You may have heard of the medical terms tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, or swimmer’s shoulder. You may also assume that they only happen to athletes. However, these are all just different names for a single condition called tendonitis.
While tendonitis is most common in athletes, it can actually affect anyone at any stage of life. In this post, we will answer two questions. What is tendonitis, and how is it treated?
What Is Tendonitis?
This painful condition occurs when the tendons in a joint become inflamed or irritated. Tendons help attach muscles to bones and play an essential function in the mobility of various joints. Therefore, people suffering from tendonitis will have a limited range of movement or feel pain when using the affected joint.
Tendonitis most commonly affects the tendons in the elbows, shoulders, wrists, knees, and heels.
Symptoms
Pain from tendonitis can come on suddenly or slowly build up over time. Patients displaying symptoms will usually:
- Feel pain when moving the affected joint
- Have tenderness or swelling
- The skin around the area can also be red or warm to the touch
The severity of the symptoms varies from patient to patient, so get a checkup if you notice any stiffness, tenderness, or pain that doesn’t go away after a few days.
Who Is at Risk?
Tendonitis often occurs because of overuse or a structural imbalance in the affected joint. In most cases, the patients do repetitive actions such as lifting, typing, and swinging, all of which can put a strain on the tendons. Some examples of jobs and activities with high-risk factors include:
- Jobs with lots of typing
- Gardening
- Construction work
- Production line Work
- Playing sports like tennis and golf
- Wearing poorly fitting shoes
How Is It Treated?
The good news is that tendonitis can be easily treated at home, and you should be able to resume your normal activities after treatment. The best thing to do is to stop doing the activity that caused the injury. You will only cause more damage if you try to work through the pain.
After the diagnosis, your doctor will recommend a period of rest and may apply a brace or splint to immobilize the affected joint. You should use regular ice packs and take anti-inflammatory medicine to help reduce any swelling.
Your doctor may even recommend physical therapy to help you release any stiffness and to regain your full range of movement.
It is imperative to get treatment for tendonitis because if it is left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain and ruptures. In these cases, surgery will be required to repair the damage.
What Next?
During your initial visit, your doctor will provide you with a treatment plan, but it is important to realize that this is only a guideline. Your recovery will take much longer if you resume full activities too soon.
To avoid a reoccurrence of your symptoms, it is vital that you stretch regularly and take regular breaks from repetitive activities. You should also follow any exercises your doctor gives you to build up strength in the muscles and tendons.
Colorado Center for Orthopaedic Excellence 