Care and treatment for a torn tendon in the foot
A torn tendon in the foot is a very serious injury. One of the most important tendons in the entire body actually connects the bones in the middle of the foot with the calf muscles. This tendon holds the arch of the foot up and helps with walking.
Signs and symptoms of a torn tendon in the foot
If the major tendon in the foot gets torn, you will feel pain inside your ankle. If the injury goes untreated for a long time, you could end up with flat feet. Other symptoms of a torn tendon in the foot are swelling on the inside of the ankle, pain on the outside of the ankle or foot, and tenderness over the middle of the foot. You also won’t be able to stand on your toes if this tendon is torn.
Risk factors
There are a number of risk factors that can contribute to a torn foot tendon. These include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, foot surgery or injury, and any kind of inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis or even psoriasis.
Treatment
Your doctor will need to complete a physical exam to figure out if you have a torn tendon and determine which tendon is actually torn. The doctor may also order an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound of the foot to confirm his diagnosis.
It’s very important to seek treatment for a torn tendon, not only because of the severe pain it causes, but also because it can cause the foot to be inflexible over time. Also arthritis can develop in the foot, if it is not present already.
There are several different treatments available to take care of the torn foot tendon. Surgery is always the last option when it comes to repairing torn tendons, so there are a number of treatments doctors will try before resorting to surgery. The treatment ordered by the doctor will always depend on the severity of the injury and whether it has progressed since the injury occurred, but it usually begins with rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Aspirin can also help this type of injury, although ibuprofen is usually the preferred over-the-counter medication. In some cases, the doctor may put the foot in a cast in order to help it heal properly. This cast will also keep you from using the foot too much. The cast usually is in the form of a boot that comes up just below the knee. The doctor may also recommend shoe inserts after the cast is removed. Common shoe inserts for treatment of a torn tendon include heel wedges and arch supports. In some cases, you may also need a special ankle brace to provide further support after the cast is removed.
If none of these treatments appear to be helping, then the doctor will probably recommend surgery. The type of surgery recommended will depend entirely on where in the foot that injury is and how severe it is.