Warning signs of tendinitis

Pain, mild redness, or swelling at the site of tendon injury are signs of tendinitis or tenosynovitis.

Tendons are thick, tough fibers made of collagen that connect muscles and bones, enabling joint movement through muscle contraction.

According to Dr. Le Van Minh Tue, MD, MSc, from the Orthopedic Trauma Center at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, tendinitis is a common condition, often of unknown cause. However, some people are more susceptible, including older adults due to reduced blood supply to the tendons; those with repetitive microtrauma, injury, or excessive muscle strain from improper exercise; and those with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, gout, reactive arthritis, and diabetes. If left untreated, patients risk tendon rupture and loss of joint function.

Tendinitis can occur anywhere in the body but is most common in the shoulder, wrist, knee, and heel.

Tendinitis commonly occurs in the wrist, causing pain and reduced mobility. (Image: Freepik)

Below are the typical symptoms of some common forms of tendinitis.

Tendonitis is inflammation and swelling around the bone where a tendon, tendon sheath, or ligament attaches. Patients experience pain at the affected site, which increases with movement and may be localized or radiate to the surrounding muscle and tendon, limiting mobility. The area around the tendon may be swollen, warm, or feel like small lumps along the tendon.

Inflammation of the flexor tendons of the fingers, also known as trigger finger or snapping finger, typically causes pain in the palm of the hand, near the junction between the hand and fingers. The pain increases with pressure, and sometimes a small nodule appears on the tendon. The affected finger is often held slightly flexed to relieve pain.

In the later stages, patients have to exert force to straighten their fingers; otherwise, the fingers will bend, creating a phenomenon called trigger finger.

Achilles tendonitis usually occurs when the Achilles tendon is overused, overloaded, and damaged. At this time, the patient's heel area becomes swollen and painful, especially when straining the heel or standing on tiptoes. The patient will feel pain when pressing on the heel area, and a lump may be present.

Dr. Tuệ stated that tendonitis is usually not dangerous and can be treated conservatively. During the first 48 hours after symptoms appear, patients should rest and apply cold compresses to reduce inflammation and swelling. If necessary, patients can use additional pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed by their doctor.

Doctor Tuệ (far left) during a surgical procedure. (Illustrative photo: Provided by the hospital)

Patients with chronic tendinitis need to perform physical therapy exercises to stretch the inflamed tendon and support its sliding mechanism. These exercises help stretch the tendon, allowing it to rest and recover.

Patients should avoid active muscle contraction exercises in the affected tendon to prevent further inflammation. The recovery period can last 2-3 months depending on the extent of tendon damage. In some cases that do not respond to oral medication, local injections into the tendon sheath (corticosteroids, HA, PRP, etc.) may be combined.

Surgery is a last resort, applied when physical therapy and conservative treatment are ineffective. The doctor removes calcium deposits in the tendons and tendon sheaths caused by chronic inflammation, repairs the tendons, and then guides the patient through physical therapy exercises.

Phi Hong

Readers can submit questions about musculoskeletal disorders here for doctors to answer.

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/dau-hieu-canh-bao-viem-gan-4712347.html