What Happens If You Leave Achilles Tendonitis Untreated?

If you’re suffering from Achilles tendonitis, you know how debilitating and frustrating this condition can be. But, you may wonder, what happens if you leave Achilles tendonitis untreated? Can you continue as usual? Will it heal by itself? The simple answer to these questions is that if you don’t deal with Achilles tendonitis, it will only worsen.

What Is Achilles Tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Achilles tendonitis is most often caused by overuse of the Achilles tendon, such as during sports that involve running and jumping. Treatment for Achilles tendonitis typically includes rest, ice, and physical therapy. Surgery is sometimes necessary.

What Happens If You Leave Achilles Tendonitis Untreated?

Like any injury, if we continue as usual and ignore it, it will only get worse, not better. The Achilles tendon is the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your tendon.

At first, when your Achilles tendon starts to bother you, it will be very mild discomfort during exercise. However, this is the time to deal with it as it will recover quickly at this stage with some stretches.

If we ignore the mild discomfort, it will gradually get worse and limit our movement. Eventually, this will lead to a partial Achilles tendon tear or a complete tendon rupture.

Depending on the severity, if a partial tear happens, we are looking for a recovery time of about 1 to 3 months.

If a rupture happens, you look at 4 – 6 months recovery time for low-impact sports and longer for high-impact, and you may even need surgery to fix the ruptured tendon. We will know if we ruptured our Achilles tendonitis, as we should probably hear a pop and then feel a sharp pain in the back of our ankle and lower leg. At this stage, we will even have difficulty when walking.

What Is The Fastest Way To Heal Achilles Tendonitis?

There are a few different treatment options available for Achilles tendonitis, and the best choice for you will depend on the severity of your condition. In some cases, conservative methods such as rest, ice, and physical therapy may be enough to treat the condition. However, in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

If you’re looking for ways to cure Achilles tendonitis fast, here are a few options that you may want to consider:

Rest

One of the most important things you can do when suffering from Achilles tendonitis is to rest. This means taking a break from activities that stress your Achilles tendon, such as running or playing sports. It’s also important to avoid standing for long periods. If you must stand, try to prop your foot up on a stool or other object.

Ice

Applying ice to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and pain. Try to ice the area for 20 minutes at a time, several times per day.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can be beneficial in treating Achilles tendonitis. Generally, a physical therapist can teach you exercises that stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon, which can help to relieve pain and speed up the healing process. Please see below for the two best exercises for Achilles Tendonitis.

Surgery

Surgery will only be required as a case of last resort when all other treatments have failed. It involves either repairing or removing the damaged portion of the Achilles tendon.

What Exercises Can I Do For Achilles Tendonitis?

There are many exercises that I can do to help heal Achilles tendonitis, but I believe the best exercises are heel drops followed by heel raises.

Heel drops

Heel drops are a great way to strengthen the muscles and tendons in your feet and lower legs. They can also help improve your balance and coordination. If you have any pain in your feet or ankles, be sure to consult with a doctor or physical therapist before doing this exercise.

Start by standing on a flat surface with your feet hip-width apart. If you need more stability, hold onto a support such as a railing or the back of a chair.

Slowly lower your heels below the surface you are standing on, letting your body weight sink into your heels.

Once your heels are below the surface level, raise your body back up to the starting position by pushing through your heels.

To make this exercise more challenging and when your Achilles is starting to get stronger, try standing on one leg, as this will help strengthen your weak Achilles tendon.

Repeat this exercise 10-15 times. Of course, you can increase the number of repetitions as you get stronger.

Heel raises

Heel raises are a great way to strengthen your calves and ankles. Here’s how to do them:

1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and your toes are pointing forward.

2. Rise onto your toes, then slowly lower back down.

3. Repeat for 10-15 reps.

If you want a challenge, try doing single-leg heel raises. Raise one leg off the ground and do the exercise with just that leg. You can also hold dumbbells in your hands to make the exercise more challenging.

There are further exercises explained in the below article.

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Final Thoughts.

I hope you now have a much better understanding of Achilles tendonitis injuries and realize the importance of treating an Achilles tendon injury as soon as you feel it.  I also hope that you understand what happens if you leave Achilles tendonitis untreated and the risks of causing a severe injury to your Achilles which may result in you having to take six months off when at the beginning of the discomfort if you treated it, you may have only had to take a couple of weeks off from your exercise routine.

Please feel free to comment below if you have any other observations on what happens if you leave Achilles tendonitis untreated.