Achilles Repair in Houston
When you hear the term “Achilles heel,” it usually refers to an otherwise strong person’s weak point. In fact, the achilles tendon, which connects your heel bone to your calf, counts as the most robust tendon in the human body. However, damage to this structure can make walking or even standing impossible. Fortunately, surgical Achilles repair in Houston can restore normal function in this area.
Many Achilles injuries can heal themselves with the proper application of rest, therapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs. But for serious tears or degenerative conditions, surgery to repair or even replace the tendon may provide longer-lasting or more complete results.
Causes of Achilles Injuries
Achilles injuries can be either acute or chronic in nature. Athletes commonly sustain acute damage to the Achilles tendon, especially if their chosen sport requires them to make sudden stops, starts, twists, or turns with their feet. You might also sustain an acute Achilles tendon tear due to falling, tripping, or twisting your ankle during everyday activities.
Chronic or degenerative Achilles tendon damage may occur gradually. Regular overuse of the tendon can cause tiny tears in its fibers which accumulate over time, resulting in an inflammatory issue called Achilles tendinitis. As the damage grows more serious, the condition progresses into tendinosis.
Whether you play sports or not, certain factors can elevate your risk for Achilles tendon damage. Examples include:
- A sudden increase in the stress you’re putting on your feet and calves.
- Abnormally short calf muscles.
- A heel bone spur that rubs against the Achilles tendon where it attaches to the bone.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendon Injuries
The symptoms you experience from an injured Achilles tendon depend in part on the type of injury you sustain. For instance, if you suddenly tear your Achilles tendon, you may experience both a sharp pain and a strange popping or snapping feeling in the tendon. The back of the ankle may appear noticeably swollen or discolored.
Degenerative Achilles issues can produce a bump along the tendon that rubs painfully against your shoes. Your pain may grow especially intense when you climb stairs. In addition to the annoying, disabling pain it creates, an Achilles tendon injury can rob you of control over your foot motion.
Diagnosis
If you let the damage go unrepaired, your damaged Achilles tendon will become increasingly vulnerable to further injury. Prompt medical diagnosis and treatment can keep the problem from getting worse and start the healing process.
Orthopedic specialists use several diagnostic methods to confirm Achilles tendon injuries. Your doctor may observe the external signs of injury and move the foot in various positions to check its mobility. This expert may also feel a tear or gap in the tendon. MRI or ultrasound images can reveal more details about the damage.
Benefits of Achilles Repair
Although Achilles tendon repair involves major surgery and several weeks of recovery time, you’ll be happy you scheduled this procedure for a serious tendon problem. Achilles repair surgery can dramatically improve the range of motion in your foot, relieve chronic or acute pain from the injury, let you return to your favorite activities, and help reduce the risk of further injury.
Let NW Surgery Help You
NW Surgery can help you get the Achilles tendon treatment you need. Since 1999, we’ve served as Houston’s leading resource for top-quality orthopedic care, including foot, ankle, knee, wrist, hand, elbow, shoulder, and spinal procedures. We also provide ketamine infusion therapy to help manage severe chronic pain.
No-Insurance Surgery Providers in Houston
At NW Surgery, no insurance is no problem. We base our no-insurance surgical services on a stress-free direct pay program featuring fixed prices for a variety of procedures, including Achilles tendon repair surgery. You can pay by cash or cashier’s check on the spot to get the same standard of care you’d get through an insurance provider. by having quicker access to that care, you can also take better care of yourself on an ongoing, preventative basis.
Don’t Put Off Your Achilles Tendon Repair
As you’ve seen, modern surgery can fix a torn, ruptured, or degenerated Achilles tendon. But keep in mind that the sooner you schedule your Achilles repair in Houston, the more easily your surgeon can fix the problem and restore your foot to normal function. Contact the orthopedic surgery experts at NW Surgery today for a referral to a skilled, experienced practitioner.
