Pain or tenderness at or near a joint, especially around a shoulder, wrist or heel (where it is known as Achilles tendinitis), or on the outside of an elbow (where it is called tennis elbow).
In some cases, numbness or tingling.
Stiffness that, along with the pain, restricts the movement of the joint involved.
Occasionally, mild swelling at the joint.
Persistence of the soreness, which may last or recur long after the tendon has had time to recover from the original injury.
In chronic cases you may get locking of the joint in one position due to scarring or narrowing of the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon.
Call Your Doctor If:
Your pain doesn't ease up in 7 to 10 days. You want to avoid letting chronic tendinitis set in; moreover, you may have another problem such as bursitis (inflammation of the fluid "cushion" surrounding the joints), carpal tunnel syndrome (an entrapped nerve in the hands), or phlebitis (inflamed veins).
Your pain is extremely severe and accompanied by swelling. You may have a ruptured tendon, which requires immediate medical attention.
Medically reviewed by Tracy Shuman, MD, August 2005.
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