Tendonitis

Tendons are tough and withstand a lot of pressure, but if they exceed their limits, they can stretch or tear. If you develop tendonitis symptoms, visit the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio’s office in San Antonio or Live Oak, Texas. The pain management specialists assess the injury and provide personalized treatment to restore function and relieve pain. Call your nearest office today for expert help with tendonitis recovery, or use the online scheduling form to request a consultation.

What is tendonitis?

Tendonitis is inflammation affecting the tendons — thick lengths of connective tissue that attach your muscles to your bones.

Acute tendon injuries (strains) cause immediate pain and loss of function, but tendonitis typically develops more slowly. Tiny injuries occur that build up, causing increased inflammation and pain. Without treatment, tendonitis can lead to tendinosis, where the tissue starts breaking down.

What symptoms does tendonitis cause?

Tendonitis is a common cause of hip, ankle, knee, elbow, and shoulder pain. Other symptoms include:

• Dull pain near a joint
• Pain or stiffness in the nearby muscles
• Severe pain after exercise
• Tenderness in the morning

As tendonitis worsens, you might develop persistent pain that interferes with work, exercise, and routine activities.

How is tendonitis diagnosed?

To diagnose tendonitis, your provider reviews your medical records and discusses your symptoms, such as when they started, whether they’re worse at certain times or after specific activities, and what eases the pain.

Next, you have a physical exam. Your provider gently presses on your joints and muscles to identify painful tissues and checks the joint’s range of motion, reflexes, and strength. You might need a diagnostic imaging procedure like an X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to examine the bones, joints, and soft tissues inside the joint.

How is tendonitis treated?

Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio begins your tendonitis treatment with conservative measures. First, it’s vital to stop doing the activity that caused your tendonitis or anything that aggravates it. You might require pain medication and anti-inflammatories, and using ice and heat several times a day helps ease pain and reduce inflammation.

Custom orthotics (specially designed inserts you wear in your shoes) can help if you have Achilles tendonitis. A brace or splint could help with knee or elbow tendonitis, and a sling with shoulder tendonitis. These measures all support the damaged tendon, relieving strain and reducing shock. Physical therapy is also vital to help tendons heal and improve mobility.

For most people, these noninvasive methods resolve tendonitis within a few weeks or months. If your symptoms persist, you might benefit from steroid injections that deliver potent anti-inflammatory drugs directly to the tendon. Another option is ultrasound treatment to destroy and remove damaged tissue, using a probe that fits into a small incision.

Don’t let tendonitis stop you from leading an active life. Call Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio today or book online.