Habits Your Feet Will Thank You For
Your feet do a lot for you, and you need to take care of them to prevent problems now and in the future. Learn about the habits you can start now that your feet will thank you for.
Lesser-Known Tricks to Recover from Tendinitis
Resting the affected body part is one of the primary treatments for tendinitis. But recovery from tendinitis can take months. When the injury affects a body part you rely on every day, like your feet or ankles, rest isn’t always possible.
Our skilled podiatrist, Dr. Richard Hochman, is always looking for better ways to treat long-term pain conditions that affect the feet and ankles, including alternative therapies.
Here, we want to share some of our lesser-known tricks that can help you recover from tendinitis.
RICE right away
Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon, the fibrous tissue that attaches muscle to bone, causing swelling and pain. The injury can occur from a sudden movement that overstretches the tendon, but tendinitis is most often the result of repetitive use.
Tendinitis can affect any tendon, but the injury usually affects the elbow, knee, shoulder, or ankle.
RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and it’s the first thing you should do when you have an injury like tendinitis.
- Rest — minimize use of the affected body part
- Ice — apply an ice pack for 15 minutes several times a day for the first 48 hours
- Compression — wrap the injured area with a bandage
- Elevation — keep the injured body part above the level of your heart when swollen
Implementing RICE right away reduces the swelling and pain and helps heal the injury.
Bracing or splinting
Rest is hard when you rely on the affected body part to brush your hair or get to the bathroom. Using a brace or splint unloads some of the stress on the tendon, supporting the healing process.
For Achilles tendinitis, we may recommend orthotics to improve the mechanics of the foot, reducing weight on the ankle. Orthotics may also work for knee tendinitis.
Shockwave therapy
Shockwave therapy, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a game-changer for people with chronic tendinitis. The nonsurgical treatment uses sound waves to trigger the healing process.
The mechanical force that the sound waves create increases cellular permeability and activity and stimulates production of the cells that make connective tissue. Shockwave therapy also reduces pain by overwhelming the sensory nerves, disrupting the pain signals.
PRP injections
Platelets are one of the elements in your body that regenerate and heal damaged tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a medical treatment that contains a high concentration of platelets.
When injected into the injured tendon, the extra platelets may activate or accelerate the healing process, helping you recover from your injury.
Stem cell technology is an emerging area of medicine that shows a lot of promise in the treatment of chronic conditions. When other interventions fail to help you recover from your tendinitis, you may want to consider this alternative method.
Is tendinitis keeping you from doing the things you love? Are you searching for a treatment that can help you recover faster? Call us at Dr. Hochman’s office in Coral Gables, Florida, today or request an appointment online to get the help you need.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Is That Spot on Your Foot a Plantar Wart?
That spot on your foot could be anything. But if it’s on the bottom of your foot, looks like a callus, and causes pain, it’s probably a plantar wart. Find out more about plantar warts, what they look like, and how to treat them.
What Are Platelets and How Can They Help Your Injury Heal?
Platelets are the body’s first responders, rushing to the scene to patch up the damage. But they also help heal the damage. Find out more about platelets and how they can help heal your injury.
I Have High Arches — Will My Children?
High arches can occur from an inherited abnormal foot structure. If you have high arches, your children might too. But they don’t have to suffer through the pain that comes with it. Find out how early intervention helps.
How Shockwave Therapy Can Help Your Heel Pain
Shockwave therapy is a nonsurgical treatment that reduces heel pain by stimulating the healing process. Find out more about shockwave therapy, how it works, and how it can benefit your feet.
3 of the Most Common Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis
One out of 10 people develop plantar fasciitis during their lifetime. Are you at risk? Learn more about the most common risk factors for plantar fasciitis and what you can do to protect yourself from this foot condition.