Have you ever experienced tendonitis? Tendonitis or tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the thick fibrous cord that attaches the muscle to the bone. While it can occur in any tendons, tendonitis is commonly met around your knees, heels, shoulders, elbows, wrists, or the Achilles tendon (connects the calf muscles to the heel bone).
According to cedaorthopedicgroup.com, one of the main symptoms of tendonitis is the pain located at the tendon and its surrounding area. The pain can start gradually or suddenly and is severe if there are any calcium deposits. Tenderness and mild swelling can also be present.
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels
What Causes Tendonitis?
Although tendonitis can occur after a severe impact on the affected area or from a severe injury, it’s most likely caused by repetitive activities such as gardening, tennis, painting, carpentry, raking, scrubbing, skiing, pitching, and the like. I have experienced tendonitis many times from running in my hips, ankles, and elsewhere from running. Separately, tendonitis can also be caused by:
- Infection
- Bad posture
- Some types of arthritis (Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout)
- Metabolic conditions (diabetes)
- Side effects from medications (statins drugs, or fluoroquinolone antibiotic)
- Stress on soft tissues (length differences, joint deformities)
- Psoriatic arthritis (a combination of skin disorder and joint inflammation)
- Statins (drugs that lower cholesterol)
- Blood or kidney diseases
Theoretically, anyone can get tendinitis, but it’s more common in those over 40 years of age. Tendons are less elastic and easier to tear. As they age, they tolerate less stress.
Photo by Daniel Reche: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-jogging-3601094/
How is Tendonitis Treated?
Firstly, a doctor will recommend you avoid the activities that aggravated the problem, rest the injured area, put ice on the site, and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines. These remedies have always worked to solve my issues.
If you can’t see any improvements in about three weeks, you should seek medical care. You may need advanced treatments, such as:
- Corticosteroid injections, often called steroids, are used to decrease the pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy includes motion exercises and splinting (hands, thumb, forearm)
- Surgery: mostly needed for severe conditions that do not show improvements to other treatments
If you experience a fever of over 100 degrees F, redness, swelling, illness, multiple sites of pain, or inability to move the affected area, you should see your doctor immediately.
Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-his-ankle-7298413/
How to Avoid Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a condition that can be difficult to prevent. While you may try to avoid overuse to reduce your chances of getting tendonitis, it may still be very challenging if you have a job that requires repetitive movement. If you are trying to stay physically fit, it can also be challenging to avoid any type of repetitive movement. However, you can lower your chances of getting tendonitis if you:
- Avoid staying in the same position for too long
- Maintain a good posture for all activities
- Use a firm grip when picking up objects
- Use both hands when carrying heavy objects
- Avoid sitting with your leg folded under
- Stop your training once you feel pain
If you enjoy exercising or playing a sport, consider stretching and warming up before starting the activity. Wear properly sized clothes, equipment, and shoes, and start your exercises slowly. Make sure you are strengthening the surrounding muscles as well. A strong muscle base can help to support the inflamed tendon and prevent future injury. A physical therapist can help you determine which exercises are most beneficial to incorporate into your routine. I have had good luck with physical therapy healing my tendonitis and preventing future issues. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may take weeks or months to recover from tendonitis fully.
Summary
Suppose you have a job or play a sport that involves repetitive motion, then you have an increased risk of suffering from tendonitis. In most cases, you can treat your condition with ice, rest, and some OTC painkillers. If the state does not improve, the doctor may need to prescribe you additional medicine, treatments, or therapies to support the healing process.
