A painful condition of the rotator cuffs and shoulders, calcific tendinitis is the result of calcium buildup under the shoulder blade in the tendons of the shoulder and around the rotator cuffs.
The exact cause is still uncertain. People with calcific tendinitis do not have elevated calcium levels in the blood, so it's unlikely to be a dietary overdose. As a result, people who have the condition are cautioned not to cut back on calcium intake, as this will merely cause their body to scavenge it from their bones, and run the risk of osteoporosis.
Some have speculated that calcific tendinitis may be caused by a metabolic condition, or that those with kidney problems may be at greater risk of developing these types of calcium deposits. However, again, this is only a guess and not a definite diagnosed cause. It's also known that overuse of the rotator cuff or injury does not cause calcific tendinitis, either. You CAN develop rotator cuff tendinitis with overuse, which is tendinitis that occurs without calcium deposits in addition.
The condition is rare in those under the age of 30; more than 95% of the cases are in people aged 30 and over.
What are the symptoms of calcific tendinitis?
Calcific tendinitis can be asymptomatic - with no real impact as the calcium deposit grows. It's only when the deposit starts to shed calcium flakes that inflammation and pain occur, particularly when they rub against the rotator cuff and the tendons that run through it. Large flakes can cause the shoulder to 'lock up' when raised over the patient's head.
Where the symptoms show up is when the calcium deposit sheds crystals and flakes of calcium, which act like very small knives in the tendons, or like burrs, and cause inflammation as the body tries to break them down and reabsorb them. Most times, the pain lasts for a week or two and the symptoms go away.
Symptoms occur suddenly, rather than gradually over a long period of time. The pain symptoms are usually not permanent and only last a week or two until the deposits themselves are broken up.
If this type of attack causes you to seek medical attention, an x-ray will certainly show that you have calcific tendinitis. Treatment is usually pretty simple, with over-the-counter pain medications and ice being the treatment of choice. Range of motion exercises can help avoid a "frozen shoulder" incident.
In some rare cases, your doctor may decide that it's necessary to go invasive, and use a hypodermic needle and syringe to break up the calcium lump and remove the pieces. In extreme cases, this may take an arthroscopic surgical procedure to do completely and remove all traces of it from the trauma site.
The exact cause is still uncertain. People with calcific tendinitis do not have elevated calcium levels in the blood, so it's unlikely to be a dietary overdose. As a result, people who have the condition are cautioned not to cut back on calcium intake, as this will merely cause their body to scavenge it from their bones, and run the risk of osteoporosis.
Some have speculated that calcific tendinitis may be caused by a metabolic condition, or that those with kidney problems may be at greater risk of developing these types of calcium deposits. However, again, this is only a guess and not a definite diagnosed cause. It's also known that overuse of the rotator cuff or injury does not cause calcific tendinitis, either. You CAN develop rotator cuff tendinitis with overuse, which is tendinitis that occurs without calcium deposits in addition.
The condition is rare in those under the age of 30; more than 95% of the cases are in people aged 30 and over.
What are the symptoms of calcific tendinitis?
Calcific tendinitis can be asymptomatic - with no real impact as the calcium deposit grows. It's only when the deposit starts to shed calcium flakes that inflammation and pain occur, particularly when they rub against the rotator cuff and the tendons that run through it. Large flakes can cause the shoulder to 'lock up' when raised over the patient's head.
Where the symptoms show up is when the calcium deposit sheds crystals and flakes of calcium, which act like very small knives in the tendons, or like burrs, and cause inflammation as the body tries to break them down and reabsorb them. Most times, the pain lasts for a week or two and the symptoms go away.
Symptoms occur suddenly, rather than gradually over a long period of time. The pain symptoms are usually not permanent and only last a week or two until the deposits themselves are broken up.
If this type of attack causes you to seek medical attention, an x-ray will certainly show that you have calcific tendinitis. Treatment is usually pretty simple, with over-the-counter pain medications and ice being the treatment of choice. Range of motion exercises can help avoid a "frozen shoulder" incident.
In some rare cases, your doctor may decide that it's necessary to go invasive, and use a hypodermic needle and syringe to break up the calcium lump and remove the pieces. In extreme cases, this may take an arthroscopic surgical procedure to do completely and remove all traces of it from the trauma site.
About the Author:
Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can click here to find out more regardingcalcific tendinitis.
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