Tendinitis, also known as tendonitis, refers to an irritation or inflammation of a tendon. A tendon is a connective tissue linking muscles and bones. You can either suffer from acute tendonitis, which only lasts a short while or chronic, lasting a long time. While anyone can suffer from tendonitis, it mainly affects people who engage in repetitive activities such as gardening, painting, shoveling, etc. You can also develop tendonitis due to poor posture, diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, age, and medications. When you develop tendonitis, you need to visit a Colorado Springs tendonitis specialist for treatment.
Symptoms of Tendonitis
Tendonitis primarily affects body parts where a muscle connects to a bone through a tendon. It commonly affects the base of the thumb, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and Achilles tendon. In most cases, you will develop tendonitis due to repetitive, minor impact, or a sudden severe injury.
The main symptom of tendonitis includes pain around the affected area. You may experience gradual pain that builds with time or sudden severe pain, mainly if the affected area contains calcium deposits.
Treatment
While some cases of tendonitis go away on their own, it may be a long-term problem, especially if you suffer from chronic tendonitis. You should see a tendonitis specialist if you develop a fever, swelling, warmth and redness, and general illness or pain affecting multiple sites. You should also seek medical attention if you have trouble moving the affected area.
The first-line treatments for tendonitis include:
- Avoiding activities that increase the severity of the problem
- Resting the affected area
- Icing the affected area after an injury
- Taking anti-inflammatory medication
If the condition does not worsen after a few days, you may need to see a doctor. They can recommend more advanced treatments such as:
- Corticosteroids, commonly known as steroids. They are a standard treatment since they work fast to relieve the problem and decrease pain from inflammation.
- Physical therapy includes splinting for the forearm, thumb, and hands and range of motion exercises.
- Surgery. It is the last resort and only used when the condition does not respond to other forms of treatment.
Prevention
You can prevent tendonitis in many different ways. You should avoid staying in one position for long and take breaks every half an hour. You should also master the proper postures for each activity you engage in. When picking up an object, position yourself right in front of it and reach the object by stretching your arm and hand directly towards the item. Always use a firm grip when picking or working with things. When carrying heavy items, do not use one hand or hold it on one side of your body. When sitting, do not fold your legs under. If you feel pain when engaging in any activity, stop and take a break.
Before working out, warm-up and stretch. Also wear the right equipment, shoes and properly fitting clothes. Start your exercise slowly while increasing the intensity gradually.
To summarize, tendonitis often affects the tendon connecting a bone and muscle. You will experience pain in the affected area. You can treat tendonitis at home, but you may need steroids, physical therapy or surgery if it does not get better. You can also prevent tendonitis in many different ways.
