What Is Tendonitis in the Ankle?
It is the inflammation of tendons in the ankle. The leading cause is an overuse injury. Heavy stress as a result of repetitive movement of the ankle causes the tendon to stretch out abnormally.
Symptoms of Ankle Tendonitis
Some of the most common symptoms associated with ankle tendonitis are:
- Pain and swelling in the ankle.
- Pain and discomfort upon moving your foot.
- Stiffness in the ankle that makes it difficult to raise or elevate the foot.
- Pain while sleeping.
- Decreased range of motion in the injured foot.
How to Treat Tendonitis In the Ankle?
Patients must seek immediate treatment for peroneal tendonitis. Mild tendonitis is easily treatable, but if not diagnosed at an early stage, it may worsen. Prolonged tendonitis may also damage neighboring ligaments and muscles.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Ankle Tendonitis
An orthopedic surgeon will commonly recommend the following conservative treatments to treat grade 1 and grade 2 cases:
- Limit ankle movement to rest the ankle tendon. Most orthopedic surgeons recommend the Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate (RICE) protocol to heal inflammation in the ankle tendons.
- Prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and non-steroidal pain medication. The surgeon will prescribe medication that is suitable for your specific healthcare needs.
- Do physical therapy, which includes strength and balance exercises. You will have to work with your physical therapist to enhance your ankle tendons’ strength and flexibility.
- If these conventional non-surgical treatments are not working, the surgeon may advise innovative medical therapies such as ultrasound therapy.
- If the above treatments fail to contain the inflammation, then your doctor will recommend steroid injections.
Ankle Tendon Repair Surgery
In most cases, Shoulder Tendonitis heals in 3-4 weeks after the initiation of conservative treatments. However, your specialist may recommend surgery if non-surgical treatments fail to improve the symptoms after a reasonable time.
It can be done through the following surgical procedures:
- Posterior tibialis tendon surgery.
- Peroneal tendonitis.
- Arthroscopic flexor tendon repair.
- Arthroscopic extensor tendon repair.
In grade 3, a repair may not be a long-term solution. The surgeons will opt for arthroscopic surgical procedures to reconstruct the torn tendon by implanting a healthy tendon graft. In case the surgery is complicated, the surgeon will opt for open surgical procedures.
Call us today to schedule an appointment with our top-reputed and experienced orthopedic specialists.
FAQ’S
How Long Does Tendon in Ankle Take to Heal?
- Mostly it takes about two to four weeks to heal.
- If you do not give the tendon proper time to heal, it may take more than six weeks.
What Happens If Tendonitis Goes Untreated?
- If you do not get proper treatment, you may experience tendon rupture, leading to much more severe conditions in which surgery is necessary.
- It is advisable to get treatment of tendonitis timely before it gets serious.
Should I Exercise With Tendonitis?
- Yes, you can do exercise with tendonitis, if you are not feeling any pain.
- For every joint that is affected, there is a specific exercise.
