5. Warmth in the area
When a tendon has been damaged, the area can become warm or hot and red. This can also occur with regular muscle strain, bursitis or infection. Tendonitis specifically has some telltale signs in addition to redness, and warmth, including stiffness and pain around the elbow and the knee.
To rule out bursitis, your doctor may take fluid from the bursa underneath the knee to see if there is inflammation or infection. If the warmth and swelling is not the result of bursitis, you may be suffering from tendonitis. One way to treat heat in the area is to apply ice packs or cold compresses and to elevate your elbow or knee.
If the symptoms do not go away on their own, see a doctor ensure you do not have an infection or another condition. If you find your knee or elbow gets hotter when you move it, try resting the area.