Your Achilles tendon is a fibrous cord that attaches your calf muscles to your heel bone. When you have a tear in this tendon, it can be quite painful. Often the only way to treat the problem is with Achilles tendon repair surgery.
What Does the Achilles Tendon Do?
This tendon is the strongest and largest tendon in your body. When you flex your calf muscles, the Achilles tendon pulls on your heel. It allows you to stand on your toes, point your foot, and push off your foot to walk and run. But the Achilles tendon has a limited blood supply and is often a point of great stress. This makes it susceptible to injury.
Do I Need Surgery?
Many Achilles tendon injuries are treated without surgery. If it has wholly ruptured or has a repeat injury, then surgery may be needed. Competitive athletes who want to return to an active lifestyle often choose surgery.
How Long is Recovery?
The ankle needs to be immobilized for a few weeks. The foot needs to be pointed down while the healing occurs, so a cast or walking boot is required. The doctor will gradually adjust the position to a neutral one. After surgery, physical therapy is needed. It can take 4 to 6 months to totally recover, depending on the patient and the extent of the injury. We can provide Achilles tendon repair surgery and other treatments such as moccasin athlete’s foot treatment.