Can tenosynovitis heal itself?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Tendon sheath inflammation is primarily due to long-term engagement in certain frequent activities, causing inflammatory damage to the tendons and tendon sheaths. This results in symptoms such as swelling and limited mobility. It is difficult to cure without treatment intervention. For the treatment of tendon sheath inflammation, it is firstly important to rest and stop the frequent activity. Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics can also be used. Additionally, treatments such as applying heat, physiotherapy, and local encapsulation can be employed. Through these treatments, some patients can recover effectively. When there is a significant impact on life due to functional impairment, surgical treatment may also be considered. Post-surgery, it is important to start functional exercises early to prevent adhesion. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
1min 3sec home-news-image

Is it good to get a steroid injection for tenosynovitis?

Treating tenosynovitis with injections is acceptable. Injections can significantly alleviate the pain caused by tenosynovitis and symptoms of limited joint mobility. However, it is imperative to take precautions during this treatment. Firstly, the injection contains steroids and anesthetics, so the number of injections must be limited. Generally, it is advisable to administer it once or twice a month. Excessive injections should be avoided as they can damage the local tendons or even the tendon sheaths, potentially exacerbating the pain from tenosynovitis or leading to spontaneous tendon ruptures. Therefore, the frequency of injections should be limited to a maximum of one to two times per month. Secondly, it’s crucial to ensure proper disinfection of the area during injections to prevent infections at the injection site and attend to potential bacterial infections. (Use of medication should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
53sec home-news-image

The difference between tendinitis and tendon sheath cyst.

Tendinitis refers to the inflammation of a sheath surrounding the tendon, known as the tendon sheath, caused by chronic strain. This results in a sterile inflammatory response between the tendon and its sheath, leading to symptoms such as pain and limited mobility. Meanwhile, a tendon sheath cyst is a cystic change occurring within the tendon sheath due to various reasons, characterized by a small amount of fluid or gel-like tissue within the cyst. When tendinitis occurs, it can be managed with conservative treatment, rest, and physical therapy to alleviate symptoms. On the other hand, a tendon sheath cyst might not show evident symptoms initially, but as the condition progresses and the cyst grows, it may compress local blood vessels or nerves causing symptoms, necessitating surgical intervention at this stage.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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How to reduce inflammation in tendinitis

To reduce inflammation in tendinitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be used rather than antibacterial drugs such as cephalosporins, as the two are entirely different. In addition to using NSAIDs, it is also recommended to combine this with local physical therapy, such as electrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, etc. Topical NSAIDs can be applied locally and used in conjunction with physical therapy. For initial occurrences of tendinitis, these treatments can also provide good relief and improve symptoms of pain. However, for recurrent, stubborn tendinitis, the effectiveness of oral and topical medications in improving symptoms is limited. If necessary, local pain point block treatments can be performed, which can also result in good therapeutic effects. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

How to treat tenosynovitis?

In clinical practice, the treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis is divided into three stages. The first stage involves general treatments, including early immobilization, followed by localized heat therapy, microwave therapy, and shock wave therapy, as well as the topical application of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications. If there is no improvement after one week of conservative treatment, the second stage is initiated. The second stage involves an injection treatment, which is quite effective for this type of tenosynovitis in clinical practice. Generally, one or two injections can significantly alleviate symptoms, and some people may even fully recover. However, if after three injections the symptoms do not improve or worsen, further injections should be avoided, as this method is not beneficial for you, and you would then proceed to the third stage. The third stage involves surgical treatment. There are two types of surgical treatments: one involves a minor procedure using a small needle knife in traditional Chinese medicine, and the other involves conventional surgery. However, for radial styloid stenosing tenosynovitis, surgery is generally recommended due to the proximity of the radial nerve, which could be at risk of damage.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to completely cure tenosynovitis?

The only definitive treatment for tenosynovitis is surgery, because the clinical treatment of tenosynovitis is divided into three steps. The first step is general treatment, which mainly involves immobilization, medication, and topical application of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs; the second step is injection therapy; if these two methods do not work, then surgery is the only option. Therefore, surgery is the only way to completely cure tenosynovitis.