Is it good to get a steroid injection for tenosynovitis?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on April 26, 2025
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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 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 Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of tenosynovitis

The symptoms of tenosynovitis mainly manifest as pain, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected area. Tenosynovitis is primarily a condition caused by long-term engagement in certain activities, leading to frequent movement of the tendon within the tendon sheath, which results in inflammatory damage to the sheath. When a patient with tenosynovitis is asymptomatic, treatment may not be necessary, and rest is typically sufficient. However, when symptoms do appear, treatment becomes necessary. Initial measures include rest and the symptomatic use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, as well as medications that invigorate the blood and dispel stasis. Treatment can also be supplemented with methods such as heat application, physical therapy, and local injections to help improve symptoms and achieve favorable outcomes. When mobility impairments occur, surgical treatment may also be needed.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How should tendinitis be treated?

Tendinitis is primarily caused by long-term engagement in certain activities, such as prolonged use of mobile phones and mice, which can lead to frequent tendon movement within the tendon sheath, causing traumatic inflammation, and resulting in symptoms such as tendon and tendon sheath swelling, pain, and limited mobility. Treatment for tendinitis is mainly divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment mainly involves rest, the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and treatment methods such as hot compresses, physical therapy, and local injections. These can effectively help improve symptoms of pain and swelling and reduce inflammation. When conservative treatment is ineffective or when there is a dysfunction in mobility, surgical treatment may also be considered.

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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 Sun Shu Jian
Orthopedics
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What causes tendinitis? How does tendinitis occur?

The cause of tenosynovitis is the repeated mechanical friction between the local tendon and tendon sheath, leading to chronic aseptic inflammatory changes. It is often related to repeated activity in the affected area. Excessive repetitive movement of the affected area causes local congestion, exudation, edema, and other inflammatory changes. The stimulation of inflammatory factors leads to local pain and discomfort. As the condition progresses, thickening of the tendon sheath causes the local tendon to move less smoothly within the sheath, thereby causing restricted local movement. Additionally, tenosynovitis in infants and young children is often considered to be caused by congenital factors.