Achilles Tendon Tear in Houston, Tx
The Achilles is a large tendon located at the rear of the lower leg. The tendon connects the heel bone to the muscles in the back of the calf. It also aids in almost every aspect of mobility, including running, jumping, walking and moving your feet.
If you rupture or tear your Achilles, you won’t be able to walk, run or jump properly. This injury can be devastating, especially if you’re an active athlete, since you have to refrain from competition until you recover. Achilles tendon tear treatment usually involves undergoing surgery to repair the rupture.
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What Causes Achilles Tears?
The Achilles tendon helps move your feet in every direction when walking, jumping or running. Increased pressure on your Achilles tendon may cause it to tear or rupture. Various activities and situations may exert excess pressure on the tendon, leading to an Achilles tendon partial tear or full rupture. Circumstances that can cause an Achilles tendon rupture include:
- Overstretching
- Increased intensity in sports
- Falling from a height
- Twisting your leg
- Stepping into a hole
What Are the Symptoms of an Achilles Tear?
The symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture may not be immediately noticeable. Most injured athletes experience the following:
- Severe pain near the heel and in the calf
- Inflammation of the heel
- Inability to stand correctly on toes using the injured leg
- Incapacity to push the wounded foot forward
- Popping sound when the rupture occurs
How Do You Diagnose an Achilles Tear?
Diagnosing an Achilles tear can be difficult given that the symptoms of the rupture aren’t visible to the naked eye. For this reason, your physician will carry out a physical examination that involves inspecting the affected leg for swelling and searching for a gap in your tendon.
A ruptured tendon cannot flex on its own. The doctor may squeeze your calf muscle to discern whether it can flex automatically or not. To confirm the injury, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound, X-ray or MRI scan.
Achilles Tear Surgery
In most cases, surgery is the only way to treat an Achilles tendon tear. Whether surgery is required depends on several factors, including:
- Age
- The severity of the injury
- Activity level
An orthopedic surgeon usually performs the surgery. It involves stitching the torn tendon or reinforcing the ruptured tendon with other tendons. Older patients may opt for nonsurgical treatment such as ice compression or using crutches.
Recovery Time From Achilles Surgery
Most patients recover within six months after successful surgery. You can hasten recovery time by performing specific strength and stability exercises.
Book an Appointment Today
Contact Dr. Mufaddal Gombera for Achilles rupture treatment in the Houston, TX area. Dr. Gombera is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon with vast experience in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Achilles tendon tears along with other sports and musculoskeletal injuries.
We welcome all patients in Houston, TX to our practice at the Texas Orthopedic Hospital in Houston. Call our office at (713) 794-3457 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gombera.