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Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, Tendonitis /by

You’ve probably had or at least heard of the tendon problem known as tennis elbow. And chances are you’ve heard people say that it’s a form of tendonitis. You may not have heard of the other type of tendon problem called tendinosis. Its symptoms are often mistaken for tendonitis, and therefore, it’s often treated like […]

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

/in Chronic Pain, nerve pain /by

Fibromyalgia is often mistaken for other chronic pain conditions, disorders, and diseases. There’s widespread misinformation about this disease, which has created a lot of confusion. Let’s dig into it and separate five common fibromyalgia facts from fiction. 1. Fibromyalgia isn’t real. (Wrong!!!) Many doctors tell patients with fibromyalgia symptoms that the disease doesn’t exist. Then […]

Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, Tendonitis /by

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

/in Chronic Pain, nerve pain /by

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Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, Tendonitis /by

You’ve probably had or at least heard of the tendon problem known as tennis elbow. And chances are you’ve heard people say that it’s a form of tendonitis.

You may not have heard of the other type of tendon problem called tendinosis.

Its symptoms are often mistaken for tendonitis, and therefore, it’s often treated like tendonitis.

Let’s zoom in on five common misunderstandings to see if we can clear up the confusion.

1. Tendonitis is a chronic pain condition. (Wrong!)

Tendonitis is acute or sudden onset, short-term pain from inflammation due to a direct injury.

The symptoms of tendonitis, which are due to inflammation, include swelling, redness, and warmth.

By contrast, tendinosis or tendinopathy is chronic or consistent and recurring pain due to degeneration. Repetitive trauma or injuries causes degeneration characterized by microscopic tears in the tendon.

Tendinosis symptoms include pain but no swelling, redness, or warmth.

2. Rest is always the best treatment for tendon pain. (Wrong!)

Resting or keeping weight off the tendon doesn’t cure tendinosis because the pain is due to degeneration rather than inflammation.

The initial pain and swelling of tendinosis are similar to inflammation, but the underlying cause is chronic degeneration due to aging, repetitive use, or repeated injury.

Tendonitis, however, is characterized by inflammation. Therefore, resting or keeping weight off of the tendon does help bring healing and pain relief.

3. Anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and cold therapy are always effective treatments for tendon pain. (Wrong!)

These are effective treatments for pain from inflammation, so they are effective in treating tendonitis.

For tendinosis, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and cold therapy can relieve pain in the short run but can’t heal the degenerative damage.

What will provide healing and pain relief is physical therapy that stretches the injured tendon and surrounding muscles.

4. Tennis elbow is always tendonitis. (Wrong!)

The truth is, tennis elbow can be either tendinosis or tendonitis. Tennis elbow affects the tendons that connect the forearm muscle to the outside of the elbow.

Treatment will depend on the type of tendon pain.

5. Plantar fasciitis is a form of tendonitis. (Wrong!)

Plantar fasciitis is tendinosis in the plantar fascia, the long, thin ligament on the bottom of the foot. Over time, micro-tears develop in the plantar fascia, which causes pain.

Tendonitis and tendinosis treatment in Houston and Dallas

At Texas Pain Physicians, our pain management specialists know how to diagnose and treat tendon pain. Please don’t make the mistake of guessing what’s causing your pain then applying the wrong treatment.

To make your appointment, give us a call or book online today!

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

/in Chronic Pain, nerve pain /by

Fibromyalgia is often mistaken for other chronic pain conditions, disorders, and diseases.

There’s widespread misinformation about this disease, which has created a lot of confusion.

Let’s dig into it and separate five common fibromyalgia facts from fiction.

1. Fibromyalgia isn’t real. (Wrong!!!)

Many doctors tell patients with fibromyalgia symptoms that the disease doesn’t exist. Then a rheumatologist or pain specialist diagnoses them with fibromyalgia. What’s going on here?

It’s simple. Everyone has blood pressure and blood sugar and experiences physical and emotional pain to some degree.

Doctors diagnose diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) when blood sugar and blood pressure are above the normal range on a sliding scale.

And that’s how they diagnose fibromyalgia, with pain being the variable that goes beyond the normal range instead of blood pressure or blood sugar.

Now, pain and fatigue from exercise, injuries, and lack of sleep comes and goes. It’s normal. But steady pain in several or more body parts for three months or longer isn’t, and fibromyalgia may be to blame.

2. Fibromyalgia is just normal muscle pain. (Wrong!!!)

General practitioners tend to think the cause of muscle pain and discomfort is in the immediate area. So, if your knee or ankle hurts, the problem must be in your knee or ankle.

The reality, however, is that fibromyalgia pain is likely neurological (a problem with the central nervous system), and has non-pain symptoms.

3. Fibromyalgia is a fallback diagnosis. (Wrong!!!)

It’s often called a fallback diagnosis because there isn’t one specific test or telltale symptom used to diagnose it.

However, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has developed specific diagnostic criteria.

These factors indicate fibromyalgia (according to the ACR):

a) Recent pain and other symptoms such as fatigue and mental disturbances in the past week. The pain reaches a specific severity level and occurs in at least several out of 19 parts of the body.

Symptoms include fatigue, non-restoring sleep, and cognitive problems (memory and thinking impairment).

b) At least three months of consistent symptoms.

c) Absence of other health problems to account for these symptoms.

4. Fibromyalgia is just masked depression. (Wrong!!!)

Fibromyalgia and depression (major depressive disorder) are often associated because of their overlapping symptoms.

Many fibromyalgia patients also have depression, and many patients with depression also suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms.

However, many people with fibromyalgia don’t have depression, and many people with depression don’t have fibromyalgia.

5. Only women get fibromyalgia. (Wrong!!!)

Women account for at least 75% of fibromyalgia cases, and men are less likely to receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis. However, that doesn’t mean men are less likely to develop the disease.

Gender-based bias in diagnosing fibromyalgia may be why women account for most cases.

Fibromyalgia Pain Treatment in Texas

Have you been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or think you may have it? At Texas Pain Physicians, our expert pain specialists will find the cause of your pain or discomfort and develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

To learn more or book an appointment, please give us a call. You can also make an appointment online 24/7.

Our Locations

PEARLAND - HOUSTON
2243 Park Ave,
Pearland, TX 77581

(281) 616-3314
|
(972) 666-1504

IRVING
7200 N. State Highway 161, Ste. 200
Irving, TX 75039

(972) 559-3501
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(972) 559-3529

MESQUITE
910 N Galloway Ave, Ste 302
Mesquite, TX 75149

(972) 301-8897
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(972) 997-1299

NORTH DALLAS
10 Medical Pkwy Plaza 3 Suite 106
Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(972) 636-5727
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(972) 666-1504

PLANO
5068 W. Plano Parkway ste 170
Plano, Texas 75093.

(972) 636-5727
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(972) 666-1504

ROCKWALL
3013 Ridge Road, Ste. 101
Rockwall, TX 75032

(972) 636-5727
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(469) 264-5192

STONE OAK - SAN ANTONIO
1202 E Sonterra Blvd, Ste 101
San Antonio, TX 78258

(210) 546-1410
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(210) 546-1419

SOUTHLAKE
241 W. Southlake Blvd., Ste 140
Southlake, TX 76092

(972) 301-8896
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(972) 997-1298

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
8221 Mid Cities Blvd, Ste 100
North Richland Hills, TX 76182

(214) 666-8077
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(469) 640-6400

WAXAHACHIE
600 Ferris Ave
Waxahachie, TX 75165

(972) 497-2655
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(214) 238-5242

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Do I Have Tendonitis or Tendinosis?

1. Tendonitis is a chronic pain condition. (Wrong!)

2. Rest is always the best treatment for tendon pain. (Wrong!)

3. Anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and cold therapy are always effective treatments for tendon pain. (Wrong!)

4. Tennis elbow is always tendonitis. (Wrong!)

5. Plantar fasciitis is a form of tendonitis. (Wrong!)

Tendonitis and tendinosis treatment in Houston and Dallas

5 Popular Fibromyalgia Myths Debunked

1. Fibromyalgia isn’t real. (Wrong!!!)

2. Fibromyalgia is just normal muscle pain. (Wrong!!!)

3. Fibromyalgia is a fallback diagnosis. (Wrong!!!)

These factors indicate fibromyalgia (according to the ACR):

4. Fibromyalgia is just masked depression. (Wrong!!!)

5. Only women get fibromyalgia. (Wrong!!!)

Fibromyalgia Pain Treatment in Texas

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