Tendinitis Specialist
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Pritesh Patel, DPM
Board Qualified Podiatrist located in Boca Raton, FL
Repetitive motion and injury can lead to painful inflammation in your tendons. Fortunately, podiatry is about more than bunions and other foot conditions; it also deals with tendon inflammation like tendinitis. So when you need care for tendon pain like Achilles tendinitis and posterior tibial tendinitis, call the offices of Pritesh Patel, DPM, in Boca Raton, Florida, for more information. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online.
Tendinitis Q & A
What is tendinitis?
Tendons are the tough bands of tissue that connect bones to muscles. Tendinitis, or tendonitis, occurs when this fibrous tissue becomes irritated or inflamed, leading to a thickening of the tendon and pain near the affected joint.
Tendinitis symptoms occur where the tendon attaches to your bone, or along the course of the tendon. They might include:
- Grinding or creaking during movement
- Swelling, redness, or heat
- Pain that increases with motion
Symptoms of tendinitis can be short-lived for a few days or last weeks to months.
What causes tendinitis?
Overuse or repetitive motions usually cause tendinitis, but it can also be due to injury. You can have tendinitis anywhere in your body.
Certain foot types are more prone to different types of tendinitis of the feet or ankles. When you have tendinitis in your feet, ankles, or legs, it is usually Achilles tendinitis or posterior tibial tendinitis.
Achilles Tendinitis
Your Achilles tendon connects the muscles of your calf to your heel bone. It’s the longest tendon in your body. Achilles tendinitis can also lead to bone spurs.
Posterior Tibial Tendinitis
The posterior tibial tendon attaches your calf muscle to the inside of your foot. When it becomes inflamed or damaged, you can develop a flat foot, or a previous flat foot may become more severe. Posterior tibial tendinitis may cause pain and swelling in the arch of the foot or along the inside portion of the ankle.
Dr. Patel is an expert at treating both Achilles and posterior tibial tendinitis.
How is tendinitis diagnosed and treated?
During a physical examination of the site, Dr. Patel will look for signs of tenderness in the tendon in your foot or ankle, and signs of weakness when it’s moved. He might also recommend digital X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds to look for calcium deposits around the tendon, swelling of the tendon and surrounding tendon sheath, or possible tears within the tendon.
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your course of treatment includes multiple approaches, including:
- RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
- Splinting, taping, and bracing
- Custom shoe inserts and orthotics
- Medication
- Regenerative medicine, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections
- Conditioning exercises, stretches, and physical therapy
In some cases, Dr. Patel might recommend surgical treatments to treat Achilles tendinitis and posterior tibial tendinitis.
To learn more about tendinitis treatment for your foot and ankle pain, call the offices of Pritesh Patel, DPM, for more information, or schedule an appointment online today.
