Lesión de tendón/Tendinopatía

Tendons are the tough fibers that connect muscle to bone. Your Achilles tendon, for example, connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. Most tendon injuries occur near joints, such as the ankle. A tendon injury may seem to happen suddenly, but it is usually the result of many tiny tears to your tendon that have happened over time.

Doctors may use different terms to describe a tendon injury. You may hear:

• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon)
• Tendinosis (tiny tears in tissue in and around tendon caused by overuse)

Most experts now use the term “tendinopathy” to include both inflammation and microtears. Since for many years most tendon problems were called "tendinitis," your doctor may still use this more familiar word to describe a tendon injury.

Most tendon injuries are the result of gradual wear and tear to your tendon from overuse or aging. Anyone can have a tendon injury, but people who make the same motions repeatedly in their jobs, sports or daily activities are more likely to damage a tendon.

Tendinopathy usually causes pain, stiffness and loss of strength in the affected area. The symptoms of a tendon injury can be very similar to those caused by bursitis (a painful condition affecting the small, fluid-filled sacs, called bursae, that cushion the bones), and may include:

• Worsening pain when you use the tendon 
• Pain or stiffness during the night or when you get up in the morning
• Redness, tenderness or swelling in the area
• A crunchy sound or sensation when using the tendon 

To diagnose a tendon injury, your doctor will ask you questions about your past health and your symptoms and will do a physical exam. If the injury is related to your use of a tool or sports equipment, the doctor may ask you to show how you use it.

If your symptoms are severe or do not improve with treatment, your doctor may want you to have a test, such as an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI.

In most cases, you can treat a tendon injury at home. To get the best results, begin these steps right away:

• Descansa la zona dolorida y evita cualquier actividad que empeore el dolor.
• Aplique hielo o compresas frías durante 10 a 15 minutos cada vez, hasta dos veces por hora, durante las primeras 72 horas; continúe usando hielo mientras le resulte beneficioso.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) if you need them, and always only as directed. 
• Realice ejercicios suaves de amplitud de movimiento y estiramientos para prevenir la rigidez.

As soon as you are better, you can return to your activity, but take it easy for a while. Don’t start at the same level as before your injury. Build back to your previous level slowly, and stop if it hurts. Warm up before you exercise, and do some gentle stretching afterward. After the activity, apply ice to prevent pain and swelling.

If these treatments above don’t help, your doctor may suggest physical therapy. If the injury is severe or long-lasting, your doctor may have you use a splint, brace or cast to hold the tendon still. It may take weeks or months for a tendon injury to heal. Be patient, and stick with your treatment. If you start using the injured tendon too soon, it can lead to more damage.

To keep from hurting your tendon again, you may need to make some long-term changes to your activities, such as:

• Cambia tus actividades o la forma en que las realizas; por ejemplo, si correr te causó la lesión, intenta nadar algunos días, o si una herramienta en particular te provocó la lesión, intenta cambiar de mano o de agarre.
• Tómese siempre tiempo para calentar antes y estirarse después de hacer ejercicio.
• Si la lesión fue causada por el ejercicio, toma clases o pídele a un entrenador o profesional que revise tu técnica.
• Si la lesión en el tendón fue causada por tu trabajo, pregunta a tu departamento de recursos humanos si existen otras maneras de realizar tu trabajo.