Can Tendonitis Show Up On An MRI?

by Pat
(Texas)

*Somebody who is considering an MRI on the shoulder for severe pain wants to know:


Can tendonitis show up on an MRI?



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Joshua Answers:


Hello Pat.

Tell me more about your shoulder pain.

In answer your quuestion, yes, Tendonitis will show up on an MRI. Well, it can, depending.

It depends on how bad it is, how extensive it is, how much Inflammation is going on.

But yes, MRI will image Tendonitis.

X-rays, not so much. Not so much at all.




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The Tendonitis Expert
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Nov 23, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		PART 2 - Can tendonitis show on an MRI - Can Tendonitis Show Up On An MRI?
by: Pat

My Pain is intense... feels like it is separating from my arm when lifting to brush my hair or just to raise my arm at shoulders height. Also, about a hands width down from that is another pain that feels like a constant burn.

I have since had the MRI...and nothing showed...absolutely nothing. This is not in my head. How can I be feeling such pain and yet nothing show??


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Pat.

Right off the bat is sounds like a deltoid tendonitis dynamic, and/or a Shoulder Impingement dynamic.

I believe you that it's not in your head. The 'in your head' thing is what doctors say when they have no idea what's going on or how to help you.

THe answer to your question of how you can feel so much pain and not have it show on an MRI is because the body is not as cut and dry as, say, a car.

In a car, if it's broken, it doesn' work. If it's off, you can hear it grind, or something like that.

In the human body, you can have DEBILITATING pain and not be able to see it on any test. Just works that way sometimes.

So....since I can't see you in person in the office, let's go with this plan.


1. Get a few giant bags of frozen corn or some such and start ice packing 5 minutes on, 5 off. Make yourself watch tv for an hour and ice, ice ice. This will take some effort.

2. Go buy some Vitamin D3 and take a bunch. I took 150,000 i.u.'s a couple days ago, I suggest you do that, and then again in a day or two. Have you had your Vitamin D tested lately? It's a sure bet you are deficient. Cover this base and make sure you get your levels up.

Vitamin D deficiency can cause PAIN. And lots of it.

3. Inflammation Causes Vitamin B6 Deficiency.

A safe and effective dose for getting one's levels up is 100-200 mg of B6, and 1,000-2,500 mcg's of B12 (methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin).

4. Magnesium for Tendonitis. Make sure you read up on the Magnesium Dosage link at the bottom of that page for what kind and how much.

5. Bone Broth as the best Tendon Supplements



That will start to cover the bases.

Lacking any of the above can cause the pain you describe, it doesn't have to be rip and tear damage usually associated with Tendonitis.

What Is Tendonitis?.


Questions:

1. Is there any twitching or spasm with the pain?

2. When exactly does it hurt, when does it not hurt?

3. Pain anywhere else?

4. If you raise your hand to reach up towards the ceiling, does it feel tight/stretchy in the armpit/lats area?
Aug 08, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wrist injury and pianist problems from a fall
by: Ching

I had a slip and fall at the end of 2013. I landed on my left wrist and tail bone. The wrist did not feel as much pain as lower back at the time till 3 months later.

Went to orthotics and it showed nothing in MRI or X-Ray so I went on my life thought it was "just in my head". Last two weeks was the worst in my life.

I could not move my finger and I had swollen around my wrist area. It was so painful and I was so scared since I am a pianist and my hand is everything in my life. I could not press any key on my left hand. The second hand doctor gave me a shot and said it is tendinitis.

Can tendinitis developed within 2-3 months?

What will happen to my career?

i am not just talking about opening the Ziploc bag and wearing a bra but perform ever again.


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Ching.

"Can tendinitis developed within 2-3 months?"

Yes, absolutely. Tendonitis is a dynamic and sudden trauma can start a new progressive dynamic or enhance an existing one.


"What will happen to my career?"

That depends on whether you fix what's wrong.

1. What have you tried so far for self care (aside from Corticosteroid Injections?

2. How exactly and where exactly did you land on/impact your wrist?
Aug 21, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Omg
by: Ching

I just realized how many misspell I had on the first comment I sent u.

I could not use my left hand to hold the iPhone long and I was in pain and it somehow messed my mind a little.

I started pain few weeks after I fell and I went to chiropractor the beginning of 2014.

But it went worst till beginning of this year so I went to the first orthopedic between Feb to march. Without asking he gave me shot on my wrist and said there was nothing wrong.

I went to a different doctor in July and he said it was cyst. After one week therapy and cold pack treatment it messed me up big time and I had another shot. doctor diagnose this time is dequervian's tendonitis.

When I fell I landed on the left palm of my hand. I work out almost every day since 20 years ago. I am a professional pianist for more than 35 years.


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Ching.

So, is there a cyst in there or is there not a cyst in there?
Aug 23, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Diagnosis changed
by: Ching

The second doctor said it was the cyst but the second week after therapist and shot went worst he said it was dequervain's tendonitis.

I somehow don't understand how can diagnosis changed with in one week? That was the reason I went on line and finding solution and found your site.

I just want to go back to work out like I used to and play difficult pieces like Chopin exudes.

I can't do yoga since it requires wrist or holding 15 pounds weights. Playing on piano requires fast fingering moving and pressing on the key not to mention octaves jumping on the key.

Although I am back to teach and work out I have to modify accompanying by the fear whether more diagnosis will come since I just can't stay home doing nothing feeling like handicap.

I hope I am doing the right thing by going back to my routine little by little.

Do u think the pain was caused by fall at the end of the 2013? I never had the pain before the fall. Or I am just getting old and my body decided it is time to have pain on the left wrist where I stupidly landed and somehow bent the wrist?


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Joshua Comments:

A diagnosis can change, but the reality in the hand/wrist/etc doesn't.

The question is, is there actually a cyst in there, or is there not?

How did the doctor diagnosis the cyst? Did he just guess or did he actually visualize it?

How did the other doctor diagnosis DeQuervain's? Is he just guessing, or did he do tests to isolate what was happening where?
Aug 25, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Diagnosis was a guess
by: Ching

I have seen two doctors so far. The first one back in early February had no diagnosis on my pain and got me the shot I did not ask for.

The second doctor at the end of June believed it was cyst and he suggested surgery or therapist which I decided therapist. when my pain did not get better but worst after therapist he gave me the shot and again when it got worst after the shot he diagnosed it was Dequervian's tendonitis.

He did not mention he saw anything from MRI. He did mentioned that normally people got better after shot and I was the first patient of his responded different. So the answer for your question will be: no diagnosis from first doctor.

The second doctor had Diagnosis Of cyst from his guessing on first week and then he had second diagnosis of Dequervian's tendinitis.

Neither of those diagnosis were seen from MRI.


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Ching.

Well, guesses are no good. There's either a cyst in there or there's not.

It would be good to know which it is.

Having said that, are you working with 'Reversing DeQuervain's Tendonitis'?
Oct 04, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		At wits end with arm and shoulder pain
by: Traci

I've been having arm and shoulder pain that's been going on for several months now.

I thought it was getting better but now it seems like it's getting worse.

I'm not sure exactly how I caused this injury; I went to the gym last March and felt a pop when I was doing either bicep curls or lat raises but no real pain.

I also lift heavy furniture on occasion and I can recall lifting and feeling strain but no real pain so again, I don't know just what I did to cause this I only know that I need to get rid of it because it's driving me insane.

I can't sleep because I can't get comfortable. I can't put on a bra because I can't reach behind my back with my right arm.

Taking off my jackets causes pain. I've lost range of motion. So I went to the Dr. And she did muscle testing and don't diagnosed me with tendonitis and shoulder impingement and prescribed naproxen and physical therapy.

I have insurance so I can't do the physical therapy right now. Naproxen is not doing much at all. But to describe the pain; it feels like it is all over my arm and even extends down into my forearm on occasion, it throbs mostly at the deltoid and biceps insertion points, in the belly of my biceps and also the triceps insertion and belly.

It is a deep throbbing pain.

I tried ice once and it seemed to increase the throbbing and then applied heat and light massage and that helped with the pain and range of motion but was short lived.

I seem to be make it worse by moving it the wrong way while sleeping. I'm starting to get neck pain and pain on the back of my shoulder as a result of this.

I'm wondering if I should go to the ER and get an MRI?

This way I can at least get a proper diagnosis to rule out a tear or see if I actually have tendonosis instead? Any suggestions? Why would ice make it throb more? Thanks in advance!


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Traci.

Yes, I'd go get an MRI if that's doable for you.

Having said that:

1. How old are you?

2. Activity levels/history of activity levels?

3. Were you a regular gym goer and had that pop, or did you go to the gym out of the blue and that happened?

4. Did you continue icing or just do it the one time?

5. History of injury/pain/problem in the shoulder or otherwise?
Aug 31, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Right shoulder
by: Meg

Hello, so I've had MRI on my neck and my right shoulder because I've been dealing with extreme right shoulder pain for about 8 or 9 months now. The pain started as only during the night then progressed to during the day while I was sitting.

That is what was weird it was only hurting at night and when I was in the seated position.

Then it got worse I couldn't even flush my toilet without my shoulder hurting. So I finally went to a doctor they sent me to physical therapy and gave me a cortisone shot.

The shot helped for a couple weeks and the therapy I thought was helping but then my pain came back in full force so the physical therapist ended my therapy.

He wanted the doctor to send me for an MRI with Dye to make sure there wasn't any hairline tears but the doctor instead sent me for an EMG which I just had and the EMG Doctor said my nerves look fine.

I have been diagnosed with bursitis and tendinitis.

I'm just really curious if the shoulder MRI would of shown any tears even small ones in my tendons? I mean my pain at this point is in both shoulders and it goes down my right arm into my fingers my actual wrist hurts and throbs.

I just want to know if there could be more here then Bursitis and Tendonitis


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Meg.

MRI will show tears and bursitis.

It probably won't show tiny tiny tears but it will show inflammation that will indicate such.

'Bursitis and Tendonitis' is PLENTY to have going on. Both can cause debilitating pain etc with no existence of any rip/tear.
Dec 12, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Son in pain after falling out of a tree onto an outstretched arm
by: Emma

My 9 year old son fell out of a tree five weeks ago onto an out-stretched hand.

Since then he has had a few x-rays and an mri which have shown nothing, has been casted, splinted and now has no support.

However, he is in still in severe pain at the base of his thumb, which keeps him awake at night and distracts him at school.

He is usually an active, tough little boy and not like this at all. Could it be dequervain's syndrome, despite not showing on mri?

Could the mri have missed something? Doc says even if it is tendonitis he doesn't need a splint!

Help!


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Emma.

What exactly did the MRI show? Inflammation somewhere at least?

Why was he casted and splinted if the Xray and MRI didn't show anything??

Ice dip as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page and let me know what happens.
Oct 07, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Tricep tendonitis
by: Lance scott

Hey ive had tricep tendonitis since may.

I'm 18 and it just won't go away I've done everything.

Therapy immobilization cortizone NAISDs magnesium eccentric movements etc...

I've read on your site everything you have said and nothing works. I really want to get back to my sport and continue pursuing my collegiant career.

I'm getting an mri on Monday to rule out any tears. But I was wondering if you can give me any advice if it's just tendinopathy?


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Joshua Comments:

1. You haven't done everything, you've done some things.

2. You read what exactly on this site?

3. Of #2, what exactly have you done from what you've read from this site, how much, how often, for how long?

4. 'just tendinopathy'...what is that exactly, that after reading everything I've said on this site, you think is different that a tendonitis dynamic?
Aug 22, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		X-rays and mri are clear but still have pain
by: Nayo

I am 25 years old . I am pretty active person, worked out occasionally and some minor knee pain

I had a slip and fall outside in the ice and landed on my right side of my wrist and shoulder and right hip and banged my right knee.

I’ve been to therapy for several months for my knee wrist and shoulder

Had X-rays and mri that showed no fractures but severe bruising. And a cyst on my wrist

I didn’t understand how I can have so much pain on my hand , arm and shoulder and still have swollen hands and my stiff neck pain after 8 months . I contunuwly have muscle spasms and feel achy all over but the strongest pain and burning sensation is on my arm and shoulder. There are days that is so so and other days like I slammed my arm again.

The doctors say that they didn’t understand why I’m in so much pain . I’m in pain management and my it can’t help me because I have "full motion" but I’m still In a lot of pain.

My wrist specialist gave me the option of removing the cyst for the pain and swelling in my hand but it doesn’t take away the pain that I’m feeling in my arm and shoulder and neck and achy ness in my muscles or joints . But he can’t explain why my elbow numbs up sometimes and it feels like pins and I can’t it feels sensitive to the touch.

I feel like my arm is constantly on fire .

I know I’m not crazy becuase ive been pretty healthy my entire life . But I didn’t know what else to do.


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Nayo.

1. How exactly did you land? Details please. Describe what it would have looked like in slow motion as it happened if I were standing there watching.

2. This is a rare thing from me, but I'd have you go see a really good chiropractor. If that fall literally knocked your spine (anywhere) or anything connected to it to be out of whack...

If they want to see you three times a week for multiple months, no. But if they examine and poke around and then do an adjustment or three and you suddenly feel better (at least for a while), then that is really good info showing that some/much of your symptoms are due to bony misalignment causing nerve impingement (which explains some/most of your sysmptoms).

If you get that proof positive, then we can talk about how muscles and connective tissue are keeping that bony misalignment happening (at this point it's likely even a very helpful adjustment will result in the tightness pulling bones back out of place.

3 Nutritional lack could/is playing a role, but we'll hold that for later.

4. Presumably the cyst was already there pre-fall, so it's not a cause of the pain post-fall. Cysts aren't ideal and it's a clue, but...
Aug 24, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Response
by: Nayo

I slipped sideways landing on the right side of my right hip first , didn’t get the chance to stop and catch my self because I fell on top of my arm also banging my shoulder and right side of my back .

I have been going to the chiropractor for maybe two months now twice a week the first week it relieved some of the severe stiffness I had on the right side of my shoulder but the stiffness continues to be consistent and the aching as well . The heat on my back helps "in the moment" but It doesn’t help me prominently.

As I wrote this hand is aching and the pain runs down the top of my arm . And my arm tightness up. If I didn’t have the cyst before this , I never had pain in my hand and arm . So I don’t understand why I have so much pain in my arm and hand . I feel every tendon ach as I type . The more I type the the more it hurts . I don’t lose motion but the pain does increase . Until it does eventually starts tightening.

I’ve had an Emg done which was negative for any nerve damage.

Workers comp closed the case or are attempting to becuase the doctors. Say that there is nothing more that they can do. I see a psychologist to manage my pain . And were attempting breathing stratigies since I’ve been exhibiting anxiety , chest pains and breathing has gotten heavier due to the pain.

I’ve mentioned Fibromyalgia to the pych. But I dont know if it’s connected to this. But I just need answers becuase everyone meaning doctors has seemed to hit a a dead end with me and there has to something to explain this pain. I dont want to under go surgery for a cyst that will not reduce my pain in my hand. But i was willing to do anything to remove my pain but if nota connected to my pain it makes no sense.

I did not have this pain prior to this fall .


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Joshua Comments:

1. "But i was willing to do anything to remove my pain but if nota connected to my pain it makes no sense."

Yes, pain (and lack of a pathway to get better) has people get desperate.

And you're wise...lots of surgeries that don't make any sense are performed by doctors on a daily basis.


2. "I’ve mentioned Fibromyalgia to the pych."

Because you have a fibromyalgia diagnosis? Or because you're fishing for possible reasons for the pain?

3. Go try out another chiropractor. See if the outcomes are any different. (Hopefully the new one will be better than the last one, or will see/think of something the first guy missed.)

4. -Probably- a huge player right now is lack of nutrition. Especially if you already have a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Lack of the right nutrition results in pain, tightness, ache, 'anxiety , chest pains and breathing has gotten heavier'. And all of that eats up more nutrition...it can be a nasty feedback loop.

Lack of magnesium, for instance can 100% be the cause of all your symptoms. It's more complicated than that of course, but basically, if that nutritent is missing/lacking then the body can't work correctly, and it can look exactly like what you now look like.

A slight variation of that is...you can't get out of where you're stuck without magnesium...because your body literally can't get better without the thing(s) it needs so that it can get better. You'll always be thirsty unless you drink enough water...it's kind of like that.

And of course, unfortunately, doctors are utterly clueless about this component of how the body works. You get shot by a gun or hit by a car, easy. You have pain with no obvious injury...total mystery that they don't bother to investigate/learn about/find a fix for.

See: Magnesium For Tendonitis

Were I you I would get my Reversing Shoulder Tendonitis program.

It covers all the nutrition (your first priority), and some self care you can do for the shoulder area (and arm, same strategies). Give the nutrition a week or two, then hit up a/the chiropractor again...your body will hopefully be able to adapt to/respond better to what they're doing to your body.

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