Pain in the knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and heels is common. Younger patients with osteoarthritis is unlikely. In many cases, it is due to tendonitis , such as the often-received "tennis elbow", " Achilles tendonitis " or "jumping knees". Tendons are ropes connecting bones and muscles. Excessive use will cause inflammation. However, many people are prone to confuse tendonitis and strains, bursitis .
tendonitis and strain
tendons, ligaments, connective tissue or muscles around the joints may be strained and tear. The symptoms are somewhat similar to tendonitis, and swelling and pain will occur, and they will occur during or after physical activity. However, strain is usually related to the impact or injury of the body. Although it may not seem very serious, tendonitis is tendon inflammation. It can be distinguished by the following points:
- If you hear a sound at the joint during exercise, accompanied by pain, it is usually a strain or tear. Although both
- may swell, if the swelling and bruises appear more severe, it is more likely to be a strain.
- Most tendonitis will be significantly relieved in about 2 weeks. If it lasts longer, it may be a strain or tear.
- If there is a serious strain and tear in the muscle, it usually manifests as muscle weakness.
Tenitis and bursitis
Bursts are small cysts around the joints. They protect tendons, bones and muscles from friction. Bursitis usually occurs with repeated exercises and occurs on the shoulders, elbows, hips or knees. There are similarities with tendonitis. They all cause swelling and discomfort around the joints, but bursitis is inflammation of the bursitis, and tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon.
patients may be difficult to distinguish, , but if the inflamed bursal is close to the body surface, the swelling will be more obvious than tendinitis. In addition to repeated exercises, bursitis may also be caused by infection, gout or rheumatoid arthritis. Not all tendons have burses. The burses are mainly formed in places with bone processes, such as the shoulders, the lateral side of the hips and the knees. But the tendons are large and small, with the small tendon located in the hands and ankles, while the larger tendon is located in the heel.
How to treat
The treatment of tendonitis or bursitis is similar, which depends largely on the severity and the injured part. If the condition is mild, it can be cured by rest and braking. For complex cases, surgery may be required, such as removal of part of the bursal or tendontom. Early distinction is necessary. However, for patients with mild conditions, the following treatment methods can generally be adopted:
- Rest is the first step to avoid movement that causes joint pain, and if necessary, support such as splints are used to fix it.
- Appropriate ice application helps reduce inflammation and swelling, and is effective for tendonitis and bursitis.
- is taken under the guidance of a doctor and plays an anti-inflammatory and analgesic role. For example, ibuprofen , naproxen , aspirin, etc., Tylenol (acetaminophen) can relieve pain, but will not relieve inflammation.
- If the symptoms persist, cortisone injection (corticosteroid drug) can be effective within a few days, and the effect lasts for several weeks or even permanent. The disadvantage is that it may weaken the tendon and make it prone to rupture.
- Some physical treatments help strengthen the muscles around the joints, reduce stress on the affected area, and prevent recurrence.
It should be noted that medical examinations need to be improved before these treatments, such as doctor physical examinations, X-ray , ultrasound or MRI and blood tests, to avoid missed diagnosis for other diseases.
Medical science popularization, for reference only.
