Expert: Coninyah B. Dew - 7/25/2009

Question
i have a ruptured achilles tendon,my foot was in a cask for six weeks,now its in a boot,it still feels tight if i try to straighten out my foot,i,m 60yrs old.would acupuncture help,i, been icing my foot almost every day for 2 weeks now and it feels the same,please give me your input

Answer
Hello Danny,

I am sorry to hear about your Achilles. That particular injury can take months to heal properly. In that time, it is important to remember not to over do it which can lead to a recurrence. Having said that, acupuncture can certainly assist in your rehabilitation through supplying the general area with needed nutrients. The treatments would be designed to support the Achilles in restoration of normal function. Icing the Achilles everyday can result in decreased functionality and elasticity resulting in general decreased range of motion. Acupuncture can also assist with pain relief thereby decreasing the frequent need to apply ice therapy. Again the important thing to keep in mind is an Achilles rupture is a pretty significant injury and will take time to repair. I would ask that you do consider seeing an acupuncturist as soon as possible to begin treatments. On a positive note, your condition is recent enough that a commitment to treatments would be greatly beneficial. Not knowing the totality of your symptoms, it may take anywhere from 6-12 months of treatment to begin regaining normalized function. The key word is patience. I do hope this information has been helpful. Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I do wish you well.

Regards,
Coninyah B. Dew L.Ac., M.S.O.M.
Acupuncture Stress and Pain Management Practices