TENDINITIS

Tendinitis is a degenerative process that denotes chronic injury to a tendon. Tendons are fibrous structures that attach muscle to bone and are very common to injury in the lower extremity.

CAUSES OF TENDINITIS

Tendinitis can be caused by:

• Injury (e.g., increasing your activity too quickly over a short period of time)
• Over-use.
• Improper stretching prior to exertion
• Incorrect form during physical activity
• Pre-existing foot issues (flat feet or high arches)

SYMPTOMS

• Pain is the most prominent symptom of a tendon injury. The pain may come and go or may gradually get worse over time
• The involved tendon may swell
• Stiffness in joint near injured tendon

WHEN YOU SHOULD SEEK CARE WITH US

If the pain is not relieved with ice and rest or if it persists beyond a week, it is time to see our team at Modern Foot and Ankle. Remember that time is of the essence. Effectively treating these injuries is imperative to preventing long-term sequelae.

TYPES OF TREATMENT WE OFFER:

Conservative Options:

Anti-Inflammatory Medication—Early treatment might involve oral medication. Typically cortisone is not injected directly into tendons.

Rest and Icing—Used to relieve pain and reduce swelling

Stretching Exercises

Taping and Strapping—May be used for correcting biomechanical imbalance, controlling excessive pronation, and supporting the injured tendons.

Physical Therapy—Often used to provide relief of the affected tendons.

Custom-Molded Orthotics—These custom-made shoe inserts are useful in controlling foot function and may reduce symptoms and prevent worsening of the tendinitis

Amniotic Membrane Injections—New injectable medications on the market today contain sterilized and micronized amniotic membrane. Amniotic tissue is filled with anti-inflammatory blood products and growth factors that facilitate healing of injured areas, including into tendons where cortisone injections are usually not performed

Minimally-Invasive Therapies:

• Amniotic membrane injection therapy Platelet-rich plasma injections Topaz ablation Tenex

Surgical Therapies:

Typically tendinitis does not require surgical intervention; however, scar tissue that forms as a result of chronic inflammation may be the cause of your pain, in which case removing (debriding) the scar tissue may be recommended.

Complete ruptures of the tendons (sometimes the result of long-term tendinitis) often require surgical intervention to reattach the tendon. Patients are often required to stay off their surgically-repaired foot for several weeks to allow the tissue to heal.