Stem Cell Therapy for Tendonitis – Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, Achilles

Tendons are the thick cords that attach our bones to muscles. When a tendon is inflamed, the condition is known as tendonitis. Tendonitis can happen in any of the tendons in the body. However, most cases of tendon inflammation commonly occur in specific tendons. These include the hip, elbow, shoulder, biceps and Achilles tendons.

There is a reason why these tendons are more likely to develop inflammation and this is because they are in the watershed zone. Poor circulation of blood occurs in these areas making them more prone to injury and inflammation.

Tendonitis can be painful, especially when the surrounding tissue is torn and not treated immediately. With time, the tendon deteriorates gradually bringing about intense pain which in medical terms is referred to as tendinopathy.

Causes of Tendonitis

Tendonitis is mostly brought about by overuse or injury to the tendons. Repetitive actions such as gardening, painting, throwing ball and pitching, skiing and even heavy lifting can cause tendonitis. In athletes, this could be brought about by neglecting to conduct proper warm up exercises before exercising or even beginning a sporting activity with no warm up.

Working out in cold temperatures can also contribute to tendonitis, as well having improper sporting techniques. Poor posture and repetitive awkward positions can also contribute to developing tendonitis. Weight also plays an important role and excess weight puts unnecessary pressure on your tendons and this could bring about tendonitis.

Any one is at risk of developing tendonitis and it’s important that you ensure that you have a healthy body mass index. Warm up exercises are essential, and these should include slow stretches. Cool down properly before engaging in other activities after exercise. If your profession involves a lot of repetitive activities, make sure that you rest in between and have some stretch exercises as well.

Common Types of Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis is a common type of tendonitis and is characterized by swelling and pain in the Achilles heel. Treatment is essential in avoiding a serious development such as a rupture in the Achilles heel. Lateral Epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is a type of tendonitis that is common with people who play tennis and conduct repetitive activities. The pain is mainly felt outside the elbow.

Rotator cuff tendonitis is very common as well and may cause long term shoulder pain. In fact, a lot of tendonitis may cause pain that lasts for six to eighteen months without regenerative medicine treatment.

Treatment Options for Tendonitis

There are various treatment options provided with tendonitis and these differ depending on the extent of the condition. Icing is often applied on the tendon to help decrease the inflammation and increase blood flow as well. Your doctor may also recommend wearing casts, wraps and splints to give the joint relief and avoid repetitive trauma. 

Pain and swelling can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and if these do not work then cortisone injections could be used. Surgery could also be necessary if other treatments seem to fail at treating the problem. Surgery involves removing the soft tissue so as to give the tendon enough space to move with no irritation. It is an absolute last resort and often unnecessary with stem cell therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy for Tendonitis

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with stem cells can help repair tendon injury more effectively. This is thanks to the increased production of proteins and several growth factors along with stem cells which assist the tendon in regaining its structure and strength. This stem cell therapy has successfully treated Achilles, hamstring, elbow, biceps and rotator cuff tendons.

R3 Stem Cell offers PRP therapy and stem cell treatments for all kinds of tendonitis and arthritis. The success rate is tremendous with over 75% of patients experiencing significant pain relief and over 90% being able to avoid surgery.