Throughout your body are tough cords called tendons. Tendons attach your bones to your muscles so that you can move. The tendons are lined with a sheath to protect them. If this sheath becomes inflamed or irritated you may be diagnosed with tenosynovitis. This condition can be the result of an injury, infection or from overuse. It can happen to any tendon in your body and you will need to take steps to treat this condition to prevent it from becoming worse.
Common Symptoms
If the sheath becomes inflamed, you may develop swelling around the affected joint. You may also lose range of motion in your joint, feel stiff and find it hard to bend or straighten the injured area. Your doctor can touch the area and move the joint around to help confirm a diagnosis.
Additional Symptoms
The affected area will also be tender or painful to the touch. Your pain may get worse when you move but then subside with rest. In addition, if the swelling is severe, your affected joint may be warm to the touch. This condition is most common in the hand, wrist, foot and ankle.
Severe Symptoms
You need to see your physician if along with the above symptoms you develop a fever or the joint becomes reddish and severely swollen. These are signs that you may have an infection. If you are unable to bend or straighten the affected joint at all, you need to seek medical care.
