Calcific Tendinitis: Definition and Ways of Treating
Written by Tom Nicholson on November 18th, 2009
Calcific tendinitis is a condition that causes sharp pain a joint, when calcium deposits form around the tendons and then break free, triggering inflammation. It usually hits the rotator cuff and can affect either or both shoulders.
No one really knows what causes calcific tendinitis, but there are some pretty clear indicators as to what does NOT cause it. Having too much calcium in the diet does not cause it, because those who are diagnosed with calcific tendinitis usually have normal calcium levels in their blood. Therefore, it is NOT advised that you limit calcium in your diet if you are diagnosed with this condition, because you could put yourself at risk for osteoporosis; if you get too little calcium in your diet, your body will simply take it from your bones.
There are some links between certain metabolic conditions, such as kidney disease, and calcific tendinitis, though whether the joint pain causes the kidney condition or vice versa is still being analyzed. While overuse of the shoulder joint can generate tendinitis, there is a difference between shoulder joint and rotator cuff wear and calcific tendinitis.
May be related to age
Some have speculated that calcific tendinitis does have some increased propensity to occur as we age, since most people under the age of 30 do not have calcium deposits in their tendons.
Symptoms
Most cases of calcific tendinitis are asymptomatic, until the calcium deposits break up and cause inflammation. The most common symptom (before inflammation) is when you have difficulty raising your arm above your shoulder level, triggered by the calcium deposit rubbing inside the rotator cuff. This is sometimes called “shoulder impingement syndrome”.
In addition, calcium crystals may shed off of the deposits and cause the tendons to become acutely inflamed. Oftentimes, people aren’t even aware they have calcific tendinitis until they experience this kind of attack. Surprisingly, though, this is also when the calcium deposits can be reabsorbed by the body.
Sudden Onset
Calcific Tendinitis has a quick trigger point, rather than small amounts of pain that gradually worsen. Most cases, when it triggers, it’s because the calcium crystals have broken free; the symptoms go away within a week or two as they’re re-absorbed by the body.
If you visit your doctor during a bout of acute calcific Tendinitis, it can be seen on an X-ray. Most treatments are taking over the counter inflammation relievers and icing the shoulder or joint. Performing range of motion exercises to keep the shoulder limber is also recommended; it prevents the ‘locked shoulder’ syndrome, and helps you avoid losing muscle mass.
In the event of particularly severe pain, your doctor may give you a steroid or cortisone injection to relieve inflammation. For extreme cases, the deposits may be broken down with ultrasound or a hypodermic needle and extracted with a syringe. It’s rare, but on some occasions, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary.
Tom Nicholson spends his time helping sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Please follow this link to find out more regardingcalcific tendinitis.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 8:22 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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