Then it got real stiff with very much pain when bending. About four months later, my right thumb got stiff. At that time, my doctor gave me cortisone shots at the base of my thumbs. My left thumb is now OK, but the right thumb is again very stiff and does not bend. When it does, it is very, very painful.
Tendons are the tough, fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone.
Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon. Injury, overexertion, infection and, occasionally, other diseases can cause inflammation. But most of the time, it's caused by too much stretching of the tendons. The condition is characterized by pain when touched or moved, and limited range of motion and movement. Tendinitis occurs more often as one gets older.