Tendonitis is caused by damage to a tendon, which connects the muscle to the bone. Tendonitis occurs most often with elbows and knees, but it can also affect the shoulder. This condition has similar symptoms to other conditions, such as bursitis, Achilles heel, and arthritis. The best way to tell whether the symptoms are the result of tendonitis if there are a number of signs occurring together.
If there is swelling, pain or stiffness near the joint, your tendon may be damaged. A doctor can determine whether this is the cause by doing a test for bursitis or similar conditions. Tendonitis can make it more likely that you will suffer further injuries because problems with the tendon can cause the muscles to be weaker. You may run the risk of developing tendonitis if you are involved in a sport or a job that requires repetitive movement
1. Swelling of Tendon
One of the first symptoms of tendonitis is swelling in the area. Since tendons are all over the body and connect muscle to bone, this swelling can occur anywhere, but most cases of tendonitis occur right around the joints, most commonly around the elbow or the knee.
The tendons in these areas are more vulnerable because of the bending that takes place in the elbow and the knee, particularly from certain sports or repetitive work activities that involve the constant movement of the elbow or kneeling.
Swelling may not be caused by tendonitis but could be the result of an internal infection, so determine whether there are other symptoms present, such as pain and stiffness. Swelling around the knee could be the result of septic bursitis rather than tendonitis, and can be determined by a doctor taking fluid out of your knee.