What is calcific tendonitis?
Calcific tendonitis results from the inflammation and
calcification of tendons around a joint.
A tendon is a band of strong fibrous tissue forming the end
of the muscle that attaches the muscle to bone.
How does it occur?
Injury, trauma, or stress to parts of the body where muscles
and tendons are important to function can cause calcific
tendonitis. It often occurs in the tendons of the shoulder
joints, but tendons of any joint may be involved in such a
process.
Calcification is the process by which fibers of a tendon
become hardened by a deposit of calcium salts, causing
inflammation.
What are the symptoms?
Calcific tendonitis can be mild or severe. Symptoms
include:
- pain
- tenderness
- restriction of motion.
How is it diagnosed?
The health care provider will examine you and review your
symptoms. Your provider will also order x-rays.
How is it treated?
To relieve pain from calcific tendonitis and restore
functioning of the injured part:
- Take anti-inflammatory medicine if recommended or
prescribed by your health care provider.
- Put ice packs on the joint for 20 to 30 minutes every 3
to 4 hours.
- Do the exercises prescribed by your health care provider
to keep the joint moving.
- Avoid activities that make the problem worse.
- Get physical therapy.
If the symptoms do not go away, your health care provider
may give you a steroid injection.
This condition can be treated with surgery if other
treatments do not work. In addition, surgery may be used to
improve your range of motion if you have calcific tendonitis
in your shoulder (frozen shoulder) and it is hard for you to
move your shoulder.
How long will the effects last?
Calcific tendonitis usually gets better with 4 to 6 weeks of
treatment. However, it is possible for your symptoms to
persist for a longer period of time.
How can I take care of myself?
- See your health care provider as soon as symptoms arise.
- Follow the treatment your health care provider
recommends.
What can be done to help prevent calcific tendonitis?
Avoid activities that bother your joint but keep moving the
joint to prevent it from freezing up.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
This
information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers
but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical
treatment. You should speak to your physician or make
an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about
this information or your medical condition.