How to Alleviate Tendon Pain and Get Back to Your Sport

Sports injuries are very common and often start in childhood sporting activities. In fact, of the 30 million kids that play sports annually, over 3.5 million deal with injuries related to it, and damage to tendons (also known as strains) is among the most common. But whether you’re playing as a kid, leisurely playing with friends as an adult, or thriving in professional sports, the risk of these injuries is present.

Tendon injuries can be quite painful and, depending on the extent of the damage can lead to being out of a given sport for a few days or a whole season. Let’s review the problems that can damage your tendons, the signs you should expect, and how we can help.

Recovery will mean rehabilitation, and if you live in the Fort Worth, Texas, area and you need that and other methods to heal from tendon pain, Dr. Joseph Daniels and his staff at Southwest Orthopedic Associates are here to help.

Causes of tendon pain

A few types of injuries to this tissue can cause this pain:

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendons leads to swelling and pain resulting from overuse injuries, sudden movement strain, and joint injuries. Sports often cause them, but it can also result from work around the house, poor posture, and aging (the risk of strains increases over 40 years old). There are different names for tendinitis at different joints, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and runner’s knee. 

Tendinopathy

This problem happens when collagen (a protein that maintains the structure of soft tissue) in your tendon breaks down, causing pain and limiting its function. It can result from straining the musculoskeletal tissue from high-intensity training, poor ergonomics, lack of strength and flexibility, too much weight, and poor gait.

Tenosynovitis

A sheath protects your tendons, and this condition results from overuse and inflammation. It can also result from infections, trauma, and autoimmune diseases and lead to joint stiffness, ruptured tendons, and scar tissue.

Symptoms to expect

Most issues with your tendon will present with pain, tenderness, swelling, difficulty moving affected joints, skin discoloration, and a cracking or popping sound when moving. The pain can increase or decrease based on severity and how much pressure you put in the affected area. Left untreated, you could be dealing with other problems, like muscle weakness, chronic tendon problems, joint immobility, or a rupture or tear in the tendon.

Treatment options

To help keep athletes at their best, we have several ways to mend their injuries, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and regenerative medicine. We can also recommend lifestyle changes like weight loss, quitting habits like smoking, using rest, ice, and elevation at home, as well as over pain-relieving medications as necessary. We can customize a regimen to target mending your damaged tendons and combine these and other methods to get you on the road to recovery. 

Injuries are always frustrating, but we will help you find the path to health and readiness to take on your sport's challenges. Make an appointment with Dr. Daniels and his team at Southwest Orthopedic Associates today to start your healing journey.