Tendonitis

What is tendonitis?

Tendonitis is the inflammation of any tendon. Tendons are fibrous, thick cords that anchor muscle to bone. When tendons become inflamed, you experience tenderness and pain just outside that tendon’s corresponding joint.

Typically, tendonitis affects the tendons around your knees, heels, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Specific types of tendonitis have common names like:

• Tennis elbow
• Golfer's elbow
• Pitcher's shoulder
• Swimmer's shoulder
• Jumper's knee

Tendonitis problems have developed these common names over time because athletes frequently suffer from tendonitis.

What causes tendonitis?

Most often, tendonitis develops from stress they put on tendons as they repeat a specific movement over time.

Motions like these are common in sports, as well as occupations that require repetitive motions and actions such as:

• Awkward positioning
• Overhead reaching
• Forceful exertion
• Vibration 

Less frequently, tendonitis can result from a sudden injury. Older adults are more at risk for tendonitis from injury because as you age, your muscles become less flexible and more susceptible to injury. 

How can I avoid tendonitis?

To avoid tendonitis, practice proper technique during sports and activities such as lifting. In doing so, you avoid overloading your tendon.

How do I treat tendonitis?

Depending on your health history, your tendonitis location and severity, and your preference, the team at Spine Center and Orthopedic Rehabilitation of Englewood offers a variety of treatments, including:

Medications

Sometimes, you can manage tendonitis using anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil or Tylenol.

Corticosteroid injections

The team can inject a corticosteroid around your inflamed tendons in order to reduce their inflammation and thereby ease your pain. This treatment works best for acute tendonitis.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

PRP injections use plasma from your own blood, which is rich in healing factors, to stimulate your body’s natural healing response and reduce pain. 

To create PRP injections, your team draws a small amount of your blood and spins it in a centrifuge to isolate your platelet-rich plasma. They then inject the PRP directly into your tendon.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound

Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses ultrasound technology to first pinpoint the origin of your pain. Then, it serves as a guide as your team inserts a special needle under your skin that uses ultrasonic sound waves to destroy tendon scar tissue.

Don’t let tendonitis stop you from participating in the activities you love. Contact Spine Center and Orthopedic Rehabilitation of Englewood online or over the phone today to discuss your tendonitis treatment options.