Calcific Tendinitis: What Is It and How Is It Treated?

Also known as “calcified tendinitis” or “calcifying tendinitis,” calcific tendinitis happens when calcium deposits cause tendons to become inflamed. Most often, rotator cuff tendons are the target, and can occur in either or both shoulders.

To date, no definitive cause for calcific tendinitis has been identified. Several possibilities have been eliminated from the list of possible causes. It’s not triggered by too much calcium in the diet; people with the condition have normal calcium levels in their blood workup. Don’t limit your calcium intake if you have calcific tendinitis because you could increase your risk of osteoporosis as your body makes up the lack by scavenging it from your bones.

In some cases, it may be that a metabolic condition may cause calcific tendinitis, or that kidney problems can cause these calcium deposits; however, this is only a guess and is not a definite and diagnosed cause. In addition, dramatic injury or overuse of the rotator cuff probably does not cause calcific tendinitis come either. Overuse CAN cause rotator cuff tendinitis, which occurs without excess calcium deposits being present.

May be related to age

Some have speculated that calcific tendinitis does have some increased propensity to occur as we age, since most people under the age of 30 do not have calcium deposits in their tendons.

Symptoms

Oftentimes, calcific tendinitis is asymptomatic, especially if the deposits themselves occur within the tendons deeply enough that they are not felt. In some cases, you may feel discomfort or pain if a large calcium deposit in your rotator cuff tendon causes so-called “shoulder impingement syndrome,” where you get some pain when you raise your arm overhead.

One hazard of calcific Tendinitis is calcium crystals shedding off the deposit and cause inflammation elsewhere. This may be the first indication that a problem exists as those crystals migrate and cause pain elsewhere. These calcium deposits may be re-absorbed by the body at this time.

Sudden onset

Calcific Tendinitis has a quick trigger point, rather than small amounts of pain that gradually worsen. Most cases, when it triggers, it’s because the calcium crystals have broken free; the symptoms go away within a week or two as they’re re-absorbed by the body.

If you see your doctor during an attack of acute calcific tendinitis, it can be seen on an x-ray, via the deposits that exist in your shoulder rotator cuff. Usually, calcific tendinitis treatment simply consists of taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers and applying ice. Doing range of motion exercises during this time can also prevent experiencing “frozen shoulder” symptoms.

If pain is particularly severe, your doctor can give you a steroid or cortisone injection into your shoulder to relieve inflammation. In some cases, the deposits can be broken apart with a hyper during meal and sucked out with a syringe. In very, very rare cases, surgery may need to be performed to remove the deposits, especially if the deposits interfere with shoulder movement. Usually, arthroscopic surgery can take care of this with minimal invasiveness.

Tom Nicholson spends his time helping sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can follow this link to learn more regardingcalcific tendinitis.