It usually means you have an inflammation or a small tear of the tendon. Tendinitis is usually the result of overuse or a minor injury. It's most common around the shoulders, elbows and knees. Pain may cause you to limit movement.
Rest is important, but so is maintaining a full range of movement.
If you don't treat tendinitis carefully, tendons and ligaments around your joint may gradually stiffen over several weeks. Movement may become limited and difficult. You can do this in a variety of ways, using anything from splints to crutches. R est the injured limb. Even with an ankle sprain you usually can exercise other muscles to prevent deconditioning.