A podiatrist, also known as a doctor of podiatric medicine, is a foot doctor. This kind of surgeon or physician can treat the ankle, foot and connecting parts of the leg. A podiatrist can help you if you have a foot condition like plantar fasciitis.
Achilles tendon repair can get you back on your feet if you have damaged yours. The achilles tendon is one of the strongest tendons in the body, and injuries to it can be disabling. When it becomes damaged, you experience sharp pain, and it pops loudly. After the initial pain that occurs when the injury is sustained, many people only experience minor symptoms.
The achilles tendon runs along the back of a person’s leg down to their heel. It does most of the work when bringing up the heel and it prevents the heel from collapsing as the front of the foot comes up. Given how many critical movements the Achilles tendon is involved, any injury to that part of the body can limit a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks. Achilles tendon repair can get these people back on their feet.
Middle-aged men are most likely to rupture or tear their Achilles tendons while jumping or sprinting. Men are more likely to develop the condition, especially around the ages of 30 to 50.
The symptoms of a torn or ruptured Achilles heel start with a loud pop and sharp pain that is experienced when the injury occurs. Other symptoms include:
A test called the Thompson test is used to diagnose a ruptured Achilles tendon. If the tendon is intact, it should move when pressure is applied to the patient’s calf muscle. If the ankle does not move, the patient’s Achilles tendon is likely damaged. The podiatrist can also use an MRI to get a clearer view of what is going on with the tendon.
Not all injuries to the Achilles tendon requires surgical treatment. The ideal treatment for each patient varies depending on several factors like the severity of the injury.
If the ruptured ends are intact enough to reseal themselves, the ankle can be immobilized so it heals on its own. The ideal way to immobilize the foot is with the toes pointing down, but that can be a challenging position for some people to hold for months.
In some cases, hoping for the tendon to heal on its own can lead to other issues like scar tissues forming at the ends of the torn tendon and blood clots. The tendon might also not heal properly, making the person more vulnerable to the same injury reoccurring. Also, putting off surgery after the injury leads to diminished results for some patients.
Achilles injuries leave you with limited mobility, and they can sometimes heal on their own. More severe cases might require surgical treatment. Given the severity of such injuries, that decision should be made by a podiatrist who is a doctor who specializes in treating issues that affect feet. Call or stop by our Pocatello clinic to set up a consultation with our podiatrist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.pocatellopodiatry.com or call Ambulatory Foot & Ankle Clinic at (208) 803-0010 for an appointment in our Pocatello office.
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