How to Treat Tendonitis Symptoms
Tendons are the fibrous structure that joins muscles to bones. Tendonitis, a swelling or inflammation of the tendon, develops when the tendons are overused, injured or can develop just with age. If you have rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes you can also develop tendonitis. It can occur in any joint but most frequently occurs in the elbow, heel, shoulder or knee.
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Things You'll Need
- Splint, brace or ace bandages Hot and cold packs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Aspirin or Ibuprofen)
Instructions
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Take anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
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Rest the affected joint. If it's your shoulder, don't play basketball, for example; use your affected joint only for what is absolutely necessary. A splint or brace, which can be purchased at Walgreens or a similar store, can help you with immobilization, yet leave the joint semi-usable.
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Apply heat or ice, whichever seems to help. Ice will reduce any swelling there is, and heat will stimulate blood flow through the joint.
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Strengthen your muscles with exercise, after the symptoms reduce, to prevent a recurrence. Stretching exercises to keep your muscles limber are also essential.
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See a doctor if symptoms don't dissipate, as you may have a more serious injury that could require corticosteroid shots or surgery to prevent permanent disability. See your doctor if you experience pain or tenderness near a joint, pain at night, pain that is worse when the joint is used or a limitation in your range of motion, for example, if you experience pain raising your arm over your head.
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Tips & Warnings
To prevent tendonitis, always do stretching exercises prior to a workout to warm up your muscles. Keep your muscles strong. Avoid repetitive motions.
If your job causes you to repeatedly do the same thing, such as typing, reaching or moving your joints in the same way over and over, try to switch hands, change the rhythm or change the motion to avoid this in the future. You may also get a doctor's note regarding your injury and request a reasonable accommodation from your employer that will allow you to rest you afflicted joint at regular intervals during the day.
