Overcoming Tendonitis: A Closer Look at Regenerative Medicine Solutions

Tendonitis is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, affecting millions of Americans. Athletes are most susceptible, which is why it’s frequently treated in sports medicine, but the condition affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and activity levels. 

At Twin Creeks Orthopedics and Regenerative Clinic, our expert team specializes in tendonitis treatment. This blog explains why tendonitis happens, discusses common treatment options, and explores why a growing number of people are using regenerative medicine to support their recovery.

Understanding tendonitis

Tendonitis occurs when one or more of your tendons — the soft tissues that connect muscles to bones — become inflamed due to overuse, repetitive strain, or sudden activity changes. It commonly affects athletes but can also develop in carpenters, machinists, and others who perform similar motions day after day, thereby increasing the risk of injury. 

Tendonitis can occur in any tendon, but it often affects joints such as the knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Reduced mobility

If you experience these symptoms and they interfere with your ability to work or exercise, identifying the underlying cause is crucial. 

Traditional treatment options for tendonitis

Most cases of tendonitis respond well to conservative methods, such as rest, activity modification, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication. 

If your symptoms persist for more than a week or two, despite this approach, you may benefit from physical therapy or corticosteroid injections. These treatments do an excellent job of reducing inflammation and relieving stiffness, but they don’t always fully repair damaged tissue. 

Regenerative medicine may support the body’s ability to repair damaged tissue without surgery, which is why it’s becoming increasingly popular. 

How regenerative medicine may help

Regenerative medicine amplifies your body’s natural healing processes to support your recovery after an injury or trauma. Studies show that tendonitis treatment may help reduce pain, improve function, and repair damaged tissue.

We offer several types of regenerative medicine, including:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP is a regenerative medicine treatment that uses platelets from your blood, which contain growth factors, to promote recovery.

When a PRP solution is injected into a damaged or inflamed tendon, it stimulates the body’s healing response, relieves pain, and may encourage the growth of new, healthy tissue. 

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy involves injecting dextrose (sugar water) into an injured or inflamed tendon. The sugar irritates the tendon, increasing circulation and reducing inflammation. It may also stimulate a healing response, especially in damaged tendons or muscles. 

Exosome therapy

Exosome therapy is similar to PRP and prolotherapy in that it uses targeted injections to support healing. The difference is that exosomes are tiny signaling particles derived from stem cells that help cells communicate and coordinate healing responses. Because of this, exosome therapy may support recovery in damaged or inflamed tendons.

Who is a good candidate for regenerative medicine?

You may benefit from regenerative medicine if you have chronic tendonitis that doesn’t improve with conservative treatments such as ice, rest, and activity modification. That’s especially true if you’re an athlete or other active individual and your symptoms keep you off the court, playing field, or away from your job. 

Because treatment is minimally invasive and requires little downtime, many people can return to their routine without surgery or a potentially risky series of corticosteroid injections. 

We can help you manage tendonitis pain once and for all

If you’ve been diagnosed with tendonitis and can’t seem to find relief, contact us today. After reviewing your health history, discussing your symptoms, and completing an exam, we can determine if you’re a candidate for regenerative medicine and make custom treatment recommendations. To make an appointment, call (469) 342-3383 or book online.