At Shoreline Orthopaedics, our orthopaedic surgeons use a truly collaborative approach so our patients have the benefit of multiple expert opinions, without having to go elsewhere to obtain them.
Shoreline Orthopaedics provides more comprehensive services, state-of-the-art options, technologies and techniques than anyone else in the area.
The following information is provided to help you understand what you can expect from us regarding policies and procedures, and also what is expected of you before and after treatment or procedures.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of anatomy, terminology, certain orthopaedic procedures, and more. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your physician.
The foot is a complex, flexible structure that contains bones, joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments, all working together to enable movement and balance. The foot is divided into three sections, the forefoot, the midfoot and the hindfoot, which includes the ankle and heel. The heel bone (calcaneus) is the largest bone in the foot.
Tendons are bands of tissue that attach muscle to bone. The largest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, allowing movement such as running, jumping and standing on the toes.
Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury, disease, overuse or degeneration, and it often causes swelling, pain, or irritation. Inflammation of a tendon is called tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is a common condition that causes pain along the back of the leg, near the heel. Although the Achilles tendon can withstand great stresses from running and jumping, it is also prone to tendinitis.
Below are some of the most common causes of Achilles tendinitis.
Common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:
In most cases, nonsurgical treatment options will provide pain relief, although it may require a few months for symptoms to completely subside. Even with early treatment, the pain of Achilles tendinitis may last longer than 3 months. If appropriate, a foot and ankle conditioning program may be recommended. Nonsurgical treatment may include:
Surgical treatment to relieve Achilles tendinitis should only be considered if pain does not improve after 6 months of nonsurgical treatment.
With any surgery there are some risks, and these vary from person to person. Complications are typically minor, treatable and unlikely to affect your final outcome. Your orthopaedic surgeon will speak to you prior to surgery to explain any potential risks and complications that may be associated with your procedure.