What is calcific tendonitis?

Calcific tendonitis results from the inflammation and calcification of tendons around a joint.

A tendon is a band of strong fibrous tissue forming the end of the muscle that attaches the muscle to bone.

How does it occur?

Injury, trauma, or stress to parts of the body where muscles and tendons are important to function can cause calcific tendonitis. It often occurs in the tendons of the shoulder joints, but tendons of any joint may be involved in such a process.

Calcification is the process by which fibers of a tendon become hardened by a deposit of calcium salts, causing inflammation.

What are the symptoms?

Calcific tendonitis can be mild or severe. Symptoms include:

• pain

• tenderness

• restriction of motion.

How is it diagnosed?

The health care provider will examine you and review your symptoms. Your provider will also order x-rays.

How is it treated?

To relieve pain from calcific tendonitis and restore functioning of the injured part:

• Take anti-inflammatory medicine if recommended or prescribed by your health care provider.

• Put ice packs on the joint for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours.

• Do the exercises prescribed by your health care provider to keep the joint moving.

• Avoid activities that make the problem worse.

If the symptoms do not go away, your health care provider may give you a steroid injection.

This condition can be treated with surgery if other treatments do not work. In addition, surgery may be used to improve your range of motion if you have calcific tendonitis in your shoulder (frozen shoulder) and it is hard for you to move your shoulder.

How long will the effects last?

Calcific tendonitis usually gets better with 4 to 6 weeks of treatment.

How can I take care of myself?

• See your health care provider as soon as symptoms arise.

• Follow the treatment your health care provider recommends.

What can be done to help prevent calcific tendonitis?

Avoid activities that bother your joint but keep moving the joint to prevent it from freezing up.