Tendinitis also is known as “Tendonitis” is an inflammation of the tendon causing pain and soreness outside the joint. The pain is witnessed in thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to the bones. Tendinitis is a health condition that happens when an individual injures the tendon, stresses the muscle during certain sports or heavy physical exercises. It is an acute swelling injury which also affects elbows, fingers, wrists, and other parts of the body. Depending on the body part involved in the injury, the names vary such as Pitcher shoulder, Golfer’s elbow, Jumper’s knee, Achilles tendinitis.
Tendinitis can occur at any age; however, the ailment is more common in adults who do a lot of physical exercises and play sports. Older people are more susceptible as their tendons lose the elasticity due to old age. It is a chronic long-term medical condition that can be treated through medications and in severe cases through surgery.
Tendinitis Treatments
A physical examination can reveal the development of Tendinitis. The doctor will ask you to go through some testing like the MRI scans or Ultrasound to determine the thickening of tendon, tears, and dislocation. Along with this, your doctor will also assess if you have a medical history of bursitis – a type of inflammation that develops a cushion kind of fluid around the joints.
The primary goal of treating tendinitis is to restore the movements of the joint without pain. Also, to strengthen the surrounding muscles while giving ample time to heal your tissues. During the treatment, you will be asked to take adequate rest and in some severe cases, bed rest is suggested. Returning soon to your normal life after the treatment can cause developing Tendinitis again leading to major tear of the tendons.
Physical therapy is often recommended along with treating the condition with ICE compression on the injured tendon. The doctor may suggest a short course of medication comprising of anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers.
If tendinitis persists, revealing the accumulation of calcium deposits around the tendon muscles, an extracorporeal shock wave therapy is recommended by the doctor. In this therapy, a shock wave is passed through the skin, that breaks the calcium deposits. It can also be removed through surgery.
Without proper treatment and rest, tendinitis can reoccur resulting in tendon rupture. This condition can be more serious whereupon surgery is the best option.
Other Treatment Options
If tendonitis is still causing pain after its initial treatment, your doctor will often start your treatment with physiotherapy to lessen the symptoms and to strengthen the area of injury. There are other medical treatments available to cure tendonitis:
Phonophoresis: It is the type of therapy that uses ultrasound to help anti-inflammatory creams to absorb in the skin. This is an effective treatment rendering quick recovery.
Iontophoresis: It is similar to phonophoresis therapy, here it uses electrical stimulation to help anti-inflammatory drugs to penetrate the skin. It provides patients with a treatment that is cheap, safe, and effective option.
Cortisone injections: These are steroid injections that can help effectively lessen tendonitis inflammation.
It Is Time You Listen to Your Pain
Some people often overlook the pain which may be the signal that something is damaged inside their body. It may not be a severe case but overlooking the health problem can result in serious consequences. Tendinitis is known to cause pain and discomfort, but the good news is they usually do not cause long-term damage and rarely require surgery. Do not delay the pain and let your doctor examine it to get the best medical tendinitis treatment for your speedy recovery.