When you have pain in a tendon, “tendinitis” is often used as a catch-all term to describe what you’re going through. However, that may not technically be the case. A more accurate general term for tendon pain is tedinopathy, which can include both tendinitis and tendinosis.
In simple terms, tendinitis is an inflammatory response to tiny microscopic tears in the tendon, whereas a diagnosis of tendinosis indicates that overuse has caused collagen fibers in the tendon to degenerate in response. As it turns out, many injuries that are commonly branded tendinitis are actually tendinosis instead, and while that may not seem like much of a big deal, knowing the difference can help your doctor provide better care.
Whatever is ultimately causing the pain in your Achilles, peroneal, or other tendon, Dr. Keith McSpadden at Austin Foot and Ankle Institute can help you overcome it. Our office provides a full range of both conservative and surgical treatment options, and we always exhaust non-invasive approaches before considering more aggressive care. Request an appointment online, or call 512-593-2949.
