Tendonitis: Painful and Slow to Heal

Tendons-bands of tough, elastic material that attach your muscles to your bones-supply a flexible connection between the two parts of the body that allows for smooth movement. But while they are tough, tendons are also susceptible to injury and inflammation. When a tendon acts up, you can experience pain and loss of function in the affected area of your body.

Repetitive motion is one common cause of tendonitis; others are the ordinary aging process and inflammation caused by arthritis and other degenerative conditions of the bones. Overdoing an exercise program or injuring the affected area can also result in tendonitis. And while broken bones are considered by the general public to be more serious, bones can heal in a matter of weeks, while an injured tendon may take months to heal.

Pain medications, particularly NSAIDS like Ibuprofen, can often alleviate the symptoms of tendonitis; sometimes, when the injury is severe or improvement not forthcoming, corticosteroids are used. Protecting the affected tendon where possible with support socks, braces, or splints can facilitate healing. A new, FDA-approved pain relief technique, ultra-red light therapy, also holds promise for relief of tendonitis.

Getting a diagnosis when experiencing pain is important; pain might indicate tendonitis, bone or muscle injury, or a degenerative disease like arthritis. Depending on the diagnosis, the treatment can vary; so be safe and be sure before starting any treatment regimen