Definition
Tendonitis is a pathology (more precisely, a tendinopathy) characterized by the inflammation of one or more tendons of the human body.
The tendons that are most affected by this inflammation are those of the shoulders, knees, ankles, hands and wrists.
The various types of tendinitis that can arise are named after the site where the affected tendon is located (such as, for example, the epicondylitis or "tennis elbow" and Achilles tendinitis).
Causes
Tendonitis is usually caused by excessive stress on the tendon, which is repeated until it causes damage and injury to the fibers that make it up. At the onset of this inflammatory pathology, trauma and / or stretching can contribute, the practice of sports in which predominantly certain types of joints and muscles are used (such as, for example, dance, tennis, etc.) and postural vices.
The risk of onset of tendinitis is greater in patients suffering from diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. In addition, any therapies based on certain types of quinolones (antibiotic drugs) or repeated infiltrations with corticosteroids (such as, for example, those that are performed for the treatment of a finger) can increase the risk of tendon rupture.
Symptoms
The typical symptom of tendinitis is pain on movement or palpation, felt at the body site where the tendon affected by inflammation is located. Therefore - depending on the inflamed tendon - pain may occur in the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, groin, knee, foot, heel, etc. In addition, symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, stiffness and / or joint noises may also occur.
Information on Tendonitis - Drugs and Tendonitis Treatment is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Tendonitis - Drugs and Tendonitis Treatment.
drugs
The drugs used to treat tendonitis are mostly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), whose job is to reduce inflammation and alleviate the pain caused by the disease.
In more serious situations, it may be necessary to resort to local injections of corticosteroids, although infiltration provides greater benefits than treatment with NSAIDs only in the short term. In fact, as mentioned, repeated infiltration of steroid drugs can increase the risk of rupture of the same tendon.
However, the treatment of tendonitis also requires patients to remain at rest, so as not to further overload the already inflamed tendon, and to apply ice packs to reduce swelling and pain.
In case of serious injuries and tendon rupture it is necessary to resort to surgery, which must be followed by adequate physiotherapy to restore the normal movement of the joint, muscles and the tendon itself.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first-line treatment for treating tendonitis.
NSAIDs are used because of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Usually, they are administered orally or via the skin (in the form of gel, cream or medicated plasters), but most NSAIDs are also available in pharmaceutical formulations suitable for other routes of administration (such as, for example, rectal or parenteral).
Among the various active ingredients used in the treatment of tendinitis, we recall:
- Diclofenac (Dicloreum ®, Deflamat ®, Voltaren Emulgel ®, Flector ®): diclofenac can be administered via different routes. When the drug is administered orally in the treatment of tendinitis, the dose usually used can vary from 75 mg to 150 mg a day, to be administered in divided doses.
When using diclofenac-based gel, it is recommended to apply the product directly on the area affected by the inflammation 3-4 times a day.
If the medicated diclofenac-based plaster is used, on the other hand, it is recommended to apply two patches a day - one in the morning and one in the evening - in the affected area. The duration of treatment should not exceed ten days.
- Aceclofenac (Airtal ®, Gladio ®): when aceclofenac is given to treat tendonitis, the usual dose is 200 mg of drug, to be taken orally in two divided doses at a distance of twelve hours each 'else.
- Ketoprofen (Artrosilene ®, Orudis ®, Oki ®, Fastum gel ®, Flexen "Retard ® ®, Ketodol ®): the dose of ketoprofen usually administered orally is 150-200 mg per day, to be taken preferably after meals, in two or three divided doses. It is very important not to exceed the maximum daily dose of 200 mg of active ingredient.
When ketoprofen is used in the form of pharmaceutical formulations for cutaneous use, it is recommended to apply the product in the affected area 1-3 times a day, or according to medical prescription. Moreover, to avoid the onset of photosensitivity reactions, the part treated with ketoprofen for cutaneous use must not be exposed to sunlight and UV rays, both during the treatment and for a period of at least two weeks from the end of the same.
- Ibuprofen (Brufen ®, Moment ®, Nurofen ®, Arfen ®, Actigrip fever and pain ®, Vicks fever and pain ®): when ibuprofen is administered orally, the maximum dose of 1, 200-1, 800 mg should not be exceeded. drug per day. The exact dose of active ingredient to be taken must be established by the doctor for each patient.
- Naproxen (Momendol ®, Synflex ®, Xenar ®): when naproxen is administered orally, the usual dose is 500-1, 000 mg of drug per day, to be taken in divided doses every 12 hours. When using naproxen-based gel or cream, on the other hand, it is recommended to perform two applications a day directly on the affected area.
However, it is good to remember that the information provided about the doses of drug usually used in therapy is only indicative. The exact dosage of the medicine, in fact, must be established by the doctor, depending on the severity of the inflammation and the patient's condition, therefore, it is essential to strictly follow the indications provided by the latter.
Corticosteroids
In some cases, corticosteroid infiltration may be required to treat tendonitis. This type of treatment is very delicate and should only be performed by specialized personnel, as there is a risk of causing serious damage and tendon rupture.
- Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol ®): methylprednisolone is used in the treatment of tendonitis (in particular, epicondylitis) in association with lidocaine (a local anesthetic). The dose of methylprednisolone usually used is 4-80 mg. The exact amount of drug to be administered varies according to the severity of the inflammation.
- Dexamethasone (Soldesam ®): the usual amount of dexamethasone is 1-4 mg, depending on the anatomical site affected by tendonitis.
