Tendonitis

If you experience mild aching, tenderness, or inflammation, it could be because of tendonitis or another tendon injury. At Belongie Orthopedics in Clearwater, Florida, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Duane Belongie, MD, and his expert staff offer highly effective tendonitis treatments to restore musculoskeletal function and reduce pain. Call the office at the first sign of severe or ongoing discomfort or use the online booking feature today. test

What is tendonitis?

Tendonitis is the inflammation of tendons, which are fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. It’s an often painful condition that can lead to more serious problems when left untreated. Tendonitis might appear in your shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, knees, heels, or other areas.

Common types of tendonitis include:

• Pitcher’s shoulder
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• Jumper’s knee 
• Swimmer’s shoulder

If tendonitis doesn’t go away with rest, ice, physical therapy, or other conservative treatments, schedule an appointment to see Dr. Belongie for an evaluation.

What are the symptoms of tendonitis?

The common symptoms of tendonitis include:

• Tenderness
• Mild swelling
• Dull, aching pain
• Long-lasting discomfort

These or other tendonitis symptoms appear at locations where tendons attach to bones. When left untreated, tendonitis may eventually lead to tendon rupturing, a more serious problem that often needs surgical repair. 

What are the risk factors for tendonitis?

While anyone can develop tendonitis, common causes of the condition include:

• Repetitive motions
• Playing or training for sports
• Older age
• Physically demanding jobs
• Frequent overhead reaching
• Forceful exertion
• Overtraining

Playing basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, running, swimming, and bowling are common causes of tendonitis.

Prevention measures include warming up properly, not overtraining, training in a safe way, trying cross training, and stretching regularly.

How does my doctor diagnose tendonitis?

To find out if you have tendonitis and develop an effective solution, Dr. Belongie asks about your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle habits. He checks your vital signs, completes a physical exam, and may order X-rays or other imaging tests to determine the most appropriate tendonitis treatment. 

How is tendonitis treated?

Your personalized tendonitis treatment plan often includes easing up on repetitive activities, taking medications, icing the affected area, compression, elevation, and physical therapy.

Dr. Belongie offers corticosteroid injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which uses platelets from your own blood to stimulate cell regeneration and your body’s natural healing response.

Other effective tendonitis treatments include dry needling, therapeutic ultrasound, and surgery to repair a torn tendon. You may need more than one type of treatment to achieve long-lasting pain relief. Dr. Belongie recommends conservative treatments whenever possible, but is highly skilled in orthopedic surgery.

To find out if you have tendonitis or to get treated for it, call the Belongie Orthopedics office or use the online booking feature today.