Achilles Tendon Problems

Medications

You can use medicine to relieve pain from Achilles tendinopathy or an Achilles tendon rupture. The medicine may be prescription or nonprescription.

• Acetaminophen can relieve pain. Examples include Panadol, Tempra, or Tylenol.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also often used to treat pain from Achilles tendinopathy or rupture. However, because most tendon problems do not involve inflammation, NSAIDs are not usually necessary. NSAIDS include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Corticosteroid injections, which sometimes are injected around tendons or into joints to reduce pain and inflammation, are not used to treat Achilles tendinopathy because they may increase the risk of a tendon rupture.

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW	Last Updated: January 30, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Nicola Maffulli, MD, PhD - Orthopedics
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