Tendinitis
Your tendons are what connect your bones to your muscles and allow you to move around. They are the wires that let your body move fluidly. However, like real wires, they can degrade and get damaged if they’re overused. This is called Tendinitis and it can be a problem for many individuals, especially since it can happen on multiple points in your body. Inflammation, pain and even tearing of the tendons themselves can happen if you overuse them.
There are also several types of tendinitis that are named after the place where they occur. For example, achilles tendinitis is for the heels, rotator cuff tendinitis happens on your shoulders, and flexor tendinitis happens on your hand, just before the wrist.
What Can Cause Tendinitis?
One of the main causes of Tendinitis is the overuse of your tendons. Usually this happens if you’re doing things that put too much weight on your tendons, or if you bend them in unnatural ways. Athletes in particular are at higher risk for Tendinitis due to the nature of their profession. In the same vein, underusing your tendons can also put you at higher risk.
Staying sedentary isn’t particularly healthy, and your tendons can suffer from it. When you stop being active, your body will slowly grow weaker. Any sudden movement or overexertion could very easily cause damage to your tendons. So it is essential to keep your body flexible by staying active and exercising regularly.
What You Can Do To Prevent and Treat Tendinitis
Tendinitis can be quite nasty as the pain can be abrupt and can last for quite awhile. So it’s best you know how to prevent it from happening in the first place and available tendinitis treatments you can use.
The most important and effective way to prevent it from happening at all, is to stay on top of your exercise routine and stay active. Using your tendons frequently means that they don’t waste away, making it easier to prevent Tendinitis from happening and avoiding the need to go and get a tendinitis treatment. Exercise also increases the limits of your body, letting you do more difficult tasks without risk of damaging your tendons.
If you’re already experiencing tendon pain, then you have to make sure that you stop overexerting the area where the pain is located. Doing so will only make things worse, and you could risk long term damage.
But what if that doesn’t help? Then you have the option of a number of tendinitis treatments that can be provided by a professional. These Tendinitis treatments can be a lifesaver as they can ease the pain that you experience from the various types of Tendinitis you can experience.
Active Family Chiropractic is Here for You
Preventing Tendinitis can be a difficult thing to do, especially if your life circumstances puts you at higher risk of it. Treating it once it’s already there can be an even more tough task. One thing you need to know is that Active Family Chiropractic is here for you.
Our long list of treatments are personalized to you, and we can help you with both preventing Tendinitis, and alleviating the pain from it.
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) are commonly used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in tendonitis patients. Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help alleviate discomfort and inflammation. Exercises in physical therapy are frequently suggested to strengthen the damaged tendon and surrounding muscles, increase flexibility, and promote recovery. A doctor may offer corticosteroid injections to relieve inflammation in some circumstances, but they should be used with caution due to potential adverse effects. If conservative treatments are unsuccessful, more sophisticated procedures, such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy or surgery, may be attempted. A healthcare specialist should be consulted for a proper diagnosis and personalized treatment plan for tendinitis.
Tendonitis heals at different rates depending on the severity of the damage and how effectively it is handled. Mild tendonitis can be resolved in a few weeks with rest and conservative therapy. More severe or chronic cases, on the other hand, may take several weeks to months to fully recover. Following a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include rest, physical therapy, and suitable activity changes, can aid in speedier recovery and lower the chance of recurrence. To guarantee a complete recovery from tendinitis, it is critical to be patient and consistent with the treatment plan.
Mild forms of tendinitis may heal on their own with sufficient self-care and relaxation. Allowing the injured tendon enough rest and avoiding activities that aggravate the discomfort can help the inflammation go away on its own. Applying ice to the affected area, elevating it, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers will help ease symptoms and aid in the healing process. More severe or persistent cases of tendonitis, on the other hand, may necessitate medical intervention, such as physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or other treatments, to aid healing and avoid future damage. It is critical to regularly monitor the illness and seek medical advice if the symptoms persist or worsen.
The usage of heat or cold for tendinitis is determined on the stage of the injury as well as personal preferences. Cold therapy is often indicated in the acute period (within the first 48 hours) to reduce inflammation and numb the area, which can help alleviate pain and swelling. During this time, applying an ice pack or cold compress for 15-20 minutes every few hours can be therapeutic. Heat therapy may be more helpful as the injury evolves into the subacute or chronic phases. Warm compresses or baths can assist enhance blood flow to the affected area, relax muscles, and aid healing. However, it is critical to contact with a healthcare practitioner to decide the best treatment option for your unique illness.
