Tendonitis is an issue that affects many of the patients we care for at Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center. Many people think that surgery is required to fix the aches and pains they experience from tendonitis. More often than not, however, our Dr. Behnam Khaleghi uses nonsurgical procedures for treating tendonitis in our patients living in and around Orange and Laguna Hills, California.
Dr. Khaleghi shares more about the different nonsurgical options available to treating your tendonitis.
What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis is simply irritation or inflammation of a tendon. It can occur in any of your tendons, but it’s most commonly experienced in your wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and heels. You’ll typically experience pain or achiness from tendonitis at the point where your tendon attaches to your bone. A minor bit of swelling could even occur.
Nonsurgical ways to reverse tendonitis
Though there are cases where surgery may be required to repair damage done by tendonitis, it’s often the case that you can reverse your tendonitis symptoms through nonsurgical efforts, including:
R.I.C.E method
You’ve probably heard of this acronym, which stands for “rest,” “ice,” “compression,” and “elevate.” It’s a simple and effective method that requires you to rest the joint, apply ice to the joint for 15-20 minutes multiple times a day, compress the joint with a wrap or elastic bandage, and elevate it.
Stretching
Appropriate stretches for your specific case of tendonitis can help alleviate the pain of tendonitis. We’ll work with you on a stretching program that provides the proper movements and stretches.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy can aid in the reversal of tendonitis by properly working your injured tendon fibers back and forth. A specific type of massage therapy known as a deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) can also be used to aid in tendonitis reversal. This technique involves vigorous, short movements of the fingers around the injured area.
Platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP)
PRP is a form of therapy that uses highly concentrated injections of your own platelets to naturally heal certain types of ailments, including tendonitis.
Stem cell therapy
This form of regenerative medicine harnesses the power of your body’s stem cells, which are injected into the injured area where they help to repair your damaged tendon.
If you’re experiencing tendonitis and are looking for nonsurgical alternatives to treat your issue, give us a call or schedule an appointment today. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about the different types of therapies we offer.