Whats the Treatment for an Achilles Tendon Injury?
As debilitating as they can be, the good news is that minor to moderate Achilles tendon injuries should heal on their own. You just need to give them time. To speed the healing, you can: • Rest your leg. Avoid putting weight on your leg as best you can. You may need crutches. • Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling. Experts recommend doing this for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain is gone. • Compress your leg. Use an elastic bandage around the lower leg and ankle to keep down swelling. • Elevate your leg on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down. • Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs), like Advil, Aleve, or Motrin, will help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs have side effects, like an increased risk of bleeding and ulcers. They should be used only occasionally unless your doctor specifically says otherwise. • Use a heel lift. Your doctor may recommend that you wear an insert in your shoe while
