How To Reduce The Pain Of Achilles Tendonosis?

What is Achilles Tendonosis? A condition that refers to the gradual degradation of the achilles tendon. 

Most of us are somewhat familiar with the famous myth of the Greek God Achilles. For those who are not, here is a quick recap. So, Achilles mother Thetis wished to make her son invulnerable to all assaults. 

To do this, she held the baby Achilles from his heel and submerged him into the magic waters of River Styx. The wondrous and magical water of the river made Achilles immune to everything. Well, except for his heel that stayed above the water. And as one can guess, it was this vulnerable part of him that led to his death in the future.

Is The Legend Of The Achilles Heel Somewhat Real?

Now, this was just a famous myth, but the part of Achilles’ heel that was hit is indeed a very vulnerable part of us. In honor of the Greek God, modern medicine decided to name it the Achilles tendon. It is the most prominent tendon of our body; connecting our leg muscles to the calcaneus bone in our heel.

Two medical conditions are closely associated with this particularly vulnerable tendon. First and foremost, Achilles tendonitis refers to the inflammation of this tendon. It is a comparably acute condition that occurs due to overexertion. Furthermore, this is most common in the sportsmen and athletic community. Though incredibly painful, it is not very serious.

This condition is often chronic, and more tricky of the two frequent achilles conditions. Particularly, one of the structural proteins of the muscle (collagen) gradually worns away. Moreover, it deteriorates further and complicate the situation.

Achilles tendonosis often occurs as a complication of achilles tendonitis. Other times, it is the overuse of the tendon that can cause this condition. Therefore, tendonosis, too, is extremely common among professional athletes. We feel sorry for you, sports enthusiasts!

Can You Treat Achilles Tendonitis And Tendonosis At Home?

The above descriptions of the two conditions might have left you frightened. In theory, the entire process sounds extremely complicated. However, do not panic! You can support your recovery yourself at your home. All you need to do is be incredibly well informed to perform all the particular home remedies correctly.

So, long story short, achilles tendonitis and achilles tendonosis can be treated at home!

Using Rice To Heal From Achilles Tendonosis

The most popular home remedy to treat the pain from achilles tendonosis and tendonitis is definitely RICE therapy. It is noninvasive, uncomplicated, and economic pain-relieving therapy. This ingenious method is a common treatment; even hospitals practice it and recommend patients to do it at home as well. 

It involves ensuring Rest, applying Ice packs to the affected area, observing the Compression therapy, and Elevating the injured leg to minimize pain. Today, we will talk about the second component of this therapy – the ice packs.

The Best Ice Packs To Treat The Pain From Achilles Tendonosis And Tendonitis – Product Reviews

Cold packs offer many therapeutic benefits for a variety of injuries. They stop any active bleeding, numb the area to painful sensations, and reduce inflammation. In tendonosis and achilles tendonitis, it is these last two effects that are beneficial for recovery.

Besides, you now know that cold compression can significantly reduce the pain you are feeling from your tendonosis and tendonitis. But, the question that arises here is which ice pack you should be using?

There is a diverse variety of ice-cold packs on the market which makes it quite confusing. Does using a bag of frozen peas to ice the area as effective as using a store-bought ice pack? And if not, which of these store-bought ice packs should you go for?

To make this decision a little easier, we have reviewed what we consider to be the three best reusable ice packs available today. By the end of this article, you will know all there is to know about which cold pack to purchase. So, let’s begin.

Koo-Care Large Flexible Gel Ice Pack & Wrap with Elastic Straps

1. FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack (Standard Large: 10.5″ x 14.5″) – Reusable Cold Pack Compress (Therapy for Pain and Injuries of Knee, Shoulder, Foot, Back, Ankle, Neck, Hip, Elbow, Wrist) – 6300-COLD

Key Features

Cool For Longer

The FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack is incredibly convenient to use. It uses a special gel formula that remains ice-cold even after being out of the freezer for a while. This effectively cuts down on the number of times you will have to change the ice pack for a new, cold one to ice an injury.

Comfortable To Use

The FlexiKold Gel Ice Pack conforms to the contours of your body. This ensures maximum comfort and efficiency. In this way, the ice pack is in maximum contact with the injured area and is most effective.

Great Construction

The premium construction of this ice pack ensures that it will not puncture easily. With fewer chances of leaks, you can use it without any worries of making a mess.

2. Polar Ice Large Knee Wrap Cold Therapy Wearable Ice Pack Adjustable Hook and Loop Closure

Key Features

Doubles The Benefits

The Polar Gel Ice Pack provides two therapies – icing the injury as well as providing compression. In this way, this ice pack speeds up your recovery time dramatically.

Ensures a Secure Fit

The straps on the Polar Gel Ice Pack ensure that it will not move while you use it. These straps leave your hands free to tend to anything else while your injury heals.

Allows Easy Movement

While keeping the ice pack securely fit, the straps won’t get in the way of your movement. With this on, you can do any activity that you could do without the ice pack.

3. Koo-Care Large Flexible Gel Ice Pack & Wrap with Elastic Straps for Hot Cold Therapy – Great for Sprains, Muscle Pain, Bruises, Injuries – 11″ x 14″)

Key Features

Compatible With Hot And Cold Therapy

The KooCare Gel Ice Pack can be used to provide both – hot and cold compressions. Simply toss it in the freezer to benefit from ice therapy. If you want heat therapy, the same gel pack can be microwaved.

Use Anywhere

This gel pack is large enough to be used anywhere on the body. Whether you want to treat your achilles tendonosis or your back pain, this gel pack is equally valid.

Ensures Customer Satisfaction

The manufacturers of the KooCare Gel Packs pride themselves on their customer service. For absolute customer satisfaction, they offer a year’s worth of warranty on this gel pack.

Frequently Asked Questions (faqs) – The Best Ice Packs To Reduce Achilles Tendonosis Pain

How many different types of ice packs are there?

Normally, there are three categories of ice packs; instant, reusable, and homemade or DIY ice packs. You do not have to cool these ice packs before use and can also store them anywhere at room temperature. Moreover, they are ‘cracked’ by hand once they are required; therefore, this spurs a spontaneous chemical reaction that makes them instantly cold. However, the downside to these instant ice packs is that they can only be used once. After the first use, you need to dispose them properly.

The second type of ice pack is the reusable gel ice packs. Hospitals use them in abundance as they are easier to use and effective as well. The 3 ice packs reviewed above also fall in the same category. You can store them in a freezer or any other cold storage space. Once frozen, use them to ice the injury as directed. Apart from this, they are also viable over many uses after being refrozen upon growing warm.

DIY or homemade ice packs are only used in homes and not in medical settings. These can be made out of a variety of household items. They range from a bag of frozen peas to a damp or a frozen towel. A packet of frozen rice or a frozen plastic baggie filled with dishwater liquid works too. Moreover, these ice packs can also be used more than once.

What should you consider when buying an ice pack?

Picking the right ice pack is incredibly essential to speed up the recovery time for any injury. Usually, the perfect ice pack will be convenient, economical, and easy to use without making a mess. Here are a few things to consider when buying an ice pack.

• The amount of time it remains cold after being taken out of the freezer.
• The quality of external packaging to prevent unwanted leaks.
• The price point of the ice pack.
• Whether it is reusable or not.
• The degree of movement it allows while being used.

Are DIY homemade ice packs as effective as the ones available in medical stores?

Commercially built cold packs are usually constructed to avoid two different therapeutic benefits; cooling the affected area as well as providing compression. However, by using straps and loops, they include compression therapy as well.

Besides, most homemade DIY ice packs lack these straps and loops to provide compression. So, they rely on cooling as the only therapeutic therapy for the injury. Therefore, most homemade DIY ice packs might not be as effective in providing instant relief from pain as commercially procured ice packs are.

However, it is essential to note that homemade ice packs are much more economical than any store-bought ones.   

How does applying cold packs help recover from achilles tendonosis or tendonitis?

As we discussed, commercially built cold packs provide two therapeutic benefits; cooling the affected area as well as providing compression.

The sensations of pain and temperature are carried by the same group of nerves; the lateral spinothalamic tract. By applying extreme temperatures to an injured area, one can ‘override’ the sensation of pain. It forces these nerves to carry the sensations of temperature. This is how the coldness of an ice pack works to provide pain relief.

The gating theory of pain suggests that sensations of pain can be ‘blocked’ by applying pressure on the surrounding area. The cold compress ice packs close the pain gates by providing this pressure. Hence, using an ice pack that puts pressure on an injury is effective in relieving pain.

The Final Word

While applying ice packs to an injury may not heal it up magically, however, it can undoubtedly provide you relief from the excruciating pain. And as you have read above, it can also speed up the recovery process by reducing inflammation and swelling. Moreover, it also slows down the deteriorating processes of tendonosis.

So, all in all, if you thought that ice packs were useless remedies that only your grandmother believes in, think again. Your grandma might know more about modern medicine than you do. Using the right ice packs can make even the unbearable pain of tendonosis and achilles tendonitis better. 

This therapy is inexpensive, extremely doable, and super safe. So what are you still waiting for?! Get that ice pack out of your freezer and find sweet relief in the soothing coolness of ice!