Tendons attach your muscles to your bones. If you experience a tendon injury, you may feel a fair amount of pain. In most cases, minor injuries can heal with rest and home care, but in some cases serious tendon injuries may require surgery. Consult a doctor if you experience swelling, bruising, sudden shooting pain or limitation in movement.
Tendinitis Symptoms
Tendinitis occurs when a tendon becomes irritated or inflamed. This can occur around any joint in the body, but will typically arise when you overuse a joint during exercise, housework, or any other strenuous activity. If you're experiencing tendinitis, you'll feel a dull, aching pain just outside of a joint. You may also notice mild swelling or tenderness. In most cases, you can self-treat tendinitis by using the RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Consult your doctor if the pain is severe or doesn't diminish after several days.
Bruising, Stiffness and Weakness
Because your tendon attaches your muscle to your bone, tendon tears can cause obvious and damaging limitations to your soft tissue. In addition to severe pain, swelling and bruising will occur as a result of damaged blood vessels and inflammation. And, if your muscle no longer attaches appropriately to your bone, you may find that your joint "gives out" on you, or feels stiff, as if you can't move it the way you normally would. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit your doctor to determine the extent of your injury.
Audible Pop
When you experience a tendon tear or rupture, you may hear an audible, sudden pop or snap. If you hear a loud pop or snap in one of your joints, followed by sudden pain and weakness, go to a doctor to determine the full extent of the injury. Depending on whether you experience a partial or full tear of your tendon, you may have to undergo different types of surgeries for a full recovery.
