What are tendon injuries?
Tendon injuries most often occur near joints, such as the shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle. Types of tendon injuries include:
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon. This type of tendon injury may occur from overuse of the joint or repetitive movements. Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow are types of tendonitis.
Tendinosis
If you have tendonosis, you have tiny tears in your tendon. Like tendonitis, tendonosis occurs from overuse.
Tendinopathy
If you have inflammation and tiny tears, your orthopedic may refer to your tendon injury as tendinopathy.
Tendon tears
A tendon tear is a partial or complete tear of the tough fibrous connective tissue. You may develop a tendon tear from sudden impact to the joint or tissue degeneration. Tendon tears most often affect the Achilles tendon, bicep, quadricep, and rotator cuff.
What are the symptoms of tendon injuries?
Symptoms of your tendon injury may depend on the location and type of injury you have. Common symptoms include:
- Pain
- Inflammation and swelling
- Joint stiffness
- A decrease in range of motion
- A crunchy sensation during movement
With a tendon injury, you may experience a worsening of your symptoms when engaging in activities involving the injured tendon. An acute tendon tear may cause sudden and severe pain.
What happens during an evaluation for tendon injuries?
Your orthopedic surgeon at ROC Orthopedics conducts an in-depth clinical exam when you come in with concerns about a tendon injury.
During your exam, your provider reviews your symptoms, including activities that increase your pain and activities that alleviate your pain. Then, they examine the area of your discomfort to assess structure, flexibility, and strength.
Your orthopedic surgeon may request X-rays or an MRI to diagnose your tendon injury.
How are tendon injuries treated?
In most cases, the orthopedic surgeons at ROC Orthopedics take a non-surgical approach to treat tendon injuries. Your treatment plan may include:
- Rest and ice
- Activity modification
- Brace or splint
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
If non-surgical treatments fail to alleviate your symptoms, the team may recommend surgery or surgical repair of an Achilles tendon tear for active individuals.
When not treated during the early stages, your tendon injury may lead to a more complicated problem. For expert care, call ROC Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.
