Tendonitis impacts people of all ages and can cause sufferers to feel intense pain. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 70,000 people miss work every year because of this painful condition.
At New Canaan Podiatry, we know that no matter the cause of your tendonitis, this frustrating condition can keep you off your feet and missing out on the summertime fun. Board-certified podiatrist Jennifer Tauber, DPM helps men and women in New Canaan, Connecticut, resolve painful tendonitis.
Read on to learn more about tendonitis and which treatment option is best for you!
Tendons are a cord of tough collagen tissue that attaches your muscle to your bone. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon is irritated or inflamed. While tendonitis can occur in any of your tendons, it’s most common in the heels and feet, ankles, knees, and other joints, such as your wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
With tendonitis, you’ll typically experience pain or achiness at the point where your tendon attaches to your bone. You may also notice inflammation or swelling.
The most common risk factor for developing tendonitis is age. Simply being over 40 increases your risk of developing this painful condition.
Outside of age, tendonitis typically results because of repetitive actions. For example, you may end up with sports-related tendonitis in the joint you use during an activity, like the shoulder or elbow for golfers or the ankle for tennis players.
You can also develop tendonitis if you start participating with a high level in an activity you don’t usually engage in, like starting to run or hike long distances every day after not running or hiking for some time.
People who work manual jobs requiring heavy lifting or repeated squatting or reaching overhead also develop occupational tendonitis.
Sometimes tendonitis does not require medical treatment and can be improved with efforts at home, such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or therapeutic stretching. If your symptoms don’t improve, the team at New Canaan Podiatry can help with different medical interventions, including:
Steroid injections, or cortisone shots, are an effective short-term treatment for tendonitis. These shots reduce inflammation and numb the pain sensations you experience from the condition by interacting with neural receptors. Steroid injections can provide relief that may last up to several months.
Physical therapy can be an effective treatment for tendonitis as the stretching and strengthening of your impacted muscles and tendons helps improve mobility and minimize pain.
Your physical therapist custom designs a treatment plan for you and provides education on body mechanics, form, and posture to help alleviate strain on the affected tendon.
Most cases of tendonitis resolve without the need for surgery, but for persistent cases, Dr. Tauber may recommend surgical intervention. Surgery allows the doctor to make repairs to the injured tendon and check the surrounding tissue to ensure no further injuries have occurred.
Not everyone who has tendonitis requires medical treatment. If you suspect tendonitis, try RICE — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — while you wait for an appointment with a podiatrist, like Dr. Tauber. Dr. Tauber evaluates your symptoms and recommends a treatment plan customized for you to ensure you’re back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Ready to get help for your tendonitis? Contact New Canaan Podiatry or book an appointment online now!
