How to Put an End to Tendonitis Pain

Tendonitis can be sneaky. Whether you’re spending more hours typing at a keyboard or training for a 5K, you might suddenly find yourself wincing every time you pick up your water glass or go for a walk. Tendonitis can affect your shoulder, wrist, elbow, ankle, or any other high-use joint, impacting your daily activities. 

At Spine and Pain Center of San Antonio in Live Oak and San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Sergio Alvarado and our expert team evaluate your tendonitis symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you recover and return to your normal routine. 

Here, we break down the typical causes and symptoms of tendonitis pain — and explore a few ways you can put it in your past. 

What is tendonitis? 

Tendonitis references an inflamed or irritated tendon. A tendon is a thick cord connecting muscle to bone at a joint, and you have multiple tendons in your body. 

When you practice the same movements over and over again, that repetitive motion can cause an “overuse” injury that leads to pain and tenderness around the affected joint. “Tennis elbow,” “swimmer’s shoulder,” and “runner’s knee” are different types of tendonitis. 

Common causes of tendonitis

While the nicknames for tendonitis relate to athletic pursuits, any repetitive tasks can strain your tendons. That means typing, gardening, and even texting a lot might cause this strain. 

If you feel repeated stiffness or a dull ache around a specific joint — especially when engaging in an activity you do often, like knitting or golfing — you may have the beginnings of tendonitis. 

Left untreated, tendon inflammation can evolve into a long-standing, chronic condition. In serious cases, your tendon could even rupture. If you suspect that you have tendonitis, don’t ignore it — the condition is far easier to treat and heal when it’s caught early. 

How to care for your tendonitis

You can likely treat tendonitis pain at home under professional supervision. Proven treatments include: 

Rest with gentle movement

Avoid activities that worsen your tendon-related joint pain, but do perform gentle stretches or range-of-motion exercises to help prevent stiffness. 

Ice therapy 

The proverbial frozen bag of peas or an ice pack can reduce tendonitis swelling and pain. Apply your cloth-covered cold item to the affected area for 15-20 minutes at a time. 

NSAIDs 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are reliable for short-term pain relief. Don’t overdo them, however, and be sure to follow the label instructions. 

Physical therapy 

A personalized stretching routine can help correct posture imbalances contributing to tendon stress. Physical therapists might incorporate ultrasound therapy or other modalities to help. 

Supportive bracing 

Athletes use braces or supportive tape to reduce tendon strain and aid recovery because they work. You can use them, too, and our team can offer guidance on the right support aid for your tendonitis problem. 

Injections 

In some cases, we may recommend corticosteroid joint injections or other methods of interventional pain relief to ease tendon inflammation so you can make headway in other treatment modalities, like physical therapy.  

Specialist tendonitis care

Are you experiencing tendonitis pain? We can evaluate, diagnose, and treat your joint injury to help you heal quickly and feel your best once again. Schedule a visit at your nearest Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio office in San Antonio or Live Oak, Texas, today.