Tendinopathy, tendonitis and tendinitis can be confusing words to encounter when a tendon hurts. At The Recovery Room, we explain what the terms mean for your situation and what the next step involves. The word on a report does not replace an assessment of your symptoms and activity.
What do the terms mean?
Tendons connect muscles to bones. Tendinopathy is a broad term used for tendon problems involving pain and difficulty with activity. Tendonitis, also spelled tendinitis, refers to inflammation of a tendon. The terms are sometimes used differently, so ask what is meant in your own diagnosis.
Pain, stiffness or swelling cannot tell you at home exactly what is happening within a tendon. Nor does one label give everyone the same recovery time or treatment.
What should you tell us?
Describe where the problem is, how it began and which tasks are difficult. Include work, lifting, gripping, walking or sport as appropriate. Tell us about previous injuries, relevant health conditions and any change in feeling or strength.
Bring reports and previous exercise advice. There is no need to repeatedly provoke the pain or decide whether it is inflammation or degeneration before booking.
How does assessment help?
We bring your account together with appropriate movement and strength checks. We will explain what supports the working explanation, what remains uncertain and whether medical advice or imaging could change the plan.
A scan may answer a particular question, but it needs interpretation alongside symptoms and examination. It is not automatically required to begin understanding every tendon complaint.
How does the diagnosis guide care?
A useful plan relates to the tendon involved and the tasks you need to regain. It may include activity changes and suitable exercises, with clear instructions about amount and review. An exercise that helps one tendon is not automatically suitable for another.
Medication, injections or other procedures need advice from the appropriate professional. We do not treat a list of possible interventions as a package everyone needs.
When should you seek medical help?
A sudden injury with severe pain, a pop or snap, or major loss of movement or strength needs prompt medical assessment. A hot red swollen area with fever or feeling unwell also needs medical advice. New numbness or worsening symptoms should not simply be dismissed as an old tendon problem.
Leave with a plan you understand
- What does the diagnosis explain, and what remains uncertain?
- Which activities should change for now?
- What is each exercise intended to help with?
- What response means you should get back in touch?
Book a tendon assessment
If a non-urgent tendon problem is affecting your day, book an assessment at our Southampton clinic. You can bring the symptoms and questions without knowing the terminology.
Book an injury assessment