Tendinitis: Sore, Swollen Tendons, Causes and When to Be Seen

What it involves

MedlinePlus defines tendinitis as swelling or inflammation of a tendon, the fibrous band that joins a muscle to a bone. It can happen in any tendon, and in many cases some degeneration of the tendon, called tendinosis, is present too.

Who this is for

• Patients with pain and tenderness along a tendon after repetitive work, sports, or a new exercise routine
• Patients with pain in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb, knee, or heel that worsens with movement
• Patients with diabetes or an inflammatory condition who keep getting sore tendons
• Patients who want to know whether rest and home care are enough or a visit is needed

What to expect

• Questions about the activity that started the pain, when it hurts most, and whether it wakes you at night
• A hands-on exam, moving and pressing the area, since MedlinePlus says specific tests exist for specific tendons
• A review of conditions such as diabetes or arthritis that can lead to tendon problems
• A plan that may include rest, a brace, pain relief, exercises, imaging, or a referral to a specialist

How tendons get irritated

MedlinePlus says tendinitis can come from injury or overuse, and that playing sports is a common cause. Tendons also lose elasticity with age, and body-wide diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes can lead to tendinitis. The sites it names most often are the elbow, heel, knee, shoulder, thumb, and wrist. The elbow pain guide and the shoulder pain guide explain two of the most common ones.

What it feels like

The symptoms MedlinePlus lists vary with the tendon and the activity, but they tend to follow a pattern:

• Pain and tenderness along a tendon, usually near a joint
• Pain at night
• Pain that is worse with movement or activity
• Stiffness in the morning

How a provider checks

MedlinePlus says the exam looks for pain and tenderness when the muscle attached to the tendon is moved in certain ways, and the skin over an inflamed tendon may be warm and red. Ultrasound, X-ray, or MRI may be used in some cases. Heel and calf tendon pain is covered in the heel pain guide.

What treatment aims to do

The goal, according to MedlinePlus, is to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Resting the tendon with a splint or removable brace, applying heat or cold, and taking anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen are the usual first steps. Steroid injections around the tendon sheath can help control pain, and physical therapy can stretch and strengthen the muscle and tendon. Surgery is described as rare. Joint-area injections as an option are explained on the joint injections page.

Swelling beside the tendon

Tendons sit close to fluid-filled cushions, and either can flare up with repetition. If the soreness is more of a swollen, tender lump near a joint, the bursitis guide explains how that problem differs. A provider sorts out which structure is irritated at the visit.

Keeping it from coming back

MedlinePlus lists avoiding repetitive motions and overuse of the arms and legs, keeping muscles strong and flexible, and warming up at a relaxed pace before vigorous activity. It also warns that long-term inflammation raises the risk of further injury, including a rupture, and that an overuse injury may require a change in work habits. Seeing a provider for symptoms that do not ease is its advice.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Tendinitis
• MedlinePlus — Tendinitis health topic