Insufficient blood supply means that when tendons become injured, they do not receive enough nutrients and oxygen to begin repairs. Rather, they receive nourishment via the synovial fluid, slowing the healing process.
Why does recovery take so long? Unlike muscle tissue, tendons don't get a significant supply of blood. Blood delivers fluid and nutrients that are essential for healing. The less blood delivered, the longer it takes for tissue to heal.
Chronic tendonitis is often defined by the tendon pain lasting more than 6 weeks, and the condition is referred to as tendinosis. Tendinosis is thought to be mainly caused by degeneration of the tendon. In order to effectively treat and resolve tendinosis, you must stimulate regeneration of the affected tendon.
It could take between two to three weeks for your tendon to heal after tendonitis treatment. It can take a few months if you have a severe case of tendonitis. The best way to speed up your healing time is to rest. Don't participate in strenuous exercises or activities that can put stress on your healing tendon.
The goals of tendinitis treatment are to relieve pain and reduce irritation. Self-care, including rest, ice and pain relievers, might be all that's needed. But full recovery might take several months.
Severe symptoms may require specialized treatment from a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic surgeon or a physical therapist. When properly treated, most tendinitis conditions don't result in permanent joint damage or disability.
Massage therapy not only eases the physical discomfort associated with tendonitis but also helps reduce emotional pain, helping to relax and calm the nervous system. This then stimulates the release of the so-called feel-good hormone.
Too much stress on joints can tear and inflame tendons, says the American College of Rheumatology. The tissue will fix itself quickly if the damage is slight or happens only sometimes. But pain can become constant if the damage happens often.
Just as you shouldn't rest completely, you also shouldn't push through large amounts of pain. A general guide is that pain more than 4/10 pain might indicate that the tendon isn't coping with the load and it may make the condition worse over time.
The more severe the tendinopathy, the less likely stretching would help. In fact, stretching results in further compression of the tendon at the irritation point, which actually worsens the pain. For more information on exercises that help improve an insertional tendinopathy see our blog on Achilles Tendinopathy.
Around 80 percent of people with tendinosis make a full recovery in 3 to 6 months, depending on whether their condition is chronic or not. Tendinosis that is left untreated can lead to ruptured tendons so early treatment is crucial.
However it is better to lighten loads for a week or two on upper body resistance training and focus on stretching the muscles instead. Once the pain subsides, start back slowly using a lighter weight and gradually work up to heavier loads, so long as you are not experiencing pain.
Remember: If it gets better within 3 to 5 days of rest and does not return, it probably was a simple case of inflammation. If your tendon pain does not go away or keeps returning once you resume activity, it is most likely a tendinopathy and requires much more attention!
Ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes every 4 to 6 hours — and put a towel or cloth between the ice pack and your skin. Heat may be more helpful for chronic tendon pain, often called tendinopathy or tendinosis. Heat can increase blood flow, which may help promote healing of the tendon.
Inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling in tendon healing. Tendon healing after surgical repair generally progresses through a short inflammatory phase, which lasts about a week, followed by a proliferative phase, which lasts a few weeks, followed by a remodeling phase, which lasts many months.
Hydration is essential to healing any structure (bone, tendon, ligament, or skin) as it delivers the necessary nutrients to the injured area. Water is needed to help carry away waste from the injured structure as well.
Tendons attach muscles to bones. Tendons generally have a more limited blood supply than muscles. This makes them somewhat slower healing structures in comparison to muscle. Blood supply to injured tendons can be stimulated by activities that cause tension on the tendon tissue.
Tendinitis can occur as a result of injury or overuse. Playing sports is a common cause. Tendinitis also can occur with aging as the tendon loses elasticity. Body-wide (systemic) diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, can also lead to tendinitis.
Most cases of tendinopathy recover completely without the need for any medical input. However, uncommonly, severe untreated tendinopathy can lead to rupture of the tendon.
The cause of tendonitis and tenosynovitis is often not known. They may be caused by strain, overuse, injury, or too much exercise. Tendonitis may also be related to a disease such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or infection.
They're often mild at first and begin as an ache. Then they gradually get worse, coming and going, until the damage is so severe, you're in for months of a painful recovery.