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Tendonitis Specialist

Chicagoland Foot and Ankle Our Services Tendonitis

Chicagoland Foot and Ankle

Board Certified Foot and Ankle Specialists & Surgeons located in Beverly/Mt. Greenwood, Portage Park Chicago, IL & Orland Park, IL & New Lenox, IL

When your joints are stiff, painful, or limited in motion, you may have tendonitis, which is caused by inflammation or tears in the fibrous, cord-like tissue that connects your muscles to your bones. Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, with locations in the Beverly/Mt. Greenwood and Portage Park areas of Chicago, as well as Orland Park and New Lenox, Illinois, offers nonsurgical, restorative therapies for tendonitis that help you heal and regain function. To set up an appointment, call your nearest office or book a tendonitis consultation online today.

Tendonitis Q&A

What is tendonitis?

Tendonitis (also called tendonitis or tendinopathy) occurs when your tendons — the cords that attach your muscles to your bones — become irritated or inflamed. 

You may hear tendonitis referred to by the name of the body part it affects and the type of movements that cause it, such as:

  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer’s elbow
  • Runner’s knee
  • Jumper’s knee
  • Swimmer’s shoulder
  • Pitcher’s shoulder

Although the common names for tendonitis refer to sports, anyone who performs repetitive movements for their work, play, or hobbies may develop tendonitis.

Why do I have tendonitis?

You’re most likely to develop tendonitis in joints where you perform the same motion over and over, particularly if you have to exert force or lift a heavyweight. 

For instance, if you’re a painter who has to raise your hand over your head repetitively, you may develop tendonitis in your shoulder. You’re also more likely to develop tendonitis as you age and your tendons lose flexibility.

What are the symptoms of tendonitis?

The most common place to feel tendonitis is the point where the tendon connects to the bone. Your tendon may feel painful, swollen, and tender. It may hurt to move your joint or body part.

How is tendonitis treated?

The team at Chicagoland Foot and Ankle first recommends conservative measures to treat tendonitis. 

Use the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) protocol: 

  • Rest the injury and stop the repetitive movement 
  • Elevate the area (for instance, put a foot with tendonitis on a footstool) 
  • Use a compression bandage to control swelling
  • Apply a wrapped ice pack to the area 

You can control pain with over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

If those measures don’t help, or if you’ve injured the area before, the team may recommend physical therapy. 

Your physical therapist not only gives you exercises to stretch and strengthen your tendons and muscles but also can help you find healthier ways to move so that you don’t reinjure your tendon.

Chicagoland Foot and Ankle may also recommend noninvasive, support therapies to repair your tendons, such as:

  • Therapeutic injections
  • Ultrasound therapies
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
  • Stem cell therapy

If these nonsurgical measures fail to provide relief or if your condition is severe, the team may recommend surgery to help you find relief.

To get relief from tendonitis and learn how to prevent it, contact Chicagoland Foot and Ankle by phone or via the online form.

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