How to Treat Tendinosis

Tendinosis most often occurs after an injury when the damaged tendon is not allowed to heal properly. Prevention, by allowing sufficient healing time, is ideal. Sometimes you feel fine, however, and assume the injury has run its course and healed, only to later discover you were premature and degeneration of the tendon occurs--tendinosis.

Things You'll Need

• Rest Ice Packs Medical reatment--which varies (optional)

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Instructions

Treating Tendinosis

• 1

  Rest the tendon. Since you are dealing with inflammation, treat the condition as you would (or should have) a new injury. Apply ice.

• 2

  Resume exercise for strengthening once the inflammation is down. Begin slowly, building up. Do not tax your injured joint by overworking it, either by the length of your exercise session or by the use of excessive weights. You cannot immediately resume exercise at your usual level. Consider that whatever sport or exercise routine you follow may be too aggressive for your joints.
  If your injury was not sports related, or you do not normally exercise, you still need to develop a gentle exercise routine to strengthen the injured joint. Had it been stronger, it might not have been injured.

• 3

  Try conventional medical treatments. Common treatments include steroid shots into the injured area, a short-term solution which tends to lose effectiveness if used for a prolonged period. Your doctor may suggest surgery if your tendinosis persists, but it is a last resort, as it is not always successful.

• 4

  Consider natural or alternative treatments that are noninvasive and have few or no side effects. You can always opt for surgery later--but surgery cannot be undone, even if it is not successful.
  Try acupuncture. Acupuncture works not only for pain management, but also to expedite healing and has produced positive results in treating tendinosis. Acupuncture releases endorphins, which is key in the healing process.
  Have a massage to help stretch and relax the tendon and surrounding muscle area.
  Look into prolotherapy, which encourages the growth of new ligament tissue.