About this topic
A tendon is a thick cord that attaches muscle to bone. Tendinopathy is an injury to the tendon. There are different types of tendinopathy. ‚
- Tendinitis ¢ ˆ ’ Has irritation and small tears to the tendon. Some swelling and inflammation may be present.
- Tendinosis ¢ ˆ ’ Is a problem when the tendons break down and likely tear over time. The structure of the tendon, in fact, changes. There is no swelling or inflammation present.
- Tenosynovitis ¢ ˆ ’ The thin cover around a tendon, called the tendon sheath, becomes swollen.
- Calcific tendinopathy ¢ ˆ ’ Calcium deposits form in the tendon. This is most common in the shoulder or rotator cuff tendons.
This condition may happen in any tendon. It often happens in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. Some people have problems in their knee or the back of the heel. ‚
What are the causes?
- Using it over and over
- Injury to the tendon
What can make this more likely to happen?
Things that lead to tendinopathy are: ‚
- Age ¢ ˆ ’ As people get older, their tendons become less flexible.
- Work ¢ ˆ ’ More common with work that uses repeated motions, awkward positions, frequent reaching, and forceful effort
- Sports ¢ ˆ ’ Doing the same moves done over and over like those used in baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, and tennis.
- Other things ¢ ˆ ’ Being heavy, certain illnesses like diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
What are the main signs?
You may feel: ‚
- Pain and soreness along a tendon, most often near a joint. It is worse with movement and often happens at night.
- A grinding feeling when you move the tendon
- Lack of strength due to pain
- A lump on the tendon
The skin over the tendon may be swollen, red, and warm as well. ‚
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will do an exam and take your history. The doctor may push, pull, feel, and move the sore part. You may need to have tests like: ‚
- X-ray to show if there are calcium deposits
- MRI
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- Rest the painful part
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Compress or wrap the swollen part to help ease pain. The doctor may give you a brace or strap to wear.
- Prop the sore part on pillows.
- Skip any action that makes the pain worse.
- Your doctor may suggest an exercise program to build muscle strength. You may need to see a physical therapist.
- Your doctor may use a sling or splint to keep the affected part from moving.
- You may be told to do massage on the sore part.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent an infection if you had surgery
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Tendon ruptures or fully breaks apart
- Ongoing pain
- Problem comes back
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Take breaks often when doing things that use the same movement over and over.
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.
- Warm up slowly and stretch before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Keep a healthy weight. Being heavy puts more stress on your joints. This makes them more likely to be hurt.
- Eat a well-balanced diet to keep your muscles healthy.
Where can I learn more?
National Health Service ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tendonitis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚