Going home after your visit
Achilles tendon pain — advice for adults
How to look after a sore Achilles tendon, and the warning signs to watch for.
You have Achilles tendinopathy — pain and stiffness in the tendon at the back of your ankle and heel, usually from overuse. It is not dangerous and gets better with the right exercises, but this can take a few months.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Call 999 now if any of these happen
These need an ambulance.
- Calf pain or swelling with breathlessness or chest pain — a clot may have travelled to the lung
- Your foot becomes numb, pale, blue or cold
- You cannot get to hospital safely
CALL 999 Calf pain or swelling with breathlessness or chest pain can mean a clot on the lung — call 999.
Get same-day reassessment if any of these happen
Get seen the same day — a torn tendon is treated differently depending on how soon it is found.
- A sudden sharp pain or a ‘snap’ at the back of the ankle, as if you were kicked there
- You cannot push off properly, or go up on tiptoes — this can mean a torn (ruptured) tendon
- Calf pain, swelling, warmth or redness that does not fit the injury
- The tendon area becomes hot and red and you feel feverish or shivery
- The pain is getting worse despite resting and following this advice
Helping it get better
- Keep active, but cut back on running, jumping and other high-impact activity for a while.
- Do calf-strengthening exercises (slow heel raises) — these are the main treatment.
- A small heel raise in both shoes can ease the strain on the tendon.
- Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on it for a few minutes after activity.
- Wear supportive shoes, and take paracetamol or ibuprofen for a short time if you can take them.
- Build your activity back up gradually as the pain settles.
What to expect
These are typical of tendinopathy and usually settle slowly:
Pain and stiffness at the back of the heelWorst when you start movingA tender or thickened tendonSlow improvement over months
Most people improve with exercises. See a physiotherapist if it is slow to settle.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a severe breathing or circulation problem
ED / urgent service
A warning sign above that needs same-day reassessment
111
Urgent advice when it is not life-threatening, or you are unsure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team / GP
Use the number and follow-up plan in Your care details above