Tendonitis is a inflammation of a tendon (tendonitis) and the lining
of the tendon sheath (tenosynovitis), usually occurring simultaneously. The condition, which causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint, is most common around your shoulders, elbows and knees. But it can also occur in your hips and wrists.

Self-care

To treat tendonitis at home, P.R.I.C.E. is the acronym to remember — protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. This treatment can help speed your recovery and help prevent further problems. P.R.I.C.E. involves doing the following:

• Protection. Immobilize the affected area to encourage healing and to protect it from further injury. You may need to use elastic wraps, slings, splints, crutches or canes.

• Rest. Avoid activities that increase the pain or swelling. Don't try to work or play through the pain. Rest is essential to tissue healing. But it doesn't mean complete bed rest. You can do other activities and exercises that don't stress the injured tendon. Swimming and water exercise may be well tolerated.

• Ice. To decrease pain, muscle spasm and swelling, apply ice to the injured area for five to seven minutes, two to three times a day. Ice packs, ice massage or slush baths all can help. For an ice massage, freeze a Styrofoam cup full of water so that you can hold the cup while applying the ice directly to the skin.

• Compression. Because swelling can result in loss of motion in an injured joint, compress the area until the swelling has ceased. Wraps or compressive (Ace) elastic bandages are best.

• Elevation. If tendonitis affects your knees, raise the affected leg above the level of your heart to reduce swelling. It's especially important to use this position at night.

Although rest is a key part of treating tendonitis, prolonged inactivity can cause stiffness in your joints. After a few days of completely resting the injured area, gently move it through its full range of motion four times a day to maintain joint flexibility.

You can also try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or products containing acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) in an attempt to reduce the discomfort associated with tendonitis. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you need NSAIDs for an extended time because some of these drugs should be used for only short periods to avoid complications. The benefits gained from using these drugs long-term are questionable. If you take them frequently or take more than the recommended dose, NSAIDs can cause nausea, stomach pain, stomach bleeding and ulcers. Rarely, prolonged use can disrupt normal kidney function. The risk of these complications increases with age. If you have liver problems, talk to your doctor before using products containing acetaminophen.

• Nausea