Tendinitis, cold compress or hot compress?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on February 07, 2025
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First of all, it must be affirmed that patients with tenosynovitis need to actively apply heat. The condition known as tenosynovitis is mainly caused by local excessive irritation and friction, leading to the proliferation of connective tissue and resulting in aseptic inflammation. Therefore, active heat application is necessary. The main purpose of heat application is to promote local blood circulation and the absorption of inflammatory exudates, which can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of the patient's tenosynovitis. Additionally, patients with tenosynovitis need to actively rest and protect the affected area. For those with severe pain, local injection treatment can also be considered.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is tenosynovitis easy to treat?

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to the sterile inflammation of the tendon sheath surrounding a tendon, caused by repetitive activity and friction. This condition can impact tendon movement. In cases of early symptoms, conservative treatment such as rest and the topical application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to alleviate symptoms. However, if the symptoms are severe and lead to constrictive tendonitis, where the movement of the tendon sheath is obstructed and there is a snapping sensation during movement, surgery may be necessary to remove the constricted tendon sheath and relieve symptoms.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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Causes of recurrence of wrist tenosynovitis

Tendinitis is most commonly seen in the wrist or metacarpophalangeal joints. Typically, patients will experience redness, swelling, heat, and tenderness in the wrist, along with limited joint mobility. It is usually recommended that patients rest and avoid overexertion. Due to repeated friction caused by overexertion, swelling of the annular ligament or tendon sheath can occur. This leads to insufficient circulation of synovial fluid within the joints, and excessive friction can cause damage to the tendons and tendon sheaths, resulting in chronic inflammation and swelling. This is how tendinitis develops. Repetitive tasks, such as flipping a spoon at the wrist or cooking, can cause pain, with the most common being de Quervain's tenosynovitis, which can be confirmed by physical examination. Activities like wringing a towel or cooking can lead to pain. When necessary, treatments such as injections or small needle knife therapy may be required. Rest can relieve most symptoms, but there is a high chance of recurrence. Attention should be paid to wearing wrist braces and applying local heat can help.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Can tendonitis be massaged?

Tendinitis refers to the condition where, due to excessive flexing and extending movements, adhesions, exudation, and fibrosis occur between the tendon and the tendon sheath, leading to a local aseptic inflammatory response. This results in symptoms such as pain and limited mobility. When tendinitis occurs, it is important to choose the appropriate treatment based on the symptoms, such as adequate rest, avoiding excessive activity, and using physical therapy and heat applications to reduce local inflammation. If necessary, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs can be used for symptomatic treatment. However, massage does not have a significant effect, and a suitable and systematic treatment approach should be selected based on the symptoms. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Tendinitis mild and severe symptoms

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to the exudation and adhesion between the tendon and tendon sheath caused by excessive flexion and extension activities, resulting in a sterile inflammatory response with symptoms of localized pain and limited mobility. In the early stages of adhesive inflammation, there is severe pain in the affected area along with limited flexion and mobility. As the condition progresses and with increasing age, severe proliferation of the tendon sheath may cause compression on the tendon, leading to symptoms of constrictive tendon sheath inflammation, particularly in the extensor tendons of the index and thumb fingers, commonly known as trigger finger.

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Causes of tenosynovitis

The causes of tenosynovitis, simply put, the tendon sheath is a double-layered dense synovial tube that encases the tendons. It acts as a protective fluid sheath for the tendons, consisting of two layers enveloping the tendon. Between these two layers is a cavity filled with synovial fluid. The inner layer is closely attached to the tendon, while the outer layer lines the inside of the tendon fibrous sheath, jointly attaching to the bone. It primarily functions to stabilize, protect, and lubricate the tendons, preventing them from friction-induced damage and compression. Long periods of excessive friction can lead to damage in both the tendon and its sheath, leading to swelling and pain, which are the symptoms of tenosynovitis. For example, certain occupations such as bricklayers, carpenters, those who work extensively with computers, and chefs who frequently stir with spoons, as well as seamstresses in textile factories, are prone to developing tenosynovitis. There might be a link between this condition and occupational diseases. In such cases, applying heat can be helpful, and if the pain is particularly severe, enclosed treatments might be conducted. Additionally, taking drugs that promote blood circulation and relieve pain might be advisable. In severe cases, surgical treatment may be necessary. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)