Calcific Tendinitis: What to Think About When Treating
Calcific tendinitis happens when tendons (usually within the shoulder) become inflamed. Most often, the rotator cuffs in the shoulders are the target, and either or both shoulders can be affected.
The exact cause is still uncertain. People with calcific tendinitis do not have elevated calcium levels in the blood, so it's unlikely to be a dietary overdose. As a result, people who have the condition are cautioned not to cut back on calcium intake, as this will merely cause their body to scavenge it from their bones, and run the risk of osteoporosis.
There may be metabolic triggers for calcified tendinitis, some doctors speculate that it may have a similar root cause as kidney or bladder stones, which are also defined by calcified lumps accumulating within the body. This is not a definitive connection, but a categorization of similar symptoms and an avenue of further investigation. Rotator cuff injuries do not make people more likely to develop calcified tendinitis.
Those above the age of 30 are generally seen to be at greater risk of developing calcific tendinitis, since the condition is rarely seen in those under the age of 30.
What are the symptoms of calcific tendinitis?
Calcified tendinitis is typically symptom free; the calcium nodule builds up under the rotator cuff, and it isn't until it sheds crystals that any pain occurs. If the calcium deposit grows deeply enough, it won't be felt as a lump or anything, though it may cause shoulder impingement syndrome if you raise your arm over your head.
Oftentimes, what happens is that the calcium crystals in the deposits begin to shed off and cause the tendons to inflame. This is often the first symptom of calcific tendinitis, as many people aren't even aware they have until they experience this. Surprisingly, this is also when things may begin to "turn around" for the condition, because this is when the body may reabsorb those calcium deposits.
The onset of symptoms can be sudden, and the recommendation is that you stretch and maintain your full range of motion.
If the pain is very bad, it may be worth it to go to a general practitioner; an x-ray will show the calcium deposit clearly. In addition to aspirin, there's often recommendations to ice the shoulder, and to do range of motion exercises.
Severe pain can get your doctor to give you a shot of cortisone to reduce inflammation, or a steroid shot. Rarely, they may decide to run a hypodermic under the shoulder blade to break up the nodule and extract the pieces with a syringe. In a handful of cases, arthroscopic surgery to remove large deposits may be needed to restore the full range of motion to your shoulder.
The exact cause is still uncertain. People with calcific tendinitis do not have elevated calcium levels in the blood, so it's unlikely to be a dietary overdose. As a result, people who have the condition are cautioned not to cut back on calcium intake, as this will merely cause their body to scavenge it from their bones, and run the risk of osteoporosis.
There may be metabolic triggers for calcified tendinitis, some doctors speculate that it may have a similar root cause as kidney or bladder stones, which are also defined by calcified lumps accumulating within the body. This is not a definitive connection, but a categorization of similar symptoms and an avenue of further investigation. Rotator cuff injuries do not make people more likely to develop calcified tendinitis.
Those above the age of 30 are generally seen to be at greater risk of developing calcific tendinitis, since the condition is rarely seen in those under the age of 30.
What are the symptoms of calcific tendinitis?
Calcified tendinitis is typically symptom free; the calcium nodule builds up under the rotator cuff, and it isn't until it sheds crystals that any pain occurs. If the calcium deposit grows deeply enough, it won't be felt as a lump or anything, though it may cause shoulder impingement syndrome if you raise your arm over your head.
Oftentimes, what happens is that the calcium crystals in the deposits begin to shed off and cause the tendons to inflame. This is often the first symptom of calcific tendinitis, as many people aren't even aware they have until they experience this. Surprisingly, this is also when things may begin to "turn around" for the condition, because this is when the body may reabsorb those calcium deposits.
The onset of symptoms can be sudden, and the recommendation is that you stretch and maintain your full range of motion.
If the pain is very bad, it may be worth it to go to a general practitioner; an x-ray will show the calcium deposit clearly. In addition to aspirin, there's often recommendations to ice the shoulder, and to do range of motion exercises.
Severe pain can get your doctor to give you a shot of cortisone to reduce inflammation, or a steroid shot. Rarely, they may decide to run a hypodermic under the shoulder blade to break up the nodule and extract the pieces with a syringe. In a handful of cases, arthroscopic surgery to remove large deposits may be needed to restore the full range of motion to your shoulder.
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has spent years helping carpal tunnel sufferers. You can click here to learn more aboutcalcific tendinitis.
By Dimas Prast
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