The Truth About Tendons
The main truth about tendon pain is that it can be hard to deal with.
No matter how many alternative therapies you try, once you’ve injured a tendon, it may never go back to normal. Anyone who has sprained an ankle knows that even though years have passed since that injury, the ankle is still weak and prone to further damage.
Tendons are finicky, especially once they’ve been pulled or torn, and it takes a lot to convince them to heal. On top of this, they play a very important role in the body – holding your joints together, which means that you need to find the best method of repairing them.
R.I.C.E.
The second a tendon becomes injured your best treatment is called R.I.C.E. This stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. In some cases, this does the trick. Your pain will begin to go away, and as long as you can take it easy and not use the injured joint too much, it might start to heal.
The main problem here is that many people don’t have this kind of time, and that, as we already stated, the sprained tendon will always be a bit weaker than the others in your body. This makes it much more likely that you’ll injure yourself again.
Physical Therapy
If you pull, twist, or tear a tendon, once you’re done with the rest, ice, compression, and elevation stage of treatment, your doctor might send you into physical therapy. This involves doing a number of very specific exercises designed to not only prompt that tendon to begin to heal, but also to strengthen all of the tendons and muscles around it to keep it from further injury.
Like the other method, this works, but it’s not always the best option. All that it takes is one misstep and you’re back in pain again.
Surgery
For tendons that simply won’t heal or those that are permanently torn and stretched out, most doctors will send you right into surgery. Once in the operating room, your injured leg or arm will be opened up and the tendon will be sewn back together or replaced with donor tissue.
While this solves the problem on a permanent basis, it’s very invasive and comes with a number of anesthesia-related risks. Plus, you’ll end up having to go through even more physical therapy on the injured joint. This isn’t a perfect solution.
Ask A Specialist About Treating A Tendon Injury
We’re here to offer help whenever you need it. To learn more about your options, contact Simpson Advanced Chiropractic & Medical Center today!