Tendon pain is extremely unpleasant for the affected patient and can lead to severely restricted mobility. Since a wide variety of reasons must be considered as triggers, tendon pain should always be examined and clarified by a specialist.
What is tendon pain?
In many cases, tendon pain is based on inflammation in the joint or in the tendon itself, which explains the severe pain. Tendon pain can occur in specific areas of the body – that is, localized – or distributed throughout the body. In many cases, tendon pain is based on inflammation in the joint or at the tendon itself, which explains the severe pain. Particularly frequently affected areas are the tendons in heavily used joints such as the knee, elbow or shoulder. A clarification by a specialist in orthopedics or rheumatology is definitely advisable in the case of chronic tendon pain. Tendon pain can, among other things, be a concomitant of serious diseases. These include, for example, inflammatory rheumatic diseases or so-called soft tissue rheumatism, to which fibromyalgia syndrome also belongs. In many cases, however, a harmless explanation can be found for the unpleasant tendon pain.
Causes
The causes of tendon pain can vary, depending on the underlying condition causing the tendon pain. On the one hand, an incorrect or overload of the respective tendon comes into consideration, on the other hand, a one-sided load of the body region can also lead to severe tendon pain. Often, tendon pain is due to inflammation of the tendon or joint. If a patient has to take medication, such as certain antibiotics, tendon pain can also occur as a side effect of the medication. Many mothers also complain of tendon or joint pain after pregnancy, usually due to altered hormone levels during lactation. However, serious diseases such as fibromyalgia syndrome are also possible causes of tendon pain. A medical clarification is therefore absolutely necessary to find out the cause of tendon pain and initiate appropriate treatment.
Diseases with this symptom
- Rheumatism
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
Diagnosis and course
To find out the cause of tendon pain, the orthopedist or rheumatologist will first take an X-ray of the affected region. In some cases, this image will show calcium-like deposits in the tendon area that are responsible for the tendon pain. If there is a suspicion of an underlying rheumatic disease, laboratory testing of the blood can provide information about certain rheumatism factors in the blood. In addition, other imaging procedures for tendon pain, such as CT or MRI, are available to the specialist. If the specialist suspects that fibromyalgia is a possible cause, he or she can make the diagnosis on the basis of various examinations and symptoms. Tendon pain is considered a persistent condition and – depending on the underlying disease – often becomes chronic. Therefore, it is important to see a specialist in time if you experience tendon pain.
When should you see a doctor?
In most cases, tendon pain is caused by unaccustomed overuse of certain parts of the body. If tendon pain occurs after such activity, then of course it is not necessary to consult a doctor immediately. As a rule, this pain subsides on its own within two to three days, so that medical or drug treatment is not necessary. In other cases, however, the tendon pain persists even after several days, so that independent recovery is not possible. Before consulting a doctor at this point, the affected person can, of course, first take their own measures to heal. In the case of muscle or tendon injuries, heat contributes to effective improvement. A grain pillow or a hot water bottle on the affected area may well have an effect. Of course, if this measure does not achieve improvement, then a visit is inevitable. If the pain persists over a longer period of time, then there is a very high probability that the tendon has been overstretched or even torn.Only through medical treatment or with the help of appropriate medication can a quick and effective recovery be achieved. If the affected person forgoes such treatment, then the clinical picture can of course also worsen considerably. Thus, the following applies: tendon pain should be assessed by a doctor after three to four days at the latest.
Complications
Vision pain can cause serious illness if not treated properly. How severe and intense this deterioration is depends on where the affected patient caught the pain. With sufficient prevention, for example through fascia training, the tendons are strengthened in the long term. They are then more resistant and not too susceptible to irritation during exercise. Patients should make sure that the tendons are not overstretched during prevention. If they do, prevention can do just as much harm as overtraining. After an injury, patients should only work the fascia with a skilled trainer. Fascia training can relieve tendon pain by rewetting the fascia. Strength athletes very often struggle with the fact that very intense weight training dries out the fascia. If the patient wants to do the fascia training and the rest of the prevention themselves after an injury, make sure not to buy hard fascia rollers. These can damage the vision even more and are to be avoided in the beginning after an injury, as well as pain.
Treatment and therapy
Tendon pain is treated depending on the underlying cause. One way to relieve severe tendon pain is to inject local anesthetics into the attachments of the affected tendon. If larger areas are affected, then it may also help to numb the surrounding nerves to provide relief from the tendon pain. Of course, treatment with pain medications should always be given, and if the tendon pain is severe, it may well be necessary for the patient to require opioids to relieve the pain. If the tendon pain is due to a rheumatic disease, this should be treated with the aid of suitable anti-rheumatic drugs. In addition, improvement can be achieved by physiotherapeutic applications or massages. Ultrasound or electrotherapy, for example, as well as acupuncture are particularly successful. In severe cases, temporary immobilization of the joint is indicated to achieve improvement in tendon pain. In general, tendon pain usually requires longer treatment to achieve lasting success. A combination of different treatment methods can also be helpful, especially in chronic tendon pain.
Outlook and prognosis
In many cases, tendon pain can severely limit the patient’s life. Performing certain jobs, activities and sports is often not possible in this case, so that the patient’s movement is also restricted. In these cases, the affected person is dependent on the help of other people or equipment. In the case of short-term tendon pain, treatment with painkillers is possible. However, this should not be done for a long period of time, as the painkillers can damage the stomach. In case of long-lasting pain, it is also possible to perform pain therapy. Further treatment takes place with massages and with heat. Treatments with acupuncture or ultrasound therapy are also possible. In most cases, tendon pain does not disappear immediately and must be treated over a longer period of time. It can take several months before the tendon pain disappears or the first successes become visible. In many cases, it is advisable to combine several methods so that the complaints subside more quickly. However, it cannot be ruled out that the tendon pain will recur later in life. In this case, the patient should not take on heavy physical loads or at least warm up the muscles and tendons by stretching exercises before these.
Prevention
To prevent tendon pain, it is recommended to warm up sufficiently before physical exertion, for example, before sports. This minimizes the risk of overloading the tendons and tendon insertions. At the same time, patients should try to avoid monotonous movements, as these are also a risk factor for tendon pain.
You can do it yourself
A number of home remedies and measures help with tendon pain. In the case of acute discomfort, sports activity or exercise should first be discontinued. The discomfort can usually be relieved by elevating and cooling the affected body part. Subsequently, a pressure bandage helps to reduce the swelling. A warm bath with home remedies such as apple cider vinegar or clove oil numbs the muscles and relieves pain. For inflammatory tendon pain, garlic and applications of cottage cheese or yogurt promise to improve symptoms. Tendon pain in the context of tendon sheath inflammation can also be relieved by sparing and cooling. In addition, packs with radish or bog balm as well as natural remedies with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties are recommended. Among other things, cayenne pepper, Bittel salt and various Schüßler salts have proven effective. For tendon pain as a result of sore muscles, light massages with menthol or peppermint oil and sufficient rest are recommended. Arnica and calendula extracts, for example in the form of ointments or gels, are helpful for pulled muscles. Tendon pain caused by a rheumatic disease or after an accident should first be discussed with the family doctor. A complaint diary, in which the type and severity of the pain are recorded, enables targeted treatment.
