Home remedies for therapy
In the therapy of Achilles tendonitis, cooling agents are mainly used in the first phase. These can be, for example, quark or cabbage wraps. On the one hand, they cool because the curd or cabbage is cold, and on the other hand, the compresses are moist, which results in cooling due to the evaporation of moisture.
To counteract the Achilles tendon inflammation, anti-inflammatory household remedies are also used. Thus, various essential oils can be applied to the affected area. Wraps with apple vinegar are also helpful, as they simultaneously inhibit the inflammation and cool the skin through their moisture.
Homeopathy
The treatment of Achilles tendonitis with homeopathic remedies cannot be recommended due to the lack of scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Remedies that are usually used for this clinical picture are Arnica or Bryonia. In principle, there is nothing against taking homeopathic remedies if a therapy recommended by a doctor is carried out at the same time.
It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor, preferably an orthopaedic surgeon, who will take care of the disease and can recommend a therapy. In this context, the desire to take a homeopathic remedy for support can be reported. In this way, the safety of the homeopathic remedy in question can be clarified in conjunction with taking the medication recommended by the doctor in question. We must advise against treating Achilles tendonitis with homeopathic remedies alone. This is especially true if there is pain and the symptoms show no improvement after a few days.
When should a doctor be consulted?
Especially if the self-therapy does not help in the short term, a specialist in orthopaedics should be consulted. In most cases, sports physicians first carry out a thickness measurement of the Achilles tendon, as the thickness is an indication of the severity of the injury or disease in question. Since inflammation in the classic sense is rarely the cause of the complaints, as would be the case with rheumatism, for example, there is an increasing tendency not to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.
After a thorough examination, a plan can be drawn up together with the doctor on how the symptoms can be alleviated. Especially in the case of acutely occurring complaints, a precise analysis is made of what additional stress has recently been experienced and how this can be avoided or minimised in the future. As a first measure, the Achilles tendon can be additionally supported (taped) with special adhesive plasters. Only in absolutely exceptional cases does the orthopaedic surgeon / sports physician have to recommend wearing a plaster. This situation can occur if there is a direct threat of a tear of the Achilles tendon.
