Suffered an Achilles Tendon Tear? Here’s What You Need to Know
Suffering an Achilles tendon tear is extremely painful, but aside from the physical discomfort, it can be nerve-wracking for athletes and people who live an active lifestyle. These injuries can happen for a variety of reasons and folks who rupture their heel cord need to understand the different options they
have available in order to make the right choice.
What’s an Achilles Tendon Rupture?
As the name suggests, an Achilles tendon tear is a type of injury where the heel cord is partially or fully severed. People that rupture their heel cord usually hear a loud noise similar to a snap and feel as if they have received a blow to the back of the ankle. This is followed by intense pain, difficulties when trying to point your toes to the floor, and other symptoms.
During a medical diagnosis, a physician will examine the back of your ankle for swelling and bruising. They may also probe the affected area to assess whether the tendon was completely torn or if it’s a partial injury. You may also be asked to lie or sit in a specific position and conduct further tests depending on different factors.
Symptoms of a Torn Achilles Tendon
Achilles tendon tears can range in severity and have a variety of related symptoms. While some of these may not directly affect the back part of your ankle, they can all occur because of a partial or full tear.
Severe Pain in the Back of the Leg or Heel
The most obvious symptom of a rupture is intense pain in the back of the ankle or leg. Achilles tendons start midway up the calf and connect at the heel, so a tear can cause aching in this general area. This is one of the reasons why folks that suffer these injuries can’t continue their active lifestyle or partake in any physical activities until they’ve recovered completely.
A Stiff Achilles Tendon
During a partial tear, patients can experience a stiff Achilles tendon. Because the soft tissue is still attached, you won’t hear the characteristic snapping sound or feel a jolt of sudden pain. But, some people can still have a partial injury and have a stiff heel cord. This causes discomfort and limits your ability to move your foot, not to mention the fact that it increases the chances of a full rupture.
Inflammation that Worsens with Physical Activity
It’s common for folks who have a torn heel cord to experience ankle swelling. Aside from causing long-term discomfort, long-term inflammation can cause people to lose muscle strength, reduce stability in the joints, and wear down the cartilage in the surrounding areas.
Unlike some injuries, moving your ankle after tearing your Achilles tendon will only make the swelling and other symptoms worse.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs can occur without having a ruptured tendon, but having a partial tear will increase the chances of getting bone spurs. These bony projections can cause acute pain and be extremely debilitating on their own. When paired with the pain that comes with a partial or full Achilles injury, you may be facing intense discomfort in two different areas of the same foot at the same time.
Loss of the Ability to Flex Your Foot
The flexing motion of the human foot allows us to run, walk, jump, and carry out hundreds of other activities. Losing this ability can ultimately limit your mobility and stop you from practicing any sport. That said, a lot of people that have a full rupture can still move their feet upwards, stand on their tiptoes on both feet, and may not necessarily have a gap in the tendon, so it’s important to receive medical attention even if it doesn’t seem like a full rupture.
Common Causes of an Achilles Tendon Rupture
Ruptured Achilles tendons occur for many different reasons and they can happen to folks who live active or sedentary lifestyles. The two main causes of cord heel tears are tendonitis and physical impacts that sever the tendon.
In simple terms, tendonitis described inflammation and irritation of the tendons. This can be caused by small tears in the middle of the tendon or in the area where the soft tissue meets the bone. If left unattended, both types of tendonitis can cause a rupture and require immediate medical attention.
Physical blows encompass everything from twisting the ankle to an accident where a foreign object severs the tendon. These cases follow a similar path to recovery, even though the source of the injury is completely different.
It’s also worth noting that certain medications and diseases increase the chances of a torn heel cord, so make sure you consult with your physician if you are taking any medication whatsoever.
Treatment Options Available
Achilles tendon tear treatments can be divided into two categories, which are surgical and non-surgical. Keep in mind that all cases are different, but in general terms, non-surgical recoveries are usually reserved for folks who live less active lifestyles. Surgical treatments, on the other hand, are ideal for athletes and people that have active pastimes.
In order to find the best option, always consult with your physician. There are many other elements that influence the type of treatment you choose, so make sure you make your decision after checking in with a specialist.
Downtime and Recovery
Besides healing the tendon itself, recovery regimes for Achilles injuries also have to include muscle strengthening. You also have to take care of the wound and prevent infections in order to ensure prompt rehabilitation.
The downtime will vary tremendously depending on aspects like your age and lifestyle. With this in mind, the majority of active folks that undergo the surgery recover within six months after the procedure.
Work with a Reliable Physician Today!
Achilles tendon ruptures are severe injuries. If you think you may have suffered a full or partial tear, contact a medical professional immediately. At OPA Ortho, we provide a variety of treatment options for people who suffer Achilles tendon injuries, so contact us today!
