Because it's probably tendinosis. Often, chronic tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis), which lasts more than 6 weeks is really tendinosis (also spelled tendonosis).
When you leave your tendonitis untreated, the affected tendon can weaken and become more prone to tears and possible rupture. A ruptured tendon requires surgical repair and can cause permanent disability in severe cases. Repeated bouts of tendonitis can result in a buildup of scar tissue in the affected area.
Most damage heals in about two to four weeks, but chronic tendinitis can take more than six weeks, often because the sufferer doesn't give the tendon time to heal. In chronic cases, there may be restriction of motion of the joint due to scarring or narrowing of the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon.
Untreated tendonitis can develop into chronic tendinosis and cause permanent degradation of your tendons. In some cases, it can even lead to tendon rupture, which requires surgery to fix. So if you suspect tendonitis, stop doing the activities that cause the most pain.
A mild case of tendonitis takes about 2-3 weeks to heal on average while chronic tendonitis takes about 6 weeks to heal completely.
Since the pain of tendinitis occurs near a joint, it is sometimes mistaken for arthritis.
Recovery time
Tendons take a long time to heal because the blood supply to tendons is typically low. Tendinosis may take 3 to 6 months to heal, but physical therapy and other treatments may improve the outlook. A person who has tendinitis can expect a faster recovery time of up to 6 weeks .
Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, can increase the risk of tendinitis. Medications that may increase risk include: Antibiotics known as fluoroquinolines. Corticosteroids such as cortisone.
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.
Massage therapy has been proven to be a great alternative to traditional pain management. For people suffering from tendonitis, it can help with pain relief and speed up the recovery process.
Tendinosis is a degeneration of the tendon's collagen in response to chronic overuse; when overuse is continued without giving the tendon time to heal and rest, such as with repetitive strain injury, tendinosis results. Even tiny movements, such as clicking a mouse, can cause tendinosis, when done repeatedly.
Why does this happen? It often happens as a result of a biomechanical imbalance, causing the muscles to do too much or do a different job than what it was designed for. 'This imbalance can also cause the tendons to do work in a different path, causing irritation or inflammation.
A tendon injury typically gets worse if the tendon isn't allowed to rest and heal. Too much movement may make your symptoms worse or bring the pain and stiffness back.
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!
Diagnosis of tendonitis usually can be done by a physical examination alone. However, your doctor may request x-rays or other digital imaging to confirm the diagnosis. The imaging can also ensure there aren't other issues causing your pain, such as a tear to a tendon or ligament, a bone spur, or other injuries.
Do – Ease back on training. While continuing to move and keep the tendons under some resistance is critical to a faster recovery . Pushing through pain will only aggravate the issue and lead to chronic pain.
Rest: try to avoid moving the tendon for 2 to 3 days. Ice: put an ice pack (or try a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel on the tendon for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Support: wrap an elastic bandage around the area, use a tube bandage, or use a soft brace. You can buy these from pharmacies.
Chronic tendonitis is a dull but constant soreness that feels worse when you first start to move. It then eases up as muscles get warmer. Acute tendonitis is a sharper pain that may keep you from moving the joint. The pain may eventually go away.
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.
You should see your doctor if you experience any of the following: Fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). Swelling, redness and warmth. General illness or multiple sites of pain.
Your doctor can usually differentiate between bursitis and tendinitis based on the location of the pain and swelling in relation to the anatomy of the affected area, but he or she may recommend imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis.
When tendons get inflamed or irritated, this is commonly referred to as tendinitis. Most of the time, overuse or repetitive movement of a limb causes the tendon to get inflamed or irritated. Other conditions such as autoimmune disease or infections may cause this sort of inflammation as well.
Changes to ligaments and tendons as a result of disease and injury can be demonstrated using both ultrasound and MRI.