Here is a question from one of the readers out there concerning patellar tendonitis
I play football and after each practice, or when I play in the park my patella tendon hurts. My therapist said it was patellar tendonitis. I checked out a few websites, a lot said ultrasound and these special herbs
Patellar tendonitis, which is also referred to as “Jumper’s Knee”, can occur when an athlete inflames or over stretches their patellar tendon. As you can imagine, this can occur as a result of repetitive motions like jumping.
Jumper’s knee happens when someone puts too much strain on the patellar ligament. Athletes such as runners, basketball players, volleyball players and soccer players will often times be those who suffer from patellar tendonitis; although it can strike anyone if enough strain is put on the ligament. If you suspect you may have patellar tendonitis, you can usually feel pain when you press on the tendon that directly covers the knee. You may also experience swelling and stiffness. Sufferers of this form of tendonitis will usually feel pain when bending at the knee. This usually occurs when the patient kneels down or jumps.
Treatment for patellar tendonitis will vary, depending on how bad your symptoms are. In most cases, your doctor will take an X-ray of the knee, just to make sure there isn’t any damage to the joint or bones of the knee. In some cases you may have to undergo an MRI. An MRI helps doctors assess whether the tendon, or determine whether it is aggravated. Once the doctor can make an accurate assessment, they will recommend a suitable treatment plan.
Applying ice to the tendon will help in most cases. Ice helps to control and minimize the swelling of the tendon. This will reduce your knee pain, and allow the tendon to heal more rapidly. Anti-inflammatory Motrin and Ibuprofen are prime examples of anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs will help decrease swelling and control the pain. (Before you take any drugs, you should always speak with your physician first).)
Rest is one of the best cures for tendonitis. Stay away from any activity that causes pain or that can irritate the tendon further. Help your body heal itself by giving yourself enough rest.
A knee brace can help provide support to the knee. Many tendonitis sufferers use them not only when they have a problem, but also to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. A well designed knee brace can be an invaluable tool to the patellar tendonitis sufferer.
Jumper’s knee can often be painful, without a doubt. Avoiding having to suffer from it is a key element, especially if you rely on your knee for sporting activities. Make sure that you properly warm up before you exercise, and wear a knee brace when possible. This will help cut down on the chances that you will suffer from Jumper’s knee in the future.
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while that was a good description by the RN, let me help you out. patellar tendonitis might not mean that there was a direct injury to the knee, it may have also been overuse and poor warm-up routine prior to your activity. at this point, she’s right with why you’re PT didn’t help you out. At least tell them to ask your referrer (pcp, ortho doc, whomever) to add an isometric quads strengthening program as well so they’re allowed to help in that area. include VMO’s, strengthening, conditioning, and HEPs. this will help with your rehab process. also, while heat is a good source of blood circulation, tenonitis is inflammation. why send blood to that region to make it swell more? if anything, adding ice will aid in inflammation (as well as NSAIDs like the RN mentioned). so ice, heat, ice, heat. a knee sleeve with patella support can help. so at this point, modify your activities for 4-6 weeks, no heavy loading/impacting on the knees. physical therapy should help with the added program, and ice/heat (give up the heat after a day or two and strictly do icing – make sure you dont ice directly to skin as it will give you frost-bite symptoms), and careful NSAID use. thanks to the RN for a good description of things.
no ultrasound, or herbs needed. unless its the herbs that…well, nevermind. 🙂
tendonitis is no fun…it get it in my feet, ankles, shoulder, and wrist….best thing i know to do for it is an antiinflamitory med such as alleve/ibuprophin…hot epsom salt soak, icy hot or ben gay and don’t use the area any more than absolutely necessary….also, you can use a brace to help it out…will give it some support.
Don’t know who your therapist is, but didn’t he/she give you some advice?
Tendonitis is an "inflamation of the tendons" in this case the tendons of the patella (your kneecap bone for those who don’t know)
Tendons are the "rubber bands" that hold muscles to muscles. Ligaments are the "rubber bands" that hold muscles to bones.
You have injured a tendon (or more) in the course of your sport. If you were playing professionally, your coach would pull you out of the sport until you were completely healed because, of course, the more you work an injury, the more serious it becomes and the chances of it healing permanently become less and less.
As with any injury, it needs to REST. Never worked. You need to apply moist heat (either a hot water bottle, or a heating pad with a moist cloth between it and your knee). This needs to stay in place for 20 minutes 2-3 times a day.
This increases the blood circulation to the injured area. As the blood circulates better, it has a better chance of the blood cells doing their job in cleaning up and carrying away the injured cells and their byproducts, so that new cells can grow and the injury can heal.
You can walk normally. Buy a knee support wrap and wear it faithfully for at least 2 weeks while you apply the moist heat above. Do not run. Do not get down on your knees. Do not jog. Do not do anything but walk normally on that injured knee. After 2 weeks, begin to exercise the knee first by doing some deep knee bends and slowly working into a normal routine of exercising with weights and more strenuous running/jogging, etc.
I would think a physical therapist would have suggested these things, unless of course they want you to come into their offices where they can charge you for ultrasound visits.
Ultrasound is good for when no other pain control helps. Ibuprofen (Motrin) helps tremendously. Each tablet is 200 mg each. Prescription strength Motrin is the same only it comes in 400 mg., 600 mg., and 800 mg. tablets. Do your own math. The stronger you take, however, the fewer you can take in a 24 hour period. Take with food, please. It is an anti inflammatory which means it’s medicine goes directly to the injury. Tylenol works by telling your brain you do not hurt.
Do what you need to do, and you can also do the above as well. Don’t know anything about any "SPECIAL HERBS". Can’t hurt, but I seriously doubt the amount of help in this case, especially if you have to buy then from your therapist. I truly believe in vitamin/mineral supplements as well as some herbs, but not to rely sole on them.
Good luck
I am an RN