If you said that tendonitis was an inflammation or an irritation of a tendon, you would be correct. Do you know what tendons look like? They are fibrous cords that are stringy or rubbery and are very tough which fits their purpose. They have to be touch because they release the power that is created by the muscle as it contracts to make the bones and joints move. You can see the tendons on the backside of your hands. They move your fingers and are attached to the muscles in your forearm.
Tendons are sometimes covered by a protective and lubricating sheath of tissues, which is called the synovium. It is this sheath that becomes inflamed at times when someone overextends himself or herself during a sporting event. When the sheath becomes inflamed, the condition is called tenosynovitis. Tendonitis and tenosynovitis can occur at the same time.
The tendons that are most prone to tendonitis are the ones associated with your shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger, knee, thigh or the back of your heel, which is known as your Achilles tendon. People who are most at risk for tendonitis are those adults who participate in sports.
If you are an adult engaging in sports and you experience a pain that gets worse when you move the joint or you feel a sensation such as something grating or crackling when you move a joint or is you notice a swelling, redness or warmth in the area or feel a weakness in the area you may have tendonitis. Other signs of tendonitis are a slight bruising, a tenderness or lump in the tendon. You may not be able to move the joint or just feel stillness in the area. You can notice a change in the normal position of the tendon or a gap in the line of the tendon.
The diagnosis of tendonitis is made when a doctor examines the joint and listens to your list of symptoms or complaints. The doctor will physically examine you for signs that there is friction in the affected area by listening with a stethoscope. The calcium deposits in the tendon or surrounding sheath can often be seen on x-ray or by using an ultrasound or MRI picture of the affected body part.
Sometimes when we wear shoes that do not fit properly we can get an inflammation of the tendon that is between the heel and the calf muscle which is called Achilles tendonitis. This can also occur from a sports injury.
You have tendons around your shoulder joint which if they build-up calcium can turn into calcify tendonitis.
A rotator cuff injury or a painful arc syndrome happens when the tendons that you use to lift up your arm out to the side of your body tears and causes pain and inflammation in the arm when you try to move it.
The inflammation of the flat tendon that covers the sole of your foot can be painful when you try to stand or walk and is called plantar fasciitis.
A repetitive strain injury that occurs to the tendon that connects the bone and the suprastinatus muscle of the should is called suprastinatus tendonitis.
The best thing that you can do if you suspect that you may have tendonitis is to stop using the affected body part and see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Both tendonitis and tenosynovitis improve with treatment. Many doctors will recommend using an ultrasound to help speed up the recovery of the tendonitis. Some individuals also need an injection of corticosteroid drug either around the affected tendon or directly into the sheath of the tendon.
If tendonitis is due to an infection a course of antibiotics will be prescribed and possibly the affected area will be splinted or at least covered with a firm bandage or brace depending on the affected body part.
It is very important to rest the area until the inflammation has had a chance to decrease. You can also apply an ice pack covered by cloth or you can take a hot bath or shower to help relieve the pain and reduce the swelling.
Your doctor may ask you to participate in physiotherapy.
Sometimes the area really needs to be well rested so the individual may be asked to wear a plaster case or the situation may require surgery.
