Tendinitis Treatment: What Works and What Doesn’t

When a tendon connecting a muscle to a bone becomes irritated or inflamed, even simple movements can cause sharp, achy, or dull pain. Have you been told to use ice, heat, braces, injections, supplements, or all of the above to promote healing? Which treatments actually help?

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sumit Dewanjee and our team at FXRX in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona, are happy to offer insight that might help clear up the confusion. Notably, Dr. Dewanjee has significant experience treating high school, college, and professional athletes, who are especially vulnerable to tendinitis.

Here’s guidance from our FXRX team regarding tendinitis treatments, what truly works, what doesn’t, and how to safely get back to pain-free activity.

Tendinitis basics

Tendinitis is a common condition that occurs when a tendon — the tissue connecting muscle to bone — becomes irritated or inflamed. It often develops from repetitive movements, overuse, or sudden increases in activity.

Commonly affected areas include the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle. In today’s texting environment, tendinitis affecting the base of the thumb is also common.

Athletes are especially vulnerable to repetitive-use injuries like tendinitis, but gardening, painting, and other hobbies also increase your risk. If you have diabetes, arthritis, or age-related muscle and joint issues, you’re also prone to this common condition.

What works for tendinitis

Treatments that Dr. Dewanjee often prescribes to aid in healing irritated and inflamed tendons include:  

Activity modification and rest

As noted, tendinitis is often the result of repetitive stress. Reducing or temporarily stopping the aggravating activity gives the tendon time to calm down.

But this doesn’t mean complete inactivity. Controlled movement is still crucial for joint and muscle health, but avoiding overuse is the foundation of effective healing.

Ice for acute pain and swelling

Ice is most effective within the first 48-72 hours after symptoms flare. Applying ice for 15-20 minutes helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

For chronic tendon pain, ice may still help after strenuous activity, even if swelling isn’t visible.

Eccentric strengthening exercises

Eccentric exercises involve lengthening the targeted muscle while it’s under tension, such as slowly lowering the weight during a biceps curl. These movements help stimulate tendon healing, improve collagen organization (the main component of tendon tissue), and build long-term resilience.

Stretching and mobility

Tight surrounding muscles create additional tension on an irritated tendon. Gentle, consistent stretching can ease strain and improve mobility. Dynamic warmups before activity and slow, controlled stretching afterward can help prevent recurrence.

Anti-inflammatory medications (use wisely)

NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help reduce pain during the early inflammatory phase. But you should only use them short-term and with medical guidance, as long-term use may impair tendon healing or irritate your stomach and kidneys.

Physical therapy

Another mainstay of tendinitis treatment is physical therapy (PT). A structured PT program improves biomechanics, strength, flexibility, and tendon loading.

PT also helps us identify contributing factors such as poor posture, weak stabilizing muscles, or improper movement patterns.

What doesn’t work (or helps less than you think)

Treatments that work for other conditions might not work for tendinitis.

Complete immobility

Keeping a tendon still for long periods can worsen stiffness and weaken tissue. The goal is to modify activity, meaning protecting the tendon while maintaining healthy movement.

Applying heat during the early phase

Heat can increase blood flow and help with chronic stiffness. But using heat during the initial inflammatory phase often worsens pain and swelling. Save heat for tightness after the first few days.

Relying solely on braces or supports

We offer customized orthopedic bracing here at FXRX, and Dr. Dewanjee often recommends them for joint and tendon support. But a brace or wrap won’t fix the underlying problem. Strengthening and mobility remain essential for long-term recovery.

So, how do we fix tendinitis?

Effective tendinitis treatment focuses on reducing irritation, strengthening the tendon, and improving movement patterns. Dr. Dewanjee may also recommend a steroid injection to reduce inflammation or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to stimulate natural tendon healing.

While most cases of tendinitis improve with conservative care, Dr. Dewanjee may consider surgery for chronic symptoms (lasting six months or longer).

You may also benefit from surgery if imaging studies show significant tendon degeneration, partial tearing, or chronic inflammation that has not responded to nonsurgical treatment.

Procedures may include:

• Tendon debridement to remove damaged tissue and stimulate healing
• Tendon repair or reconstruction for significant tears
• Removal of bone spurs or other irritants contributing to tendon friction

Dr. Dewanjee performs most tendon-related surgeries arthroscopically, using small incisions and a camera to view the targeted tendon. This typically allows for faster healing and less postoperative pain than traditional open surgery.

Schedule a visit at FXRX today by calling our Tempe, Arizona, office or requesting an appointment online.