Treatments for Calcific Tendonitis in Leg

When you're dealing with calcific tendonitis, calcium deposits have begun to form along tendons, resulting in the inflammation associated with tendonitis. This causes the affected tendon to become harder than normal, sometimes to the point of pain, tenderness and stiffness. While this condition most commonly affects the shoulder, it can develop within any joint, including your knee and even ankle. But this isn't a condition you simply need to live with; treatments are available to improve your symptoms and overall mobility.

Self-Care

• As with almost any condition related to your tendons, muscles and joints, calcific tendonitis often responds to simple self-care measures. Actually, doctors commonly recommend conservative approaches to treatment before more invasive procedures are employed. Self-care is by far the most conservative option.

  Icing the affected joint can help reduce the inflammation, so place an ice pack, package of frozen vegetables or simply a bag of ice on the affected leg joint. Keep the ice on the area for right around 20 minutes. This is really the ideal length of time. If left on longer, you could chance worsening the condition. Icing is done every three to four hours.

  Couple the icing with some rest. Though you don't want to eliminate all physical activity, limit movements that could worsen your condition, especially in regard to pain. Pain is essentially your body's way of informing you not to do something, so make sure to listen to your body. If it's telling you to get off your feet, then get off your feet for a little while. When the pain passes, go about your day.

  Anti-inflammatories can also go a long way to helping calcific tendonitis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are great over-the-counter medications that reduce the swelling of the joint that is causing you pain. Follow dosage instructions on the package to ensure proper use.

  While you need to periodically rest the affected joint, it's also crucial to exercise the area. This adds strength, flexibility and support to the problem area. Since you're suffering calcific tendonitis of the leg, low-impact activities are the pursuit of choice. Biking and swimming can exercise the area while placing little stress on the knees or ankles. Try to incorporate exercise into most days of the week. However, you'll want to consult with your doctor before engaging in any exercise regimen. He may recommend you seek out physical therapy instead.

Professional Care

• If these self-care measures fail, medical intervention is often necessary. One of the more common is the use of steroids. Steroids work quite similar to NSAIDs, diminishing inflammation and reducing pain. And much like NSAIDs, this can set the stage for healing.

  Your doctor may also believe that you could benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapists not only establish specific exercises to improve your strength and flexibility, but they also modify posture and movement to relieve the stress causing the wear-and-tear linked to the calcific tendonitis.

  In more severe cases (or other treatments are ineffective), surgery may be necessary to correct the calcification of the tendon. The calcium deposits are essentially broken up through an arthroscopic procedure. Other cases can be resolved with shock waves directed into the area of calcification to also break up the deposits.