Tendinosis Symptoms

Tendinosis is often confused with tendinitis, a similar but separate condition. Tendinosis is a chronic injury to the tendons caused by repetitive motions. Pain and burning can signal tendinosis. The earlier you treat this condition, the more quickly you can recover.

Tendinosis vs. tendinitis

• Most tendon injuries are actually tendinosis, not tendinitis. Tendinitis is a large-scale injury with inflammation. Inflammation is not associated with tendinosis. Tendinosis is caused by repetitive motions that damage the tendons. The initial injury to the tendon never has a chance to heal, and since the motion which causes the injury is repeated, more injuries occur. The accumulation of these small-scale injuries results in tendinosis.

Repetivive strain injury

• Repetitive strain injuries, or RSI, include carpal tunnel syndrome and other disorders, as well as tendinosis. As the name implies, these injuries are caused by repetitive movements that strain and damage the body, such as movements required for work or used in sports. Some occupations that have increased risk for chronic tendon injuries include assembly line workers, mail sorters, computer programmers, writers, court recorders, data entry processors, sign language interpreters, cashiers, professional athletes and musicians, according to the website www.tendinosis.org.

Causes and symptoms

• The main cause of RSI, including tendinosis, is pushing the body past its ability to heal. Certain factors make it more likely a person will develop tendinosis: not taking breaks when performing repetitive motions; ergonomics, such as the position of the computer in relation to your chair; your general level of fitness and your age; how long you wait before getting medical help; the quality of the medical help received, and your genetic makeup. Women are more likely to get this condition than men.
  Tendinosis most frequently strikes in the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, shoulder, knee and heel. The symptoms include pain, burning, stinging, aching and tenderness to touch.

Treatment

• When you depend on a job that requires repetitive motion, it can be challenging to receive the diagnosis of tendinosis, or other RSI. It's imperative, however, that you pursue treatment as soon as possible, for early treatment greatly enhances the opportunity for full recovery. Recovery is never as quick as a person would like, however. You will need rest, physical therapy and a change in work habits in order to heal.
  An occupational therapist can help you make adjustments in the way you perform your work so it's less stressful to your body.To heal from computer-related injuries, good posture and typing habits are a must.
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Other treatments

• Other treatments for tendinosis include Sonocur shockwave therapy, which is ultrasound waves delivered to the injured area; ice for pain; braces and other supports, and surgery. Surgery should be considered a last resort, for some patients find themselves experiencing more pain after surgery than before. Cortisone injections, too, should be approached with caution, because repeated cortisone treatments can cause tissue injury. Cortisone may relieve pain but may not promote healing of tendinosis in the long run.
  Future treatment options may include local injection of stem cells, manipulating growth factors, and gene therapy.