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.

The actual cause of calcific Tendinitis is still unknown. Several things have been ruled out as causes. Excess calcium in the diet has been ruled out; people who develop it do not have elevated calcium levels in their blood. If you are diagnosed with this condition, do not limit your calcium; that can put you at a risk for osteoporosis as your body cannibalizes the bones to make up the lack.

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 speculate that age, and the gradual ramping down of human growth hormone in the late 20s are one trigger for calcific Tendinitis, as it doesn’t happen to people under the age of 30, there may be Tendinitis from overuse injuries, but they usually don’t have calcium deposits.

Symptoms

The usual set of symptoms for calcific Tendinitis is a sharp, burning pain when a stiff shoulder is moved; it’s often described as feeling like gravel is under the shoulder blade, usually when you raise your arm of the shoulder. Sometimes it’s a little subtler than that if the calcium crystallization happens deeper in the tissue, where it can’t be felt through the skin.

In addition, calcium crystals may shed off of the deposits and cause the tendons to become acutely inflamed. Oftentimes, people aren’t even aware they have calcific tendinitis until they experience this kind of attack. Surprisingly, though, this is also when the calcium deposits can be reabsorbed by the body.

Sudden Onset

Usually, those who experience calcific tendinitis have pain symptoms that happen suddenly, not over a long period of time. Usually, the pain symptoms themselves resolved within a week or two without incident.

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.

In the event of particularly severe pain, your doctor may give you a steroid or cortisone injection to relieve inflammation. For extreme cases, the deposits may be broken down with ultrasound or a hypodermic needle and extracted with a syringe. It’s rare, but on some occasions, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary.

Tom Nicholson has spent years caring for carpal tunnel sufferers. Please follow this link to find out more regardingcalcific tendinitis.