There are many types of tendon injuries and tendinitis is one of them. Here is everything you need to know about tendinitis, how it is caused, what are its symptoms and how orthopedic surgeons treat it.

What Is Tendinitis?

Tendinitis is a disorder in which your tendon can get swollen or inflamed. The tendons are soft tissues which surround your muscles. These soft tissues help to keep the muscle intact with your bone. If there is some sort of injury in the tendon, like a tear or inflammation, it might cause radiating pain in the muscles which can even deep through the bones.

Your tendons can get swollen easily. It can happen as a result of a huge impact or a strike. Wherever there are muscles in your body, there are going to be tendons surrounding the muscular tissue.

Mostly, the swelling or inflammation happens around the elbow, joints of knees, feet, thighs and shoulders. These areas are quite fragile and the tendons are more likely at risk to be torn or swelled. This is why you should avoid falling on these areas so that the impact doesn’t affect the tendons in these areas.

Causes Of Tendinitis

Now that you know what tendinitis is, let’s talk about its causes.

If you are an athlete or avid sports enthusiast and if you fall down a lot and your body suffers from impact, then the tendons can tear and become weak. Over time, this weakness can transform into inflammation and swelling which is also followed by a lot of pain.
Some exercises can also cause swelling or inflammation of the tendon. You want to take care not to repeat those exercises if the area around your muscles starts to hurt a lot and the place becomes swollen or red.
Age is also another important factor. With age people tend to lose their strength in every part of their body. Muscles and tendons are no exception either. With time, your tendons can lose their flexibility and elasticity and one small strike or impact can tear the tendon and cause it to swell or become inflamed.
People who suffer from bone diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis can also have weak tendons. This is due to the bone weakening and it might cause extra strain on the tendon for it to hold on to the muscle and bone, which can cause severe tearing and ultimately it can lead to inflammation and a lot of pain in the affected area.

Symptoms Of Tendinitis

Now that you know the causes of tendinitis, here are some symptoms which can help you to identify tendinitis and you can get it checked by a doctor.

If the tendon is severely damaged, you might be able to see it through the skin. There is going to be a lump formed in the area.
Pain in the area is a general symptom and it is going to hurt more when you try to move it.
Redness and swelling on the exterior is also a common symptom with tendinitis.
There might be a visible gap on your body where the tendon is starting to tear and swell.
You will be able to hear a distinct crack or grating noise when you try to move the area where it hurts or where you assume the tendon is damaged.

How To Treat Tendinitis?

Here are some treatment options for tendinitis.

Proper rest is highly advised with no movement. With rest, your tendon will start to diminish the swelling by itself.
Try not to move the tendon too much while resting.
Try pain medicines for instant relief. You can go for normal over the counter medication like ibuprofen and Advil.
Try hot and cold compresses. This will help to diminish the swelling within no time at all and you will see the difference too.

There you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about tendinitis and how it can be cured. It takes some time and proper physical therapy for the tendon to feel normal and the swelling to subside. Furthermore, choose a specialist. If you feel pain or swelling in the elbow region, visit an elbow injury doctor Woodbridge.