How long does the inflammation last?

In the case of minor tendon inflammations, the problem often subsides within a few days with appropriate treatment. In larger and more heavily strained muscle groups, such as those found on the thigh, an inflammation can last for several weeks and can become even longer if not adequately treated and cooled. As a rule, however, it should disappear within a few days to a few weeks.

Chronification must be prevented if possible. Accordingly, if symptoms persist for more than a week or in case of an acute incident, a doctor should be consulted to treat the problem. Since premature stress often causes the problem to flare up again, it is important that the closed season discussed with the doctor is observed.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of a thigh tendon inflammation, the anamnesis is a central point. By describing the symptoms, as well as their nature and the time of occurrence of the symptoms, the doctor can decide to draw conclusions that help him to make an initial diagnosis or working hypothesis. Furthermore, the clinical examination can help to differentiate where in the thigh the problem lies exactly, since it is quite possible that the pain radiates from another place and is only projected (felt) by the patient to the described place.

For further diagnosis, ultrasound and also MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to visualize the tendons and the surrounding soft tissue. With these methods, injuries, tears and fluid retention (edema) can be displayed or excluded as the cause or consequence of the problems. If an infectious cause is suspected, possible accumulations of pus (abscesses) could also be seen in this way.

In addition, if an infection is suspected, a blood sample should be taken in order to check the inflammation values in the blood. The same applies if a rheumatic cause is suspected. Here, so-called rheumatoid factors and various antibodies can be determined, which provide the first indications of an ongoing rheumatic inflammation. In the case of muscular complaints of the thigh, other damage, such as torn muscle fibers and pulled muscles, should be excluded.