Dealing with Achilles Tendon Injuries

The Achilles tendon is strong, but it is not very flexible. So, when the tendon stretches too much, it can become inflamed or even tear.

Sierra Garrison, of Owings Mills, was playing flag football last spring when she suddenly suffered an injury.

"I was backpedaling and I went to explode forward, and then it just, my cleat got caught in a hole. So, I thought I stepped on a soda bottle, which is how loud that pop was," Garrison said.

Garrison suffered a full Achilles tendon tear that sidelined her for months.

"They'll typically say they'll turn around to see if someone was behind them, that whacked them in the back of the ankle, but there's no one there," said Clifford L. Jeng, M.D., FAAOS, Medical Director of The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy.

Garrison met with Dr. Jeng and immediately had surgery on her Achilles tendon.

"We have newer, minimally invasive techniques with strong sutures that kind of hold the tendon tighter, and so these allow us to get them moving quicker. So usually, you're allowed to start putting weight on it within about two weeks," Dr. Jeng said.

Garrison is out of a boot and doing physical therapy. She's starting to slowly get back in action.

"I definitely have a different appreciation, you know, for people who go through those injuries," Garrison said. "I'm a big basketball fan, and you will see people get hurt, and you're like, 'Why aren't they back yet?' Well, I get it," Garrison said.

According to Dr. Jeng, people can injure their Achilles from athletics, but also from normal daily use.

"Something called Achilles tendinosis, which is age-related wear and tear of the Achilles, and sometimes, these women will have this big knot or swelling in the middle of their Achilles tendon that's very painful," Dr. Jeng said.

While some people ignore early warning signs and push through the pain, Dr. Jeng said to pay attention and rest. Achilles injuries can range from strains and tendonitis to tendinosis and a rupture.

View Mercy orthopedic surgeon and foot-and-ankle specialist Dr. Clifford Jeng's interview regarding Achilles tendon injuries and surgery.