The tendons are the fabrics that connect your muscles to your bones throughout your body. When they become ignited or irritated, you can feel sensitivity and pain known as tendonitis, which most often appears around the joints that we most often use, such as wrists, elbows, shoulders, heels and knees, according to Mayo Clinic.
“Tendonitis can be caused by severe or violent pressure on a tendon, or when someone moves their body in a way to which they are not used to it,” explains Brynna Connor, MD, family medicine based in Austin, Texas. “The current activities that cause tendonitis include sport, gardening, renovation of your home, cleaning and repetitive movements.”
If you have tendonitis, check your health care provider to exclude other more serious injuries that may require medical care. From there, a number of over -the -counter tendonitis treatments can help to alleviate your pain and discomfort when the tendons heal.
1. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs
To help alleviate the pain that often accompanies tendonitis, consider the short-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), explains Joan Rubinger, PHD, practitioner nurse, certified strength and packaging and founder of all professional sports medicines. These drugs aim to reduce inflammation and related symptoms by neutralizing the inflammatory response in the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin (Bayer) and Naproxene (Aleve) are current NSAIDs which are easily available at the counter, according to Yale Medicine, and can help to soothe inflammation of the tendonite. Note that acetaminophen (tylenol) is not an NSAID; He deals with pain but not inflammation.
Always consult your doctor before adding medication to your routine and carefully follow the instructions on product labels.
2. Anti-inflammatory topics
The application of certain anti-inflammatory creams, gels and ointments to the affected joints can provide almost instantly relief when you have tendonitis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these products have active ingredients such as Diclofenac (Voltaren), Menthol (Bengay, Icy Hot) and Capsaicin (Capzasin, Zostrix).
Diclofenac in particular is a very effective topical treatment which was only available with a prescription, but now it is available over the counter, explains Arianne Missimer, DPT, CSC, Physiotherapist and founder of the paradigm of the movement based in Pennsylvania. “This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel has proven to be clinically reduced the pain associated with acute inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis,” she says.
Similar to oral anti-inflammatory drugs, it is important to check with your doctor before using these topics for a duration. Follow the instructions on product labels carefully to ensure a safe dose.
3. Cold therapy
Because tendonitis is caused by inflammation and often causes swelling, frosting The area affected in the first weeks of injury can help treat your pain and help in the healing process, according to the hospital for special surgery. For the most effective relief, alternate between the frosting the area affected for 10 to 15 minutes and removing the ice for the same time several times throughout the day, explains Dr. Connor.
For tendonitis specifically, Connor likes large reusable ice packs with fabric coatings, because they are comfortable, they prevent ice burns on the skin, and they are much easier to wrap in clumsy areas like knees and shoulders.
The older tendon injuries are better treated with heat once the swelling has dissipated and you are more to navigate in rigidity in the affected joint, according to the hospital for special surgery.
4. Compression therapy
Compression therapy – delivered by reusable wraps, sleeves and holes – can also be useful for tendonitis, according to Mayo Clinic, because these products limit swelling while stabilizing the affected joint, preventing movements that can further worsen injury and prevent healing, explains Connor.
“Although you have swelling, you can use these compression methods, but never wrap yourself too closely,” she said. “You do not want to see discoloration of the skin, as it indicates a restriction of blood flow, which can be dangerous and also slows healing.”
5. Red therapy
Missimer highlights red light therapy as one of the trendy means of reducing inflammation after intense training or acute injuries such as tendonitis. “Elite athletes, coaches and biohackers are big fans of this safe and efficient rehabilitation and recovery technique,” she says.
You can reserve red therapy sessions in wellness clinics or buy smaller devices at home to do it yourself. Coherence is the key to red light therapy, according to Missimer, which says you will see the best results if you use these devices for 15 minutes a day.
6. Epsom Salt Tim
Nothing beats rest regarding the treatment of tendonitis, known as Connor, because it is essential to allow swelling to decrease and heal. A ritual that may seem particularly soothing is to take a hot bath. The hot bathtub helps you relax and floating removes pressure from the joints of your body.
To increase the advantages of a bath, the missimer suggests launching Epsom salts, which contain a high concentration of soothing muscles, according to the Cleveland Clinic. “This mineral supports lymphatic circulation and has natural anti-inflammatory properties,” she says.
When to see a doctor
The severity of inflammation or tendon wounds may vary considerably. Although over -the -counter treatments can be useful in most cases, sometimes they are not sufficient, explains Robert Parisien, MD, a surgeon in orthopedic sports medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York and team doctor for American ski and snowboard and fencing teams.
When such treatments do not work or are enough, Dr Parisien says that a physical exam can reveal:
- Bone spurs at the junction of the tendon
- Decrease in the amplitude of movement secondary to pain
- Focal swelling and thickening of the tendon
- Pain with direct palpation on the involved site
- Reproducible pain with attempt to activate the tendon against resistance
If your pain does not disappear or do not change in a few weeks after using these over-the-counter treatments, do not hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor.
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