Tendinitis: Causes, Treatments, and How Medications Affect Recovery

When your tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon, often from repetitive motion or sudden strain. Also known as tendonitis, it commonly hits the shoulder, elbow, knee, or heel—making simple movements like lifting a coffee cup or climbing stairs feel painful. It’s not just aging. Even young athletes, office workers, and gardeners get it from doing the same motion over and over. The tendon, which connects muscle to bone, gets irritated, swells, and loses its smooth glide. Left untreated, it can turn into chronic pain or even tear.

Most cases of tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon, often from repetitive motion or sudden strain. Also known as tendonitis, it commonly hits the shoulder, elbow, knee, or heel—making simple movements like lifting a coffee cup or climbing stairs feel painful. respond well to rest and basic care. But if pain sticks around, anti-inflammatory drugs, medications like NSAIDs used to reduce swelling and pain in inflamed tissues become part of the plan. Things like ibuprofen or naproxen help, but they don’t fix the root cause. Long-term use? That’s risky—stomach issues, kidney strain, and even slower healing can happen. That’s why doctors often pair them with physical therapy, targeted exercises and manual techniques to restore movement and strength in injured tissues. Strengthening the muscles around the tendon takes pressure off it. Stretching helps it move freely again. And sometimes, ice, braces, or even ultrasound therapy make a real difference.

What you won’t find in most guides? The quiet truth that tendinitis often gets worse when people keep pushing through pain. Rest isn’t lazy—it’s healing. And skipping rehab? That’s how a quick flare-up becomes a year-long problem. You might think cortisone shots are a magic fix, but they weaken tendons over time. Same with popping painkillers like candy. Real recovery means changing how you move, not just masking the hurt.

Below, you’ll find real-world advice from people who’ve been there. From how to safely use pain meds without side effects, to what exercises actually help (and which ones make it worse), to how to know when it’s time to see a specialist. No fluff. Just what works.