What type of doctor treats Achilles tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is an irritation and inflammation of the tendon, and this injury is quite common among middle-aged athletes.

Tendons are usually very fibrous and rough cords, which can tighten if you fail to do proper stretching, especially before start partaking in strenuous activity. The continued tightness is what results in Achilles tendonitis, which can lead to more severe conditions if you do not get it checked.

If you have been experiencing ankle pain, then you should seek medical attention. However, before you even take the injury to be examined, you first need to know what type of doctor treats Achilles tendonitis?

In this article, you will be guided through all this, as well as what to expect after your examination.

Who should you see to treat Achilles tendonitis?
If you have an Achilles tendonitis injury, there are several doctors who you can consult and these include;

1. Family medicine physicians who have specialized with ankle and foot injuries.
2. Sports medicine specialists.
3. Podiatrists who have specialized in sports injuries.
4. Emergency medical specialists who attend severe and sudden Achilles issues.
5. Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in the rupture of Achilles. 

Physical therapists might also be ideal if you are looking to rebuild the strength in the leg muscles and Achilles tendons.

When should you see the doctor?
If the ankle pain gets worse as each day passes, you need to see a doctor to address the issue. Likewise, other the other symptoms which you need to watch out for are;

1. Having trouble standing-up on your tiptoes.
2. Ankle or leg soreness and stiffness.
3. Warmth around your leg or ankle or any sign of a disease such as redness.
4. Inflammation over the Achilles tendon.

Any of these symptoms mentioned above are a sign that you need to seek medical attention immediately.

Diagnosis of Achilles Tendonitis
Before your doctor can diagnose Achilles tendonitis, there are a few questions you will need to answer about the swelling and pain, including;

1. Where exactly do you feel the pain?
2. Does the pain reduce when you rest?
3. What is your regular training routine?
4. Have you started playing a new sport recently, or are there any new adjustments to your regular workout routine?
5. What do you do for pain relief?

Your doctor can also request you to stand on your feet’ balls as they try to observe your flexibility as well as a range of motion. Moreover, he will feel around the ankle region to try and identify the precise position where the swelling and pain is most severe.

Imaging tests may be necessary to help the doctor to verify Achilles tendonitis, and these test usually includes;

1. Ultrasounds showing inflammation, tendon movement as well as related damage.
2. MRI scans that can notice tissue degeneration and ruptures.
3. X-rays that show images of the leg bones and foot.

Treating Achilles tendonitis
There are numerous treatments for Achilles tendonitis, including anti-inflammatory medication, home remedies such as rest as well as other treatments, for instance, surgery and steroid injections. Some of the most common suggestion your doctor will provide you with include;

1. Attending physical therapy.
2. Minimizing your physical activity.
3. Change to a less intense sport.
4. Wearing a walking boot or brace to thwart heel movement.
5. Taking anti-inflammatory medication for a short period such as ibuprofen and aspirin.
6. Icing your foot or ankle when experiencing pain or after exercise.
7. Lifting your feet to reduce any swelling.

The RICE Method
This method of treating Achilles tendonitis comprises of rest, ice, compression as well as elevation (RICE). It is a very effective Achilles tendonitis method immediately after you have had the injury. This method entails you;

Rest: You should not place any weight or pressure on your Achilles tendon until you can be able to walk without experiencing any pain.

This usually takes about one or two days, with the tendon healing faster if you do not place added strain on it throughout this process. Sometimes the doctor may recommend you make use of clutches when walking long distances to rest your tendon.

Ice: Place ice in the bag, cover the bag in a cloth, and then position the enclosed bag of ice over your skin.

Hold this bag against your tendon for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, and then take it off to allow the tendon to get warmed up again. Typically, the use of ice makes inflammation go down quicker.

Compression: Bind a bandage or clothing around the Achilles tendon to squeeze the injury. Doing his prevents the excessive swelling of the tendon. However, you must never tie any around your tendon very tightly because this can restrict the flow of blood.

Elevation: Place your foot over your chest’s level, and as it is higher compared to your heart, blood flows back to your heart, thereby reducing the inflammation. To best do this, you need to lie down and place your feet either on a raised surface or pillow.

Surgery
This is usually the last option if all other treatments fail to remedy pain in the tendon, which might eventually increase the chances of a possible Achilles rupture.

The doctor’s decision depends on the severity of the rupture, as well as if you have ever had a rupture in the past. Consequently, you will be referred to an orthopedic surgeon who will then decide what is the best procedure to ensure you are pain-free.

One of these surgical methods is the open repair, which entails the orthopedic surgeon making an incision to open your leg over the heel bone. After doing this, they then stitch tougher both sides of the ruptured Achilles tendon and then close the cut.

The other method is where the surgeon creates an opening in the leg’s region with a rupture and then pass needles stitches through the skin and tendon, plus then back out through the cut. Once they are done, they sew together the sutures.

What exercises should you avoid with Achilles tendonitis?
The rupturing of the Achilles tendon among the general public is usually around 5 to 10 per every 100,000, but this number might be greater in some populations and regions. However, athletes engaging in sports are the ones most prone to getting Achilles tendonitis. Some of the exercises you need to prevent Achilles tendon when suffering from this injury include:

1. Cycling
2. Running
3. Playing soccer
4. Playing football
5. Gymnastics
6. Volleyball

Athletes playing these exercises, as mentioned above, have a higher likelihood of suffering from Achilles tendonitis.

Conclusion
After reading through this article, you are now well-informed on Achilles tendonitis as well as the medical practitioner you need to go to if you are suffering from this injury.

Furthermore, you also know of the symptoms as well as treatment options available. Therefore, you ate in a much better position to take the right steps to recover from this painful ordeal fully.