Tendonitis


How to treat extensor tendinitis of the foot?
For the treatment of extensor tendinitis of the foot, it is firstly important to rest and avoid intense activities to prevent exacerbating the symptoms, and also to avoid exposure to cold. When pain occurs, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can be used to alleviate inflammation and pain. Additionally, treatments such as hot compresses, foot baths, and physical therapy can be used to promote blood circulation and improve symptoms. Local block treatments can also be effective in relieving inflammation. When conservative treatments are ineffective or motion is restricted due to tissue adhesions, surgical treatment can be considered.


How long does it take for tendonitis to heal?
Tendons are a type of tough connective tissue that connects muscles to bones. When tendons are subjected to repeated excessive stretching, excessive stimulation, or injury, it can lead to localized pathological changes, causing pain, swelling, and dysfunction at the affected site. This may also involve the tendon sheath that envelopes the tendon, leading to a series of aseptic inflammatory responses, thereby causing dysfunction and a range of symptoms in the affected area. Generally, after sufficient rest, avoiding intense activities, and the appropriate use of anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs, recovery can be achieved in about two weeks.


Can tendinitis be treated with acupuncture?
The occurrence of tendinitis is mostly due to local overuse and trauma, which causes local stagnation of qi and blood, and blockage of the meridians. As a result, there may be adhesion and pain in the tendons. Acupuncture is particularly effective in dredging meridians, activating blood circulation, and relieving pain quickly. Therefore, acupuncture can be very effective for tendinitis. We can perform acupuncture treatment by needling the painful area and selecting points along the meridian. Generally, the effects of acupuncture are favorable. If combined with other conservative treatment methods, it can produce significant results.


Can tendinitis heal on its own without treatment?
Tendinitis is a sterile inflammation of the tendon, manifested as localized fatigue damage to the tendon, which may involve tension, spasm, and adhesion of the tendon. Generally, there is some sterile exudation, and there may be some edema and swelling. Generally, patients with tendinitis are advised to rest initially. Some patients with milder conditions may heal on their own after resting, without treatment. However, for more severe cases, recovery may be slow and less effective if they only rest without treatment. In such cases, treatments like acupuncture, moxibustion, electrotherapy, and application of medicated plasters along with immobilization can generally achieve good results.


What should I do about calcific tendinitis?
In cases of calcific tendinitis, which is a relatively severe form of tendinitis, conservative treatment should initially be considered. It is important to reduce repeated external forces on the tendon area, ensure the area is kept warm, and treatments like small needle-knife loosening, orthopedic herbal fumigation soaking, or combined with physical therapy and electric heating can be used to soften the calcified tendon tissue, which can alleviate clinical symptoms. If the condition does not improve after conservative treatment, or if it recurs, surgical intervention may be considered as the next step. This could involve tendon release surgery or sheathectomy. Early joint movement is necessary after the surgery to avoid joint adhesion.


How to treat tendinitis and synovitis?
How to treat tendinitis and synovitis? Generally, the current approach is to first start with conservative treatments for tendinitis and synovitis. Conservative treatments include acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, topical ointments, and oral medications, all of which can help alleviate the symptoms of tendinitis and synovitis. However, if there is no improvement after more than six months of treatment, or if the symptoms, such as increasing pain, worsen, then a minimally invasive surgery might be necessary to provide relief.


How is calcific tendinitis treated?
The patient suffers from calcific tendinitis, and conservative treatment can be the first choice. It is necessary to reduce the external stimulus on the local lesion and keep it warm. Apply heat treatments, frequently use spectrum meters for electrotherapy, physiotherapy devices, infrared therapy devices, and lamp treatments. Use traditional Chinese medicine washes that activate blood circulation, relieve stasis, and alleviate muscle pain for steaming and soaking. Increasing the local temperature can unblock normal circulation of Qi and blood, soften the local tendon tissues, and alleviate symptoms such as pain and swelling, and also improve the range of motion locally. If there is a clear pain point locally, closed injection techniques can be used, and small needle knife treatments can be utilized to pry and loosen the area. Alternatively, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, along with strengthening functional exercises at the lesion site, can help in the recovery of the condition.


Can tendinitis be treated with moxibustion?
Tendonitis occurs commonly due to two reasons: overuse, which means excessive local activity, and trauma. Both causes lead to local aseptic inflammation of the tendon, resulting in edema, exudation, swelling, and pain. Moxibustion can be effective in this situation because it helps in activating blood circulation, reducing stasis, relieving swelling, and alleviating pain. The specific locations for applying moxibustion include the painful tendon area, and since the tendon is an extension of the muscle, not only the painful tendon area should be treated with moxibustion, but the entire muscle bundle can also be treated to help relieve overall muscle and tendon spasms and reduce pain.


What should I do if my tendinitis is getting more painful?
When patients with tendinitis experience pain, they should first rest and avoid strenuous activities. They can also use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain. These drugs include ointments that can be applied to the affected area, as well as oral medications that can be taken after meals for a short period to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Additionally, patients can use treatments such as heat application, physical therapy, and local injections, which can also effectively relieve pain. When conservative treatments are ineffective or if there is a functional impairment due to adhesions of the tendon and surrounding tissues, surgical treatment can be considered.


Which location to massage for tendinitis
Since a tendon is a bundle that extends from the muscle belly and is elongated, during massage, one should not only focus on the painful area but should consider the entire muscle and tendon. Massaging only the painful area is similar to the notion of treating just the head for a headache or just the foot for foot pain. Therefore, when massaging, it is necessary to cover the entire muscle from its origin to its insertion, reaching the painful parts of the tendon. Also, one should avoid rough massage techniques; instead, gentle manipulations are encouraged. Otherwise, it could lead to counterproductive effects and not be beneficial. Gentle massage or heat application are both acceptable methods.