www.yourfootdocs.com/ for more help.