Do I Actually Have Tendinitis?

The term “tendinitis” is frequently used by injured individuals, family practitioners, and medical specialists. Commonly present in the Achilles, lateral elbow, and rotator cuff tendons, many still believe that there is a large inflammatory component in overuse tendinitis and anti-inflammatory medication can be used to treat this condition.

According to Assistant Professor Khan of the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia (2002), “ten of 11 readily available sports medicine texts specifically recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treating painful conditions like Achilles and patellar tendinitis despite the lack of a biological rationale or clinical evidence for this approach.”

Patients who present with a painful overuse tendon condition more likely have a non-inflammatory pathology. Studies have revealed that the cause of tendon pain arises from collagen separation. Collagen is the main structural protein found in connective tissues. When these tendon fibrils become thin, frayed, and fragile, they begin to separate and become disrupted in cross section. This leads to an increase in tendon repair cells rather than inflammatory cells.

There is limited evidence of short term pain relief and no clear evidence of effectiveness when relying on anti-inflammatory medications. A more appropriate term would be to use “tendinopathy” to acknowledge that the overuse condition is not in fact tendinitis. Correctly utilizing this term provides patients with a more accurate description of their condition, prevent ineffective pharmacotherapy, avoid medical costs, and allow time for collagen to repair. Tendon disorders realistically take months rather than weeks to resolve. Allow time for rest and slowly incorporate exercises for area of concern. See a physiotherapist for proper diagnosis and treatment options.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1122566/