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Effective Treatments for Calcific Tendinopathy: What Are Your Options?
Published: Aug 08, 2024
Calcific tendinopathy can cause persistent shoulder pain, but there are multiple treatment options available. Understanding these can help in choosing the best path to recovery.
Initial Conservative Treatments
First-line treatments focus on relieving symptoms with oral anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and glucocorticoid injections. Physical therapy aims to improve shoulder posture and strength without causing pain.
Advanced Interventions for Persistent Pain
For persistent symptoms, therapies like extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided lavage (barbotage) are considered. These methods aim to break down calcium deposits and reduce inflammation.
Surgical Options
When non-invasive methods fail, surgery may be necessary to remove calcifications. Arthroscopic surgery is common, and results show improvement, although it may lead to complications like rotator cuff tears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Initial treatment includes anti-inflammatory meds and physical therapy.
Advanced treatments like ESWT or barbotage may be considered.
Surgery is an option if non-invasive treatments fail to relieve symptoms.
Improving shoulder posture and strength without causing pain.
Wrapping Up
Exploring treatment options can significantly improve shoulder health in calcific tendinopathy.
References
- Jerosch J, Strauss JM, Schmiel S. Arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1998; 7:30.
- Daecke W, Kusnierczak D, Loew M. Long-term effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2002; 11:476.
- Louwerens JK, Sierevelt IN, van Noort A, van den Bekerom MP. Evidence for minimally invasive therapies in the management of chronic calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2014; 23:1240.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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