In more stubborn cases, corticosteroids and local anesthetics may be injected directly around the inflamed tendon. If the tendinitis is long-term and persistent, especially if the tendon sheaths are affected, surgery to remove chronically inflamed tissue may be necessary. This needs to be followed by physical therapy. Two other common types of tendinitis are called lateral or medial epicondylitis. These disorders are better known by their sports medicine names, tennis elbow and golf elbow.
Treatment is similar to that for any type of tendinitis.
And in both conditions, after pain and tenderness has subsided, a physical therapy program that includes daily stretching exercises should be started. If your tendinitis symptoms persist after your cortisone shots and trying the self-care treatment I've described, you may want to see your health care provider again for alternative treatment. Doctors from the University of Calgary in Canada reported that they did not find benefit from chelation therapy in heart disease. This study was developed in collaboration with doctors who advocate the use of chelation and was reported at a recent meeting American College of Cardiology. However, this may not change the recommendations of more than 2,000 doctors in North America who provide this treatment to patients.