Does Tendonitis Ever Get Better on Its Own?

If you have tendonitis, you’re aware of how painful it can be.

If you haven’t been to a doctor yet, you’re also delaying treatment for a condition that really needs it. You may think it’ll get better on its own, but it won’t, and it may even get worse.

Our team at Carolina Joint and Arthritis, led by Dr. Austin Yeargan, are specialists in treating tendonitis. Here’s what you need to know about the condition.

What is tendonitis?

Tendons are the strong, thick cords in your body that connect your muscles to your bones. They play a vital role in how  your body moves; when your muscles contract, they pull the attached tendons, which in turn move your bones.

Tendonitis occurs when tendons become irritated and inflamed due to repetitive motion or injury. This can happen when you perform the same movements over a long period of time, if you increase the intensity of your workouts, if you train too much, if you pull or strain your tendon, or for other reasons.

The pain caused by tendonitis increases when you use the affected muscles. You’ll also notice tenderness and swelling in the area. The most common types of tendonitis include tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, rotator cuff tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, and more.

How can you treat it?

It’s possible that mild cases of tendonitis will resolve on their own if you simply rest from or modify the activity that caused the problem in the first place. If you continue the same activity, however, your tendonitis will not get better on its own.

Other initial treatments in addition to rest usually include physical therapy, immobilization (such as using a splint or sling), steroid injections, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.

These treatments are often enough to improve your symptoms, especially if you follow a physical therapy regimen closely. If your symptoms persist, however, Dr. Yeargan has pioneered several regenerative therapies that have proved to be effective in relieving your pain.

These include orthobiologic treatments such as platelet-rich plasma therapy, which activates your body’s natural healing mechanisms to begin the regeneration and repair of your damaged tendons.

The Tenex Health TX procedure is another option; it uses ultrasound energy to remove inflamed and damaged tissue and activate your body’s healing powers.

If you don’t treat your tendonitis, it will steadily get worse. Scar tissue can build up, making your tendons stiffer, and your tendons can begin to degenerate or even rupture.

If you’re looking for a doctor who will treat your tendonitis, Dr. Yeargan and our team at Carolina Joint and Arthritis will take good care of you. To schedule a consultation, call our Wilmington, North Carolina, office or use our online scheduler to book a convenient time for you.