Tendons are the thick fibrous connective tissue that attach muscles to bone or other bodily structures, such as the eyeball. Tendons allow us to move our bones or structures without significant amounts of tension.
Unfortunately, tendonitis can result because of the overuse or straining of a joint, resulting in the inflammation of related tendons. Your McAllen pain doctor is here to explain everything you need to know about tendonitis and how it’s treated.
What Are the Symptoms of Tendonitis?
Tendonitis occurs where the tendon attaches to the bone and tends to occur in areas of the body that are frequently used. There are some common symptoms of tendonitis:
- Pain — People often describe tendonitis as a dull ache that worsens when they move the affected limb or joint.
- Stiffness — Difficulty moving the joint or limb can be caused by tendonitis.
- Noise — If you hear or feel a grating or crunching sensation when moving the affected limb, it might be tendonitis.
- Swelling — Tendonitis can cause a tender puffiness around the affected area, usually paired with a sense of warmth.
What Causes Tendonitis?
While a sudden injury can cause tendonitis, the condition can also stem from repeating a particular movement over time. Most people develop tendonitis due to physically demanding hobbies involving repetitive motions, which stresses the tendons.
While tendonitis can occur in any of your tendons, it’s most common in shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and heels due to these being commonly used areas in hobby-based sports.
Common hobbies frequently use other names to describe the same condition, such as:
- tennis elbow
- golfer’s elbow
- pitcher’s shoulder
- swimmer’s shoulder
- runner’s knee
What are the Risk Factors of Tendonitis?
Many factors come into play when someone experiences tendonitis, including age, employment, and involvement in sports.
- Age — As people age, their tendons become less flexible, making them more susceptible to injury.
- Employment — Tendonitis is most common in individuals whose jobs involve forceful exertion, awkward positions, repetitive motions, frequent overhead reaching, or vibration.
- Sports — Individuals who participate in sports that involve repetitive movements, like basketball, baseball, golf, or bowling, are more likely to develop tendonitis.
Proper technique is essential when performing work-related activities or playing sports that require repetitive movements. Improper technique can overload the tendon and lead to tendonitis.
When Should I See a Doctor for Tendonitis Issues?
While most cases of tendonitis respond to self-care remedies, you should visit your doctor if your symptoms persist and interfere with your daily activities for more than a few days.
Your physician may be able to provide you with stronger pain medications and topical creams to relieve pain. Those with severe tendonitis may receive trigger point injections or nerve blocks.
If the condition does not improve with traditional treatments after six to 12 months, individuals may require surgery to remove damaged tissue or repair a ruptured tendon.
Get Tendonitis Relief From 911 Pain Management Clinic!
While tendonitis may not be preventable based on your lifestyle or hobbies, your McAllen pain doctor at 911 Pain Management Clinic can help you get the relief you need to improve your quality of life!
