Tendonitis

At a Tendonitis it is an inflammation that affects the tendons. Degenerative processes are often responsible for the disease. Tendonitis is usually associated with pain for the affected patient and also develops in part as a result of sporting activities or overloading the tendon at work. If only the vagina of the tendons is affected by the inflammatory process, the disease is called tendovaginitis.

What is tendonitis?

This is often the case when doing sports or at work, for example as a cashier or construction worker. It is not necessarily the effort required to develop the inflammation that is decisive, but rather the constantly repeated sequences of movements.
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As part of the Tendonitis inflammatory processes occur on the tendons. The cause of the disease often lies in factors associated with rheumatic diseases. In addition, the term disease is also used in numerous cases when it comes to tendinitis as a result of overload.

Strictly speaking, however, these types of inflammation are known as tendopathies. Tendonitis is usually treated symptomatically if the underlying factors cannot be eliminated directly. Medicinal agents are often used to relieve the pain of the affected person and to reduce the inflammatory processes in the tendon.

causes

The causes of tendonitis are varied and differ from patient to patient. In principle, the disease arises in numerous cases as a result of degenerative processes inside the affected tendon. Such degenerations increase with the age of the patient.

External factors that ultimately lead to the development of tendinitis are also possible. Tendonitis often occurs due to physical activities and the associated overloading of the tendons. The inflammatory processes in the diseased tendon are promoted or triggered, for example, by external injuries and damage, infections or distortions.

In principle, it is possible for tendinitis to occur on any tendon in the human body. In many cases, however, it develops in the elbow or wrist area, shoulders, or heels. In the majority of the affected patients, the frequent repetition of certain movements leads to the development of tendinitis.

This is often the case when doing sports or at work, for example as a cashier or construction worker. It is not necessarily the effort required to develop the inflammation that is decisive, but rather the constantly repeated sequences of movements. The likelihood of tendonitis increases if the movements are incorrect and stressful.

Unusual movements or special positions of the body or the corresponding tendons during exercise are also risky. For example, if people regularly lift objects above head height, they are more likely to develop inflammation of the stressed tendons. In addition, certain sports are often associated with tendonitis. These include tennis, bowling and golf.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Tendonitis is characterized by certain symptoms that help diagnose the condition. In the majority of cases, the affected tendon or the relevant area of ​​the body causes a clear pain. Irritations in the area of ​​the corresponding tendon are also possible.

In some patients with tendonitis, noises are made when the inflamed tendon moves. In addition, patients often suffer from weakness in the diseased area, tendons and muscles. The site is often very sensitive, and there may be a knot on the tendon.

Some people with the disease have reddened skin or swelling around the tendons affected by tendonitis. For example, if the long tendon on the biceps is inflamed, people feel pain when they raise their arms.

Diagnosis & course of disease

A diagnosis of tendinitis is always made based on the clinical symptoms of the disease. First, an anamnesis or a patient interview takes place. The sick person is asked to describe the present symptoms to the attending physician, the time at which the symptoms began and possible factors behind the development.

The doctor will also discuss the person's lifestyle and try to identify activities that may have contributed to the inflammation of the tendon. In the second step in making the diagnosis, the doctor conducts several clinical examinations with the patient. By palpating the corresponding area, the doctor causes tenderness that already indicates tendinitis.

The patient is asked to move the appropriate part of the body while the doctor pulls the section. If this results in pain, this also corroborates the suspicion of tendinitis. In addition, the doctor uses imaging tests to reliably diagnose tendonitis. For example, sonography or magnetic resonance imaging can be considered. The diagnosis of tendonitis can be confirmed with the help of an arthroscopy.

Complications

First and foremost, those affected suffer from very severe pain with tendinitis. These occur mainly in the affected tendon, but can also spread to the neighboring regions. If the pain occurs during the night, it can lead to sleep problems and thus possibly to depression and other psychological upsets.

Sensory disturbances or paralysis are also possible in the affected area. Furthermore, there may be restrictions in movement. The tendon inflammation can spread to the muscles, causing them to become inflamed too. The skin on the affected areas is often reddened or affected by itching. The extremities can also be painful due to the illness.

This is the case even if only a single tendon is inflamed. The pain can usually be limited with pain relievers. There are no complications. Furthermore, many patients are dependent on therapy to fully restore movement. The life expectancy of the patient is not negatively affected by the tendonitis.

When should you go to the doctor?

Unilateral tendon pain that appears to have appeared suddenly must be examined by a doctor. If the problem is tendonitis, medical treatment is necessary. The patient must refrain from exercise and, if necessary, wear a cast. The pain usually increases in intensity over a longer period of time, initially only occurring in the affected region and then spreading to the surrounding areas of the body. Affected body parts can usually only be splayed out with pain, while they are largely pain-free when at rest.

When moving, grinding noises can occur, which are a clear indicator of a disease that requires treatment. People who exercise monotonously during sport or at work are particularly at risk. Anyone who sits at their PC a lot, plays tennis or wears unfavorable footwear in everyday life should consult a doctor if the symptoms mentioned occur. Anyone who belongs to these risk groups or who experiences the typical tendinitis pain must consult their family doctor or an orthopedic surgeon. Treatment is drug or surgical. If necessary, a physiotherapist must be called in.

Treatment & Therapy

In order to treat tendinitis, conservative methods of treatment are available. For example, medication for pain relief and physiotherapy are used. On the other hand, surgical interventions to treat tendinitis are necessary in some cases. These are especially necessary if conservative measures have not yet shown sufficient effect after half a year.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for muscle pain

prevention

Prevention of tendonitis involves avoiding all potential overloads on the tendons.

Aftercare

In most cases, sufferers of tendinitis have only a few and usually only limited measures and options for follow-up care available, so that primarily with this disease a doctor should be consulted very early to prevent the occurrence of further complications . As a rule, the tendinitis cannot heal itself, so that the patient is always dependent on medical treatment.

If anything is unclear or if side effects occur, a doctor should first be contacted in order to avert possible complications. Those affected should observe the prescribed dosage and regular intake, whereby alcohol should be avoided during the cure. In general, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet can have a very positive effect on the further course of the disease. It cannot be universally predicted whether tendonitis will lead to a reduced life expectancy for the person affected.

You can do that yourself

Patients who suffer from tendinitis must protect the affected joints. After the doctor has diagnosed the disease and prescribed an initial pain reliever, it is important to avoid strenuous movements.

If the hands or wrist are affected, the patient may have to take sick leave. It is also important to cool the joints. Medical ointments are suitable for this, but also home remedies such as quark or aloe vera, which are applied to the swelling in the form of a compress. If the shoulder is infected, normal arm movements can no longer be performed. The patient may need support in everyday life. Here it is important to seek help at an early stage so that the disease can be overcome without major restrictions.

If necessary, the pain can also be treated using various homeopathic remedies. Patients should contact their doctor for this, who can call in a suitable medical professional. If the symptoms do not go away on their own, a visit to a doctor is recommended. Tendonitis can develop into a chronic condition if the causes are not corrected or the inflammation is not completely cured.