Tendonitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

By John Van Tassel, Sat, Mar 05, 2022

Have you been suffering sharp pain when moving your hand, leg, arm, or shoulder? Are you tired of having to take pills with only temporary results? It is time to take a more natural approach and experience the power of chiropractic.

Tendonitis is a painful condition that affects the tendons in your body. There are many causes for tendonitis, and this condition can be challenging to treat. A variety of treatments are available for this condition. At Athletic & Family Chiropractic and our sister clinic, Wellness Sport & Spine, we offer conservative, non-drug, and non-surgical procedures to maximize functionality while relieving pain and minimizing potential tissue damage. This blog post will explain what you need to know about tendonitis, how it develops, how it is diagnosed, and what treatment options are available for those who suffer from it.

What Is Tendonitis?

Tendonitis occurs when the tendons in your body become inflamed. How it happens is quite varied, as both high-performance athletes and office workers can get it. Whether from training too hard or typing on a keyboard all day long, overuse of the tendon can lead to this condition. Many areas can be impacted by tendonitis. However, it is most common around your heels, knees, elbows, wrists, and shoulders. We find the best results when care starts with detailed conservative management treatment plans, rather than more invasive techniques.

Symptoms

Tendonitis can have a variety of symptoms depending on the impacted area of your body. However, some of the most common include:

Pain and stiffness in the joint
Difficulty or pain moving the joint
Swelling around the joint
Warmth or redness around the joint

When Should You See Us?

Pay attention to your symptoms as soon as you notice the first signs of possible tendonitis! There is a higher chance of quicker recovery and less downtime when early conservative intervention is involved. You should not underestimate how much damage tendonitis can cause, as it can lead to significant loss of mobility and even the need for surgery. It is best to seek treatment upon detecting its symptoms.

What Treatment Options Do I Have?

As every case is different, make sure to come in with us to get an evaluation to determine which treatment might be better suited for you:

Conservative and Non-invasive Chiropractic Treatments

The conservative approach to treating tendonitis aims to give as much function to the injured area as possible while minimizing pain and potential tissue damage. To achieve this, we implement several non-invasive methods, such as supervised mobility exercises as well as home exercises, proper use of ice and heat remedies, the PEACE & LOVE technique, among others. We see a lot of success with combining IASTM (Graston Technique) with eccentric loading exercise, when appropriate. Depending on the severity of the injury, we may also recommend gradually restoring mobility through moderate exercise or physical activities. Letting nature play its role in the healing process of recovery is essential!

Medication

More invasive therapy begins with medications. In some cases, doctors will recommend less conservative remedies, such as pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, these can also turn off the healing process and damage your liver, so be careful about their use and talk with your doctor first.

Corticosteroid Injections

In more severe cases, corticosteroids are another option. They are used because of their quick results in reducing inflammation and pain. They are typically given every few months as needed. We find that using cortoicosteroids as opening a window of therapeutic opportunity to do more aggressive conservative management is better than just taking the medication and waiting.

Surgery

This is an option for cases where all other alternatives are not working. It is often done if there is a significant loss of mobility or function due to tendonitis. However, this is usually a last resort, as it is the most invasive of all the treatments. Our goal is to avoid surgery whenever possible.

Looking for a doctor for tendonitis in Tallahassee? Athletic & Family Chiropractic/Wellness Sport & Spine is your best choice!

If you are struggling with tendonitis, tendinopathy or tendinosis, visit our expert team at Athletic & Family Chiropractic/Wellness Sport & Spine! With thirty years of experience treating patients with manual medicine, home exercises, and conservative treatment, we will work with you to choose the right approach for your situation. We focus on sports medicine and caring for musicians, performing artists, and fine artists. Our view is that life is an athletic event, which makes us all athletes. Let's keep you in the game of life! We welcome all patients!

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