What is tendinitis?
Tendinitis (also called tendonitis) is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon, a thick cord that attaches bone to muscle.
When the tendons are inflamed, the pulling action of the muscle is impaired and movement becomes painful. There are several large tendons around the knee area. When one or more of them becomes inflamed, this is called knee tendinitis.
What Causes Tendinitis?
Tendinitis is most often caused by repetitive, minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden more serious injury.
There are many activities that can cause tendinitis, including:
- Gardening
- Raking
- Carpentry
- Cleaning house
- Shoveling
- Painting
- Scrubbing
- Tennis
- Golf
- Skiing
- Throwing and pitching
Tendinitis Symptoms and Risk Factors
Moving the knee even slightly can cause severe knee pain. The pain will be worse when running, walking fast, or going up and downstairs. There may also be swelling from the inflammation.
Overuse is a common risk factor for tendinitis. When the tendon is stretched repeatedly by doing the same kind of exercise over a long period of time, the tendon can become strained and inflamed. Runners often get tendinitis for this reason. Tendinitis can also be caused by intense exercise over a short period of time.
What Are the Symptoms of Tendinitis?
The symptoms of tendinitis include:
- Pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. Pain may gradually build up or be sudden and severe, especially if calcium deposits are present.
- Loss of motion in the shoulder, called “adhesive capsulitis” or frozen shoulder.
How is it Treated?
Initial treatment of tendinitis includes:
- Avoiding activities that aggravate the problem
- Resting the injured area
- Icing the area the day of the injury
- Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs or using topical anti-inflammatory gels
If the condition does not improve in a week, see your doctor.
Recovering from tendinitis requires patience. With proper care, the knee pain will become less noticeable in about three weeks, but complete healing from tendinitis may require six weeks. By taking it easy for a month or so, your tendinitis should disappear and you’ll be on the go again.
How does Long Will Recovery Take?
Tendinitis may take weeks to months to go away, depending on the severity of your injury.
Ease back into activity: After your tendinitis disappears, don’t immediately go back to the same level of activity that caused your knee pain. Overdoing it can cause a recurrence of tendinitis. Warm-up and stretch before beginning exercise. Then go slowly for a few weeks.
Please remember to see your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Swelling, redness, and warmth
- General illness or multiple sites of pain
- Inability to move the affected area
These could be signs of another problem that needs more immediate attention.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119