Are you suffering from foot pain? If it is severe enough, you may end up needing Achilles tendon surgery.

The first thing to do when experiencing chronic foot pain is to meet with a podiatrist to receive an accurate diagnosis and get you on the right treatment plan.

Before you do decide to take the plunge and get Achilles tendon surgery, you will want to keep these things in mind:

1. Understand what your Achilles tendon is

What exactly is your Achilles tendon? Well, it is one of the largest tendons in your body that stretches from the two main calf muscles to the heel bone.

2. There are different ways to injure your Achilles tendon

There are a few different ways that you can cause injury to your Achilles tendon. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is very common, causing pain and discomfort. More serious injury includes the rupture of your Achilles tendon. Over time, degeneration of the Achilles tendon is another injury that you can sustain.

3. What causes injury to the Achilles tendon?

Since there are different injuries that can occur, there are different causes.

One of the most common causes for injury to the Achilles tendon is overuse. This is mainly brought on easily to people who run a lot or participate in strenuous workouts. Stress on your feet from wearing incorrect shoes or high heels will also cause discomfort. Before you do partake in any physical activity, it is important to properly stretch, or an injury to your Achilles tendon could be the result.

If you have suffered a minor injury to your Achilles tendon, you will want to try to manage the pain at home with plenty of rest, ice applications and elevation.

4. Know the common symptoms

If you are experiencing inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the symptoms include a burning sensation, pain and tenderness, especially during physical activity. This is caused by overuse and stress on your feet. Often times, you will feel tightness in the back of your ankle.

A ruptured Achilles tendon is going to be much more painful. This is usually caused by overuse or an injury from sports. Severe pain in the back of the ankle along with swelling is a sign that you have ruptured your Achilles tendon.

5. What is the recovery from surgery like?

Similar to most surgeries, you can expect a long road to recovery, but it is well worth it to find relief from Achilles tendon pain and discomfort.

After a successful surgery, the incision will be closed with sutures and then carefully bandaged. You will need to wear a cast for 4 to 8 weeks and avoid putting weight on the foot until fully healed. Physical therapy is also an option to help speed up the process. You can expect a full recovery after 4 to 6 months.

Even though it may take time to heal, after Achilles tendon surgery, you will have restored natural movement to your feet and ankles along with the relief from extreme pain.  

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