Conquering Your Achilles Pain or Tendonitis
If you’re a “weekend warrior” - a sedentary desk job on the weekdays, but engaged in sports and activities on the weekend - or are overweight, you’re at a high risk for developing Achilles pain or tendonitis. If left unaddressed, this heel pain leads to a range of health issues. Read below to learn more about the causes and symptoms of Achilies pain and tendonitis and how to finally conquer it with the help of Extracorporeal ShockWave Therapy (ESWT), which we provide at HealthLogicMD.
Call Us: 720.446.5190 Schedule an AppointmentCauses & Symptoms & Treatment
Causes of Achilles Pain or Tendonitis
Achilles pain or tendonitis is mainly caused by overuse of the Achilles tendon, which connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. The most common cause of Achilles pain is the sudden increase in exercise length or intensity when one's body is not ready for it. That is why most common sufferers of it are people over 40 who exercise sporadically or those who are upping their athletic activity too suddenly. Achilles pain can also be caused by a bone spur, which is a medical condition which occurs when a small bone grows along where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone.
Symptoms of Achilles Pain or Tendonitis
You’ll first feel an ache at the back of the lower leg or above the heel after some form of athletics activity. This pain is typically mild. More-severe pain, however, can occur if the athletic activity was prolonged or intense. Stiffness or mild tenderness in the morning or after long periods of inactivity, which improves once you move your heel, may occur. You may also notice some swelling in the area and/or a decreased range of motion for your foot. If the pain is severe or persistent, you should get immediate medical attention, as it’s a sign you might have torn your Achilles tendon.
Treatment of Achilles pain or Tendonitis
Mild Achilles pain or tendonitis can be treated at-home with rest and the use of ibuprofen or other over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and inflammation. Your doctor might also prescribe stronger pain and anti-inflammation medications. If the pain or tendonitis does not go away or becomes chronic, you might become a candidate for extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). Requiring 6 to 10 treatment, each about 20-30 minutes long, ESWT has been clinically proven effective in treating Achilles tendonitis. It does so by promoting collagen synthesis and tissue modeling, among other benefits. With the procedure, you simply relax on a treatment bed and, after an application of a local anesthetic onto the Achilles to reduce any pain, high energy shock waves are applied onto the affected area, which often provide immediate relief upon the first treatment. Complete recovery is typically achieved within 6 to 10 sessions. Keep in mind that if Achilles tendonitis goes untreated for too long, your Achilles tendon may become weak, increasing the likelihood of a tear and the need for surgery. ESWT often eliminates the risk factors associated with needing surgery and allows people to get back to their normal life.
Causes of Achilles Pain or Tendonitis
chilles pain or tendonitis is mainly caused by overuse of the Achilles tendon, which connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. The most common cause of Achilles pain is the sudden increase in exercise length or intensity when one's body is not ready for it. That is why most common sufferers of it are people over 40 who exercise sporadically or those who are upping their athletic activity too suddenly. Achilles pain can also be caused by a bone spur, which is a medical condition which occurs when a small bone grows along where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone
Take the first step to regaining your pain-free lifestyle
Learn About Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
ESWT was first introduced in 1982 as a way to dissolve urinary stones, so they could pass less painfully. However, as medical studies progressed, ESWT was found to be an effective treatment for tendonitis and other soft-tissue conditions. ESWT treatment promotes collagen synthesis and tissue modeling, among other benefits, which improve the chances for a complete recovery for musculoskeletal pain conditions without the need for surgery.
More about ESWT
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy gets its name, because shock waves, a type of sound wave, are delivered to the injured tissue “extracorporeally,” which means above the skin. The shock wave device delivers impulses to the affected area, which stimulate blood flow, relax muscles in spasm, and stimulate tissue repair. Immediate pain relief is achieved upon the 1st treatment in most cases, while 6-10 treatments are usually required for complete recovery.
ESWT is commonly used in the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. If you suffer from chronic pain in the Achilles tendon, elbow, knee, plantar fascia, shoulder, or other parts of your body, you might be a candidate for ESWT.
Call Us: 720.446.5190 Schedule an In-Office ConsultationMeet the Team
Dr. Inna Trey MD
Family Medicine & Hormonal Health
Dr. Trey is Family Medicine Board Certified and is certified by BioTE Medical for Hormone Optimization. Dr. Trey’s goal for every patient is to treat the root cause of their ailment, rather than just mask the symptoms with prescription medication. In her spare time, Dr. Trey loves to go on adventures with her husband, 2 kids and the family dog.
Vanessa Flores, MA
Practice Manager and Medical Assistant
Vanessa is a Colorado native and is a Medical Assistant with over 13 years of experience. Vanessa is treats every patient like they are family, and you can always count on a smile when you talk to her. Vanessa is mother to 4 functional kids, so you know she can keep calm during those busy days.
Patient Success Stories
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I was suffering from pain in my heel for over 3 years and thought the pain would never go away. After the first visit to Dr. Trey’s office, I felt a significant reduction in pain level and after the 4th treatment, the pain completely subsided! It’s incredible!
Karen L. Centennial, CO -
I am so thankful for being able to walk pain-free again! I am almost crying just thinking about it.
Lorie J. Greenwood Village, CO -
I had elbow pain for close to a year and was almost at the point of going for surgery. I am so glad I tried ESWT at Dr. Trey’s office instead! I have had 5 treatments so far and the pain is virtually non-existent. Honestly, it’s hard to believe, but it’s real!
Jonathan M. Centennial, CO -
My shoulders were almost always in pain. It was ridiculous. I had to pretty much give up going to the gym and was seriously considering surgery. I googled ‘surgery-free shoulder pain therapy’ and found HealthLogicMD and boy am I glad I did! It’s been 7 weeks since my last ESWT procedure and I am pretty much pain free. Procedures were only 15 minutes! I told all my family and friends about Dr. Trey already.
Chris M. Littleton, CO -
The staff and Dr. Trey herself were all extremely courteous, helpful and competent. I was honestly blown away by how efficient and pleasant every appointment was. The main thing though is I can finally use my knees without pain again. I am going back to jogging as soon as the weather warms up!
Amy S. Denver, CO -
ESWT worked! Plain and simple. I was suffering from CONSTANT foot pain. I did not know what to do anymore and thought surgery was the way to go. I was referred to HealthLogicMD by a friend of the family and Dr. Trey recommended Shock Wave Therapy. After only 4 treatments, the pain is 95% gone. It was eye opening! Thank you guys!
Sergey F. Aurora, CO -
This sounds almost unbelievable but I was almost completely pain free after just one session. It was like magic. Now after the full 4 sessions, my achilles pain is a distant memory. You guys rock!
David N. Centennial, CO