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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What department should I go to for tendon sheathitis?

Tendinitis refers to a sterile inflammation of the tendon sheath around the tendons, caused by chronic strain, characterized by local pain and limited mobility. If tendinitis occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention at the orthopedics department of a formal hospital. After assessing the extent of the inflammation and its impact on movement, and determining the presence of symptoms of constrictive tendinitis, an appropriate treatment method can be selected. In the early stages, conservative treatment such as rest and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications can be used. If the symptoms are severe, surgery may be required to remove the narrowed tendon sheath or the inflamed sterile tendon sheath to alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Cheng Bin
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Tendinitis, cold compress or hot compress?

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 Li Jin
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Tendon sheath inflammation hot compress method

Heat application can play a certain role in improving the symptoms of tenosynovitis. You can use a hot towel or a hot water bottle and apply it to the affected area for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time, and you can apply heat several times a day. Be careful to avoid burns during heat application. Heat helps promote circulation and can help reduce the symptoms of tenosynovitis and promote recovery. At the same time, patients should also rest and stop any frequent activities. In addition, they can use anti-inflammatory pain relievers and drugs that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, along with physical therapy, injections, and other treatments to improve symptoms and aid recovery. When there is an impairment of movement, surgical treatment can also be considered. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What ointment is used for tenosynovitis?

Tendon sheath inflammation is a sterile inflammation caused by overwork and frequent flexing and extending of the tendon, leading to repeated abrasion and compression within the fibrous sheath of the tendon sheath. This results in local exudation, swelling, and fibrosis, which narrows the sheath canal. If the symptoms are mild, conservative treatment can be chosen, such as applying non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic plasters for symptomatic treatment, combined with rest, immobilization, and physical therapy to alleviate symptoms. If symptoms worsen, local encapsulation treatment may be necessary. If symptoms persist and conservative treatment is ineffective, then surgery may be required.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
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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.