Does tenosynovitis cause swelling?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Patients with tenosynovitis may experience swelling. Tenosynovitis primarily results from engaging in certain activities over an extended period, causing frequent movements of the tendon within the tendon sheath, which leads to inflammatory damage, resulting in swelling, pain, and restricted movement of the tendon and tendon sheath. Treatment for tenosynovitis is mainly divided into non-surgical and surgical treatment. Non-surgical treatment involves resting, using anti-inflammatory pain relief medications to alleviate symptoms, and can also include methods like heat application, physical therapy, and local blockades, which can play a positive role in improving symptoms and reducing inflammation. Of course, if conservative treatment is ineffective, or functional impairment occurs, surgical treatment may also be considered.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to apply heat to tendinitis

Patients with tenosynovitis can use heat application to improve symptoms and promote recovery. Heat can be applied with a hot towel or a hot water bottle to the affected area for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time, and can be done several times a day. Caution should be taken to avoid burns during heat application. Heat helps promote blood circulation and can play a role in alleviating symptoms of tenosynovitis and aiding in recovery. Additionally, patients with tenosynovitis need to rest and can also use anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications and medications that invigorate the blood and disperse stasis. Treatment can be combined with physical therapy and encapsulation techniques. These methods can be effective in improving symptoms and promoting recovery. When motor impairments occur, surgical treatment may also be necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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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 Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How should tenosynovitis be treated?

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to chronic aseptic inflammation caused by excessive and frequent flexing and extending motions during labor, where the tendon is subjected to repeated friction and compression within the fibrous tunnel of the tendon sheath. This results in local exudation, swelling, and fibrosis, leading to a narrowing of the sheath canal and hindering normal tendon movements. For mild symptoms of tendon sheath inflammation, treatment can include rest, immobilization, physical therapy, and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving plasters. If symptoms do not improve, local injection therapy may be employed. If symptoms persist and conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of the narrowed tendon sheath may be necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
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Tendon sheath inflammation X-ray manifestations

Tendon sheath inflammation typically shows no noticeable abnormalities in the early stages on X-rays. However, in cases of recurrent constrictive tendon sheath inflammation, it may lead to abnormal changes in the local ligaments and joints, such as ectopic ossification, calcification, and bone proliferation. Generally, an X-ray examination of tendon sheath inflammation shows no significant local abnormalities. In stubborn cases, which relapse after multiple treatments, X-rays may reveal changes such as bony proliferation or ectopic ossification with high-density shadows.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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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.)