Achilles Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis, also called paratenonitis (or spelled peritendinitis), is a term used to describe inflammation and degeneration of the tendon's outer layer or sheath. Depending on the tendon, the sheath is also called the synovium or paratenon. The outer covering of the Achilles tendon is called the paratenon.

Paratenonitis is very common among competitive athletes. In fact, 2/3 of Achilles tendon injuries are attributed to this condition.

It is possible to suffer from tenosynovitis alone but usually it occurs it conjunction with tendinosis, the degeneration of the tendon. In either case, as your body tries to heal, scar tissue forms inside the sheath attaching the inner part of the tendon to the paratenon. This scar tissue limits the gliding movement of the tendon in the sheath reducing the range of motion and causing pain, tenderness, redness and swelling.

Symptoms

The pain you feel when you are suffering from Achilles paratenonitis (tenosynovitis) is usually a result of the inflammation in the tendon as well as the scar tissue that has built up between the tendon and the paratenon. When you move your Achilles tendon the scar tissue stops the tendon from gliding smoothly through the shealth. As the tendon moves, more tearing of the tissue occurs and more scar tissue begins to form as these tears heal. It's a cycle that needs to be broken by getting rid of the scar tissue. With Achilles tenosynovitis you may also experience:

• Difficulty moving and flexing your ankle.
• Swelling at the back of the ankle, around the Achilles tendon.
• Pain may subside when the Achilles tendon is allowed to rest.
• The Achilles tendon is tender and warm to the touch.
• If you have been suffering from tenosynovitis for awhile, you may have a lump formation due to scar tissue building up on the tendon.
• A fever may indicate that the tendon and/or sheath is infected. You should see a doctor immediately if you are experiencing a fever to treat the infection appropriately.

Causes

In most instances, Achilles paratenonitis it is a result of repetitive strain or over-use that occurs over a period of time. It is common among runners and triathletes and is usually caused by improper training or weak tissue, such as:

• Improper stretching before and after running and jumping exercises.
• Poor or misfitted foot wear.
• An inflexible Achilles tendon (i.e. tendon with scar tissue from previous injury or wear and tear).
• An increase in training, training on uneven terrain or a change in terrain (i.e. hills) .
• Weak or inflexible calf muscles (gastrocnemius or soleus).

Achilles Treatments - What You Can Do!

Ultrasound Therapy

During the healing and re-injury cycle of repetitive overuse injuries such as Achilles tenosynovitis, scar tissue builds on the tendon and can attach the inner layers of the tendon to the surrounding paratenon that it glides through, limiting the flexibility and movement of the tendon. You may even have a visible lump formation on the back of your ankle that is a nodule of scar tissue.

The trick to getting rid of Achilles tenosynovitis is getting rid of the scar tissue that has built up between the tendon and the paratenon and regenerating and realigning healthy tendon fibres if you are also suffering from tendinosis - something ultrasound therapy is great at! It can take time to remove the scar tissue and regenerate healthy tissue because it has taken months, if not years to form. However, if you treat yourself with therapeutic ultrasound to remove the scar tissue and reduce inflammation you can reduce your pain and regain the gliding movement in your Achilles tendon. Your tendon function will improve and the chance of re-injury later on is much lower than average.

In addition to softening scar tissue, ultrasound therapy increases tissue elasticity while promoting the flow of blood (filled with vital oxygen and nutrients) to your painful Achilles tendon. This cleans the injured area by breaking down damaged tissue, promoting healthy collagen production in the fibres, reducing the inflammation on the tendon, and opening up the blood vessels to begin healing.

MendMeShop^® ultrasound therapy with phonophoresis is safe, convenient, and easy and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes per treatment. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your body gently micro-massaging and slightly increasing the temperature of your soft tissue cells (a process that cannot be felt as it works on a cellular level). The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the injured area.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body through a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.

Using MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel during your therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into the tissue where it is most effective. 1 FREE bottle of MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes with every MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy System and it contains the therapeutic essential oils of natural Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol.

Cold Compression Therapy

The Ankle/Achilles Freezie Wrap^® allows you to treat your Achilles tenosynovitis pain in a effective and convenient way.

Using cold compression when you experience pain due to Achilles tenosynovitis will calm the ankle area and provide relief.

The deep cooling effect provided by the Ankle/Achilles Freezie Wrap^® slows cell metabolism thereby reducing cellular break-down and tissue damage and because the cold wraps serve to numb the nerves, the wraps also reduce pain!

Only the Freezie Wrap^® gel pack is charged in the fridge. This means the cooling temperature of the gel pack will not cause cold burns, or cryoburn, on your skin like ice or freezie charged gel packs can. You can also treat yourself for longer periods of time so you get lasting pain relief.

Once you have reduced the pain and inflammation that Achilles tenosynovitis causes it is time to nourish and further improve the quality of the soft tissue in the ankle with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

If you are no longer experiencing inflammation and swelling in your Achilles tendon you can begin to treat it with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy, or BFST^®. BFST^® increases the amount of blood that flows naturally to your ankle to nourish your tendons, ligaments and muscles to speed healing.

The Achilles tendon receives a limited blood supply compared to other tendons in the body and this significantly reduces its natural ability to heal itself.

By treating your Achilles tendon with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy you can increase your body's blood supply to the ankle and increase your body's natural healing power. In addition, the fresh blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from the injury and scar tissue leaving the area clean and able to heal faster. Our Ankle/Achilles Inferno Wrap^® provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects.

BFST^® is also recommended for your healthy ankle to repair any damage or excess strain due to it taking the extra load off of your injured ankle. The Ankle/Achilles Inferno Wrap^® will improve the overall health of your ankle's soft tissue and help prevent tendon strain or tendinitis from becoming a problem in your healthy ankle as well.

With these 3 easy therapies you will notice incredible improvement in your tendon. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results! During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your Achilles tendon until your pain and inflammation settle.

Although steroid injections may provide temporary relief of Achilles pain, they should generally be avoided as they weaken the tendon and may lead to a rupture of the tendon. If you do opt for an injection, doctors usually recommend that you do not participate in strenuous activities for several weeks to reduce the risk of a rupture.

Learn More About These SUPERIOR Achilles Treatments

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