Tendinitis is an inflammation of your tendons, the bands of connective tissue that secure muscles to bones. Symptoms include pain that worsens with motion, swelling and stiffness; the area may also be reddened or warm to the touch. Repetitive motions, performed during sports or work, are a common cause of tendinitis. Your doctor may advise immobilization and applications of ice; he may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. Natural healers sometimes recommend vitamin C to speed healing. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin C to treat tendinitis.
Tendinitis Features
Tendinitis most commonly affects the rotator cuff in the shoulder, the elbows, knees, ankles, wrists and thumbs. Although tendinitis usually develops slowly in response to overuse, overtraining or lifting heavy objects, it can also result suddenly from an injury caused by a fall or other impact. A condition called calcific tendinitis can result when calcium builds up in a joint. MayoClinic.com notes that tendinitis can often be treated with self care and over-the-counter pain relievers, but you should see your doctor if symptoms worsen or interfere with your daily activities for more than a few days.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient that occurs naturally in foods. Essential for the production of collagen, vitamin C also enhances immune system function and assists with the absorption of iron. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the recommended dietary allowance for men is 90 mg of vitamin C a day; women should get 75 mg. If you smoke, you require an additional 35 mg per day. Vitamin C speeds healing, and your body's requirements for vitamin C increase whenever there is injury to connective tissues, such as tendons. Vitamin C may even play a role in preventing tendinitis from developing. Its antioxidant properties help reduce oxidative damage that results from exercise.
Dietary Sources
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines and lemons; a medium-sized red grapefruit, with 78 mg of vitamin C, is an excellent source. Peppers, kiwifruit and tomatoes also score high in vitamin C content, as do berries. A cup of sliced strawberries provides 97 mg -- more than100 percent of your recommended daily allowance. Broccoli is also a surprisingly good source of vitamin C, with 50 mg in a half-cup serving.
Supplementation
Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Medicine advises taking vitamin C in a dosage of 250 to 500 mg twice a day with meals to speed healing of musculoskeletal injuries. University of Maryland Medical Center also endorses this dosage to aid in healing of tendinitis, enhance immune function and decrease inflammation. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the safe upper limit of vitamin C is 2,000 mg for adults. Excessive dosages of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps and interfere with the action of statin drugs taken with niacin. Excessive dosages for prolonged periods of time can contribute to the formation of cystine, oxalate or urate crystals in the kidneys and also deplete the body's stores of copper. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin C to treat tendinitis.
References
- Drugs.com; Complete Ascorbic Acid Information
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Vitamin C; February 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Tendinitis; March 2010
- U.S Department of Agriculture: National Nutrient Database
- MayoClinic.com; Tendinitis; November 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin C; June 2011
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