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Pain in your wrists, elbows or shoulders? It could be tendinitis

On Behalf of | Apr 9, 2020 | Work Injuries |

You’ve been working your job for many years, but the work conditions have changed over time. You’re expected to do more with less, and you’ve found that it’s having a significant impact on your body. Your elbows and arms ache. You feel tenderness in your joints. Yes, you could just be showing signs of aging, but you think there’s something more to it.

One common illness that people get on the job is called tendinitis. This could be the cause of your pain, especially if you frequently write or use your arms on the job. Tendinitis can occur in any tendon, including those in the elbows, wrists and shoulders.

You may have heard of tendinitis before. It’s commonly referred to as:

  • Golfer’s elbow
  • Pitcher’s shoulder
  • Swimmer’s shoulder
  • Tennis elbow

The good news about tendinitis is that it is usually able to be treated with ice, rest and physical therapy. There are cases, though, where surgery may be needed. For instance, if a tendon ruptures, you may need to go through surgery to repair it and regain functionality in that area of your body.

How can you recognize tendinitis?

Symptoms of tendinitis may include:

  • Mild swelling around the joint or area where the tendon attaches
  • Tenderness
  • Pain, usually a dull ache, especially when you move the affected joint or limb

Tendinitis tends to develop over time by repeating the same movements. Using proper technique to type, work on a factory line or perform other tasks may be able to reduce your risk of developing tendinitis or help prevent it from getting worse if it does start to develop. If you believe you have this condition, it’s worth seeking medical care and applying for worker’s compensation coverage.

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