The treatment may involve rest, ice tool, over-the-counter painkillers, and steroid injections.
This article explains what tendons are, including the causes and symptoms of tendonitis.
It also describes how tendonitis is treated and ways to prevent it.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
What Are Tendons?
Tendons are tough bands of fibrous connective tissues that attach bones to muscles.
Likeligaments(which connect bones to other bones), tendons are composed mainly of collagen.
How Long Does Tendonitis Last?
Even so, recurrence is common unless changes are made to how you use a joint.
Chronic tendonitis may require ongoing care to manage symptoms and prevent exacerbations (flare-ups).
This includes treating or managing the underlying condition like gout or diabetes.
At-Home Treatment
The treatment of tendonitis is usually conservative.
Seek immediate medical care if:
Other Types of Tendon Injuries
Tendonitis is one condition affecting tendons.
When tendonitis is chronic, it is commonly referred to astendinosis.
The degeneration of the tendons due to inflammatory or non-inflammatory conditions is referred to astendinopathy.
At its heart, tendinosis is accumulated trauma to a tendon.
It may be due to inflammation but it doesn’t necessarily involve inflammation.
Tendinosis can occur when overuse continues without giving the tendon time to heal.
Tendinosis is also characterized by the loss of collagen which can increase the risk of re-injury or rupture.
The distinction between tendonitis and tendinosis is important insofar as the goals and duration of treatment can differ.
Tendinosis may require chronic, ongoing management with the aim of preserving rather than restoring joint function.
Tendinopathy
Tendinopathy encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting tendons, both inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
As with tendinosis, “tendinopathy” and “tendonitis” are often used interchangeably.
However, tendinopathy doesn’t describe inflammation as much as it does the process of tendon deterioration.
If your pain is from overuse, reduce or stop that activity and find a substitute activity.
If the pain is from poor technique or poor ergonomics, consult a coach or trainer for skills training.
If you might eliminate the offending factors, you have a much greater likelihood of a full recovery.
Summary
Tendonitis describes tendon inflammation that causes pain, swelling, and loss of joint mobility.
Treatment is typically conservative, involving rest, ice utility, compression, and OTC painkillers.
A physical therapy program can prevent re-injury.
Screen HRC, Birk DE, Kadler KE, Ramirez F, Young MF.Tendon functional extracellular matrix.J Orthop Res.
2015 Jun;33(6):780-4. doi: 10.1002/jor.22869.
