Have you been suffering from pain in the back of your ankle for a while now, preventing you from living your life normally?
It could be Achilles tendinitis.
Achilles tendinitis is a real sore for those who lead an active lifestyle, and it can be quite difficult to treat.
To help you better understand the necessary treatment, we will dispel 7 myths about curing Achilles tendinitis.
Hot or cold treatments for tendinitis
It is normal to instinctively resort to a hot or cold compress to quickly relieve the pain.
Heat is actually often used for:
- Reducing muscle tension.
- Temporarily soothing the pain.
Meanwhile, cold compresses help to:
- Reduce swelling.
- Improve blood circulation.
While both can temporarily reduce the symptoms of tendinitis, heat and cold do nothing for their cause and are thus ineffective treatments in the long term.
Treating tendinitis with essential oils
Essential oils like arnica and peppermint are popular for treating inflammatory conditions.
However, while aromatherapy does help treat Achilles tendinitis, it is not the most comprehensive solution.
We recommend implementing the following lifestyle changes on top of this therapeutic supplement:
- Better hydration
- Footwear adapted to your morphology
- A targeted stretching routine
Treating tendinitis with anti-inflammatory medication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, is likely already part of your medicine cabinet.
But even if you use it for pain relief on a daily basis, it does not treat Achilles tendinitis at its root.
Some studies even suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs hinder the normal healing process of chronic tendinitis.
However, your podiatrist may prescribe you anti-inflammatory medication in the case of acute tendinitis.
They may also suggest an anti-inflammatory cream or gel.
Treating tendinitis with clay
While it’s known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits, instead of the pain’s source, clay targets only the swelling on your foot.
Treating tendinitis with acupuncture
Acupuncture is effective in treating localized pain, however, it is not for everyone, especially people with needle phobia.
Some methods available at podiatry clinics can achieve similar results without discomfort:
- The ultrasound treatment
- The therapeutic laser
Treating tendinitis with homeopathy
This method is not recognized to be effective, seeing as it does not treat musculoskeletal injuries and there are no conclusive studies on this topic.
On the other hand, you can count on your podiatrist to understand how your tendinitis developed and suggest appropriate treatment.
Some of the things we have in mind are:
- Manual therapy
- The therapeutic laser
- Shockwave therapy
- Targeted stretching
Treating tendinitis with massage
Tendon pain will likely lead you to seek instant relief with massage therapy.
However, even if massage can be successful in the short term, keep in mind that Achilles tendinitis is often tied to an underlying problem at its root.
Therefore, you should not disregard the importance of consulting your podiatrist, who can assess you appropriately and recommend a treatment plan to prevent tendinitis from recurring.
Medical solutions in your reach
There is no shortage of solutions to relieve your Achilles tendinitis.
However, to avoid pursuing treatments that are unsuitable for your situation, it is important to consult your podiatrist.
Benefit from an adequate and personalized treatment with PiedReseau.
