La tenosynovitis it is an inflammatory pathology that affects the tendons.
Contents
The shoulder, wrist, hand and hip are the areas most affected by tenosynovitis, which can manifest itself with more or less acute pain.
Doctors define tenosynovitis as “synovitis of the tendons.”
Synovitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the synovial membrane and spreads to the associated connective tissues such as tendons.
Let's see specifically what are the symptoms and causes normally associated with tenosynovitis and what are the main remedies, so you will immediately know how to act and who to turn to to relieve the discomfort.
Types of Tenosynovitis
Generally, two main types of tenosynovitis are distinguished:
- Stenosing Tenosynovitis:
Stenosing tenosynovitis causes a mechanical blockage of the joint, which manifests itself in a series of “clicks”, almost like a nervous tic.
It is linked to the inflammation of the synovial fluid of the tendons, which end up crushing the joint and causing the snaps. - Exudative Tenosynovitis:
Like stenosing tenosynovitis, exudative tenosynovitis is also linked to the intervention of the inflammatory fluid.
This time, the synovial fluid combines with the inflammatory fluid and settles in the joint cavity, causing continuous discomfort and prolonged pain.
Exudative tenosynovitis is typical of chronic diseases such as'rheumatoid arthritis and is more difficult to fight.
Symptoms and main causes
Let's now move on to the most common symptoms of tenosynovitis, which allow us to identify it easily and without too many doubts.
It should be noted, however, that the symptoms vary from patient to patient and may increase depending on the underlying cause.
- Difficulty in movement
- Swelling and redness in the affected area
- Severe and prolonged pain
- Presence of "crepitus", noises related to the rubbing of the tendon'inside of the sheath that can be felt through the use of the stethoscope
In most cases, tenosynovitis arises from excessive stress on the tendon, which leads to inflammation of the tendon sheath.
In all these situations, the result is stenosing tenosynovitis, which is destined to disappear over time.
On the contrary, when tenosynovitis is linked to specific rheumatic pathologies, the pain will not disappear quickly. It will be necessary to intervene and use specific drugs, designed to reduce the inflammation as much as possible.
Remedies and Treatments
The first thing to do to effectively combat tendon pain is to stop movement, the primary cause of inflammation.
After that, you can proceed with the application of ice packs, which reduce the pain and the inflammation itself.
When the pain becomes too much to bear, doctors recommend taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with local action, in order to combat it quickly.
Corticosteroid therapy is only necessary if the inflammation worsens and affects other areas of the joint.
Finally, to combat tenosynovitis associated with chronic pathologies, it is necessary to remove the tendon sheath through arthroscopic surgery.
However, we are talking about a borderline case, which affects only a small portion of patients.
Before getting alarmed and proceeding rashly, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor and listen to his opinion on the matter.
Article published on 20 July 2022 - 17:00
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