- Main symptoms
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- What can cause tenosynovitis
- How the treatment is done
- When physiotherapy is needed
Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of a tendon and the tissue covering a group of tendons, called a tendinous sheath, which generates symptoms such as local pain and a feeling of muscle weakness in the affected area. Some of the most common types of tenosynovitis include De Quervain's tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, both in the wrist.
Tenosynovitis is usually more frequent after an injury to the tendon and, therefore, it is a relatively common injury in athletes or people who make many repetitive movements, such as carpenters or dentists, for example, but it can also happen due to infections or complications other degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Depending on the cause, tenosynovitis is curable and, almost always, it is possible to relieve symptoms with appropriate treatment, which may include anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids, for example, always guided by an orthopedist.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms of tenosynovitis can include:
- Difficulty moving a joint; Pain in a tendon; Redness in the skin over the affected tendon; Lack of muscle strength.
These symptoms can appear slowly over time and usually appear in places where the tendons are more susceptible to injuries such as hands, feet or wrists. However, tenosynovitis can develop in any tendon in the body, including the tendons in the shoulder, knee or elbow region, for example.
See a very common type of tendonitis in the elbow and how to treat it.
How to confirm the diagnosis
In most cases, tenosynovitis can be diagnosed by the orthopedist only with the assessment of the symptoms presented, however, the doctor can also order other tests such as ultrasound or MRI, for example.
What can cause tenosynovitis
Tenosynovitis is much more frequent in athletes or professionals in areas where it is necessary to make several repetitive movements such as carpenters, dentists, musicians or secretaries, for example, as there is a greater risk of developing a tendon injury.
However, tenosynovitis can also arise when you have some type of infection in the body or as a complication of other degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, gout, diabetes or reactive arthritis.
The cause is not always determined in all cases, however, the doctor may recommend treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the person's quality of life.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for tenosynovitis should always be guided by an orthopedist or physiotherapist, but it usually aims to reduce inflammation and pain. For this, it is advisable to keep the affected area at rest whenever possible, avoiding activities that may have caused the initial injury.
In addition, the doctor may also prescribe the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Diclofenac or Ibuprofen, to reduce swelling and pain. However, other more natural strategies, such as massage, stretching and using ultrasound can also improve tendon inflammation. See some exercises to stretch the tendons and relieve pain.
In the most severe cases, in which the symptoms do not improve with any of these strategies, the orthopedist may also advise injections of corticosteroids directly into the affected tendon and, ultimately, surgery.
When physiotherapy is needed
Physiotherapy is indicated for all cases of tenosynovitis, even after the symptoms have improved, as it helps to stretch the tendons and strengthen the muscles, ensuring that the problem does not recur.
