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Tendonitis

Sports Knee Injury

Tendonitis

Tendons are tissues which connect muscle to bone.

Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. This can be from injury or from overuse.

Tendon injuries including chronic tendonitis are referred to as tendonosis.

Make An Enquiry

To ask a question, make an enquiry or book an appointment, contact our specialist orthopaedic team who are available between Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm. Our knee team have a dedicated and caring approach and will seek to find you the earliest appointment possible with the correct specialist for your needs.

If you are self-paying you don’t need a referral from your GP. You can simply refer yourself and book an appointment.

If you have medical insurance (e.g. Bupa, Axa PPP, Aviva), you will need to contact your insurer to get authorisation for any treatment and, in most cases, you will require a referral letter from your GP.

If you do not have a GP, then we have an in-house private GP practice that you can use. Alternatively we can suggest the most appropriate course of action for you to take, given your location and individual circumstance.

Make an Enquiry

Knee Tendonitis

There are 3 main tendons in the knee which can become inflamed.

  • Patella tendonitis. Sometimes referred to as “jumpers knee” (front of the knee, below the knee cap)
  • Quadriceps Tendonitis (front of the knee, above the knee cap)
  • Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome (outer side of knee)

Knee tendonitis can be aggravated by conditions including rheumatoid arthritis.

Knee Tendonitis Treatment

Often mild cases of tendonitis will resolve with a few days rest and application of ice.  Painkillers including anti-inflammatories can be used briefly.  If the pain persists, is recurrent or is due to an injury, your GP may recommend further treatment or referral to a specialist.

London Knee Specialists provides a full investigation and treatment service including all conservative treatments, minimally invasive treatments and surgery.  London Imaging at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth provides ultrasound scanning and the latest 3T MRI technology, with same day results available in most cases.

Physiotherapy

London Knee Specialists has a dedicated physiotherapy team based at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth and are equipped to

Injection Therapies

Your consultant may recommend an injection into the tendon or surrounding area. Common injections include a steroid based anti-inflammatory, a local anaesthetic or a combination of the two.

Dry Needling

This involves a specialist puncturing the tendon several times with a needle containing no treatment.  The micro bleeds caused by this procedure can promote healing.

Blood Product Injections

This can be done in combination with dry needling.  A blood sample is taken and treated so certain elements within the blood are concentrated. This is then injected back into the tendon to promote healing.

Surgery

In severe cases of tendonitis / tendonosis, surgery may be required to remove a small portion of the affected tendon or to release the tension in surrounding tissues.

An arthroscopy and washing out of the joint can help in cases where there is calcification of the tendon or when the tendonitis is secondary to another condition.

Your Consultant can advise you on the most suitable investigations and treatment options for your condition and lifestyle.

Appointments

Our team provide a rapid access service and can sometimes provide same day appointments. Contact our Unit Coordinator on orthopaedicspecialists@hje.org.uk to find out the first available appointment.