A tendon is a tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone and assists in joint movement. Tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon and commonly occurs in areas of the body such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle. Risk factors for developing tendinitis include increased age and participation in sporting activities. Symptoms of tendinitis include pain when the joint moves, tenderness to the area of inflammation and mild amounts of swelling. Treatments for tendinitis focus on relieving pain and decreasing inflammation.
Home Remedies
Resting the joint helps decrease the activity and inflammatory response of the affected tendon. A splint or a removable brace may help immobilize the joint. Not resting the tendon will cause a continued pain and inflammation. Apply ice to the painful tendon to help relieve the inflammation and swelling. Elevating the affected area also helps to reduce the edema surrounding the injured tendon.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications help decrease the pain and inflammation associated with tendinitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as products containing acetaminophen, help control pain while medications containing ibuprofen help reduce swelling. If over-the-counter medications do no alleviate the pain, prescription pain medications from the physician may help. A physician may also inject a corticosteroid, such as betamethasone, into the sheath surrounding the tendon to attempt to relieve the pain and swelling. Other medications used to treat tendinitis focus on treating the problem causing the condition, such as an attack of gout.
Physical Therapy
Having physical therapy on the injured tendon may help improve the symptoms associated with the condition. Some therapy programs focus on stretching and strengthening the tendon and the surrounding muscles. These exercises help increase the range of motion in the joint. Performing the exercises several times each day helps improve the condition. The physical therapy can also help restore the proper function of the tendon and prevent future injuries.
Surgery
Some individuals may require surgery to treat tendinitis. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the inflamed tissue from around the tendon. This surgery is for severe tendon injuries and for chronic cases of tendinitis. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can cause chronic tendinitis and may require surgical repair of the tendon. An additional procedure removes calcium deposits along the tendon with chronic pain.
