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How is tendonitis diagnosed?

June 7th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon; tendons join muscles to the bone, so tendonitis can occur anywhere in your body - wherever there’s muscle. So tendonitis is referred to by the body part involved: hand tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis or patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee.)

You can suspect that you have tendonitis when there’s swelling in the area involved, along with pain. The area may be red, as well as swollen, and hot to the touch - the heat is from inflammation.

The swelling suggests that there’s micro damage or a partial tear in the tendon, along with fluid. The pain of tendonitis can be a simple ache or stiffness, or more sever pain with a burning sensation, and it’s worse during activity, or after it.

Tendonitis is also associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

If your doctor is uncertain about whether you have tendonitis, he’ll send you for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to confirm the diagnosis.

What causes tendonitis?

Commonly tendonitis is caused by overuse. It can start when you begin to exercise or increase the level of your exercises, and it will then result in symptoms of tendonitis. It can also be caused by advancing age. As you get older, the tendons tend to lose their elasticity as well as ability to glide as smoothly as they are accustomed to doing. Older people will thus be more at risk of developing tendonitis, and the cause of such a condition does require more study and research in order to completely understand the true causes.

So if you’ve just boosted your exercise program, and there’s swelling and pain in an area of your body, that’s a hint that you’re over-doing it, and you need to cut back on the amount of exercise. Always increase your exercise slowly.

The Right Tendonitis Treatment for you

May 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have tendonitis, you know that this injury can be disabling. However, it is treatable, and you can find the right treatment for you.

Like arthritis, tendonitis can cause joint swelling and inflammation in the affected area and can prevent the normal use of that part of the body, whether it is the wrist, knee or other area. Finding the right tendonitis treatment if of the utmost importance when learning to live with or overcome this chronic condition. There are many causes of tendonitis; overexertion, injury, sports-related condition or aging. Yet, there are successful treatments and therapies that can be employed with good results.

Tendonitis Treatments: Alternative Vs. Conventional

Often, when people begin to notice that their joints may be tender, red or swelling, they immediately call their doctors to schedule an appointment. Others put it off a bit longer, thinking that the condition will remedy itself with time. Still other people like to try alternative therapies and home remedies instead of making a trip to the doctor’s office. With every option, there are ways that help can be provided in tendonitis treatment. Doctors can often prescribe medications that will reduce the swelling and pain as well. Steroids are sometimes used in more severe cases, yet their long-term use in not generally recommended because of the nasty side effects of these drugs. Pain killers are prescribed for short-term use as well, depending on the severity of the pain. Yet, over a longer period, there use in mostly discouraged because of the risk of becoming dependent.

In the world of alternative therapy, homeopathic remedies are often employed for pain relief and overall healing of the tendonitis. Ginger root and cayenne can be made into a poultice to apply to the skin or into teas to help ease inflammatory conditions. Rubbing natural creams into the place of the tendonitis can be an effective tendonitis treatment as well. Getting to the root cause of the tendonitis is a bit harder, yet is crucial if one wants to overcome this debilitating condition. Often, one’s diet can be changed to include healthier choices and eliminating foods that are causing the inflammation within the body. This often works wonders in actually healing the tendonitis for good. Tendonitis treatments, no matter what route is chosen, are readily available and provide a hopeful outcome for this painful condition.

Bursitis Tendonitis – dealing with it

May 8th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If your joints are red and swollen, you may suspect bursitis tendonitis.

Tendons are the elastic type ligaments that connect muscle to bone. When these tendons break down with use a condition called tendonitis can occur. Tendonitis is an inflammatory condition which can cause pain and limit movement. Sacs of fluid which provide cushioning to the joints are called bursae. If this fluid filled sac become inflamed it is called bursitis. When there is inflammation of both the tendon and the bursae it is a condition referred to as bursitis tendonitis. Pain from this condition can become quite severe. There are several contributing factors that can cause bursitis tendonitis. Often this occurs normally with the aging process. As tendons age they loose their elasticity and continued use of the tendon can cause tearing or rupture. This condition can also be cause by trauma from either an accident or athletic overuse. Repetitive movement such as typing, painting, or jogging can take its toll over time.

Many people mistake the pain associated with bursitis tendonitis as being arthritis and indeed, this may be an early warning sign of arthritis. It is important to determine the cause of the inflammation and pain. In severe cases infection can occur which could require antibiotics and extracting the fluid from the infected site.

Treating Bursitis Tendonitis

It is important for you to discuss this condition with your doctor. He will need to try to determine if there is an underlying cause for the pain and inflammation. Early detection and treatment have the highest success rate. If the condition is a result of trauma or injury it can often be treated with immobilizing the area with a brace and taking a regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs. If the condition is caused by repetitive movement then your doctor can recommend ways to reduce the stress to the affected area. Often a change in the way you sit at your workplace can be modified to cause less stress to your neck, shoulders, back, and wrists. Taking frequent breaks can reduce stress to the affected area. Your doctor may want you to go to physical therapy to learn proper stretching and exercise techniques.

Tips in Preventing Bursitis Tendonitis

Always warm up with stretches before exercising. Being overweight can add stress to your knees so it is important to keep your weight at a normal level. Use good posture when sitting and standing. If you work at a desk and type, make sure you are sitting at a comfortable height which allows you a comfortable position without putting stress on your wrists. Taking the time to prevent joint stress as much as possible will help you maintain healthy, pain-free freedom of movement.

Wrist Tendonitis - how to cope

April 14th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Wrist tendonitis is a condition which can cause a great deal of pain and inflammation over time, and there are some helpful solutions to this common problem.

What Is Wrist Tendonitis And How Can I Help Heal This Condition?

Wrist tendonitis is an inflammation of the wrist joint that can cause irritation and swelling in the joint itself, causing stiffness and muscle tension to occur. The person living with this condition has a hard time grasping objects and holding their hands in a certain position because of the pain. This condition can result from an overuse of the wrist or an overexertion over time, such as by playing a sport requiring lots of wrist action, such as racquetball or basketball. The consistent wear and tear that is put upon the joint causes a chronic inflammatory response to an already susceptible joint. Some people’s joints are more prone to developing inflammation due to a number of factors such as diet, exercise, health and age.

There are many helpful remedies when dealing with a case of wrist tendonitis.

Often, taking a break from using the wrist often helps to calm the irritation and pain. Using cold packs or warm packs on the wrist can be helpful as well. The cold pack is generally recommended for a wrist that is red and swollen, to help reduce any swelling that may be present. Taking over-the-counter medications can be an effective short-term treatment to help eliminate the pain, yet for long term, this is not a recommended choice. Pain killers are sometimes prescribed as well, but it is not wise to take them for long periods of time either.

Homeopathic remedies and analgesic creams can be massaged into the wrist for helpful relief, as well as soaking the wrist in salt water.

Magnesium is known for its pain reducing qualities as well, and calcium calms and soothes joints also. Eliminating inflammation causing foods from one’s diet can often eliminate wrist tendonitis as well, such as dairy products which people are often allergic to. With the proper care and help, wrist tendonitis can not only be helped but healed as well.

Copyright © 2007 Fix Tendonitis

Credits: The Stretching Handbook | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund