Rupture Of Achilles

The mythical Greek warrior, Achilles was extraordinarily strong, courageous and was said to be invincible, and he was, until an arrow pierced his Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon stretches down the lower leg to the heel and connects the calf muscle to the heel. You can have many different injuries to this tendon, and one of them is the rupturing of the tendon. It is usually a distinct diagnosis, whether the Achilles is rupture or not. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon (2). Physical therapy can be very helpful to the healing process even if treatment is non-surgical (6). A rupture is either a complete or partial tear that happens when the tendon is stretched more than its capability. Most of the time it is torn by strenuous jumping or pivoting or unexpected accelerations of running (2). It is possible to have no signs or symptoms with an Achilles tendon rupture, but most people
The medications used can be prescribed or over the counter. Most over the counter medication used to relieve pain will be acetaminophen, like Tylenol. Other medication that could be used are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are normally used to reduce and treat inflammation, although aren’t used often because most tendon problems don’t include inflammation (4). The only other pharmacological use is when surgery is done. If you choose the surgical treatment option you may have spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia will not allow you to feel anything from the waist down. Choosing the surgical treatment means you may also be given sedation, meaning you will sleep through the surgery (5). Despite the fact that medication can be very helpful while managing an Achilles tendon rupture, friends, family, and medical professionals can also help you get through your injury