Symptoms
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.
Prevention
To avoid tendinitis, try these tips when performing activities:
- Take it slow at first. Gradually build up your activity level.
- Use limited force and limited repetitions.
- Stop if pain occurs. Do something else. Try again later and if pain recurs, stop that activity for the day.
Treatment
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. You may need more advanced treatments, including:
- Corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids (often called simply “steroids”) are often used because they work quickly to decrease the inflammation and pain.
- Physical therapy. This can be very beneficial, especially for a “frozen shoulder.” Physical therapy includes range-of-motion exercises and splinting (thumb, forearm, bands).
- Surgery. This is only rarely needed for severe problems not responding to other treatments.