Tenosynovitis Therapy

Tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon. Tenosynovitis is tendonitis plus the inflammation of the protective covering around the tendon, called the tendon sheath. Certain tendons are more vulnerable to inflammation than others. Those vulnerable tendons include, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "the tendons around the shoulder; the two tendons that extend the thumb away from the hand; the flexor tendons that clench the fingers; the tendon above the biceps muscle in the upper arm; the Achilles tendon in the heel; the tendon on top of the foot and the tendons near the hip bone."

Symptoms

• How can you tell whether you have tenosynovitis? According to the Mayo Clinic, "the inflamed tendons are usually painful when moved or when pressed. Moving the joints near the tendon, even a little, might cause pain, depending on how severe the tendonitis is. Occasionally, the tendons or their sheaths swell and feel warm."
  Shoulder tendons are particularly susceptible to tenosynovitis, so in addition to being painful, the shoulder can feel stiff and might snap or catch when you move it.

Diagnosis

• It's pretty simple to diagnose tenosynovitis. The doctor will perform a physical exam and if more information is needed, a magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound can provide the answers.

Treatment

• Because the goal of treatment is to reduce the inflammation and get rid of the pain, the best treatment for tenosynovitis is rest combined with limiting the movement of the area with either a splint or cast. Using heat or cold---whichever works---plus taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for seven to 10 days can reduce the pain and inflammation, too. Then, after the affected tendon has healed, some simple physical therapy can help strengthen the tendon so tenosynovitis doesn't happen again. That therapy, according to the National Institutes of Health, consists mainly of strengthening exercises and avoiding repetitive movements and overuse.

Complications

• If tenosynovitis goes untreated, the tendon can be permanently restricted and it can also tear, and that could result in surgery. Also, infection in the tendon can spread to other places in the body.