4 symptoms of tendinitis (and what to do)

Symptoms of tendinitis, such as localized pain, difficulty in moving the affected limb, swelling or redness at the site, can appear in any part of the body, being most common in the hand, shoulder, elbow, knee or ankle, and occur due to inflammation of the tendon, which is the structure that connects muscles to bones.

This inflammation in the tendon can be caused by stiffening of the tendon, which is normal as the body ages, or due to friction in the tendon, effort or repetitive movements as in the case of athletes, diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, or the use of medications such as levofloxacin. or ciprofloxacin, for example.

Tendinitis must be treated by an orthopedist who may recommend the use of analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy sessions or surgery to avoid complications such as muscle atrophy or tendon rupture, for example. Furthermore, it is important to rest the affected region so that the tendon has the chance to heal.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of tendonitis are:

1. Localized pain

Localized pain is a common symptom of tendonitis that occurs especially when moving the affected limb or joint and can radiate to the muscles in the region around the tendon.

The pain usually appears in the form of a stab and is accompanied by a sensation that the tendon is popping or grinding as it moves.

What to do: Apply ice packs to the painful area 3 to 4 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes each time to help reduce blood flow to the area and decrease pain. You can also lightly massage the affected region for 1 to 2 minutes with anti-inflammatory ointments such as diclofenac diethylammonium or methyl salicylate, for example, 2 to 3 times a day. In addition, you should consult an orthopedist who may recommend the use of analgesics such as paracetamol or dipyrone, or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for example.

2. Difficulty in movement

Difficulty in movement varies according to the affected region, such as getting up, sitting, walking, raising your arms above your head or holding objects, for example, and can occur due to pain in the area or swelling caused by tendonitis.

What to do: rest and rest the affected region, avoiding activities that may cause pain and cause difficulty in movement. In addition, physiotherapy should be performed with stretching and strengthening exercises recommended by the physiotherapist, who can also use electrotherapy devices, to accelerate the healing process of the affected tendon and improve movement in the affected area.

Watch the video with physiotherapist Marcelle Pinheiro with stretching and strengthening exercises for tendonitis:

3. Swelling or redness

Swelling or redness in the affected area occurs due to inflammation of the tendon, with the release of inflammatory substances such as prostaglandins and cytokines, which cause blood vessels to dilate and fluid to accumulate in the muscles around the tendon.

What to do: apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day, because the cold helps to reduce the dilation of blood vessels, relieving swelling and redness. It is important to consult an orthopedist who may recommend the use of anti-inflammatories such as naproxen or ibuprofen, for example, corticosteroid injections performed in the doctor’s office or surgery to remove inflamed tissues. Additionally, to help reduce swelling and redness, you can consume home remedies with anti-inflammatory action such as ginger tea or anise tea. Check out the best home remedies for tendonitis.

4. Decreased strength

In some cases, there may be a decrease in strength in the affected region, especially when tendonitis is severe or chronic, as it can cause atrophy of the muscles around the tendon, making everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, carrying out household chores or taking a shower difficult. , for example.

What to do: undergo physiotherapy with stretching and muscle strengthening exercises recommended by the physiotherapist to recover the strength and tone of the muscles and tendons. Additionally, the orthopedist may recommend surgery to repair the affected tendon and help regain strength.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of tendinitis must be made by the orthopedist through a physical examination, analyzing the movements and sensitivity of the affected region. In addition, the doctor may order x-ray, ultrasound or MRI scans of the joint to rule out another disease that has the same symptoms, such as bursitis, for example.