Confused about tendons

I have become very confused about tendons. My doctor says they cannot be strengthened and do not heal from injury. All you can do is treat inflamation and the associated pain.

If this is true, why don't tendons eventually self-destruct as a result of a lifetime of micro-injuries. Why doesn't everyone with an injured tendon immediately have surgery to correct it since it will never repair itself?

I have had chronic tendonitis in my elbows for a long time. It seemed to get better but I recently stretched them pulling a heavy bar up for skull crunchers.

I've completely given up upright rows, bent over rows and am constantly on guard for any sign of pain.

What is the deal?

I hear you man!! I had some serious tendonitis that hurt big time. From what I understand, tendons take much, much longer to heal because of the poor blood flow the recieve compared to muscle tissue. A tendon injury will take mush longer than a little muscle tear or sprain. Here are a couple of things that might help you out...

Seak out other Doctors!! Mine gave me the same deal, our primary doctors don't really have the knowledge of a sports specialist or someone along those lines who deals with injurues all day. Plus, I have found that they don't think very highly of weight training to brgin with... mine told me to take up swiming!!! A treatment that I highly recomend is ART www.activerelease.com There you can find a provider in your area and go check them out. You will just need a referal from your Dr. I'll tell you... the moment I left after my first visit I fely 95% better!!! All the blood was rushing into my elbow area and it felt great. If you do a search on the www.testosterone.net forum about elbow pain or tendonitis... ART success stories will come up, that's how I found out about it. It's actually a very popular practice among sports circles and Powerlifters. Don't be supprised if your Doctor never heard of it... mine never heard of it and then prescribed me some Vioxx (Which is now illegal due to Deaths!!!) and then sent me on my way.... Oh boy, I was like "thanks for the help Doc".

Stay away from movements that irritate it. That means Skullcrushers!!! They are also known as elbow killers!! Some Bodybuilders will not even do them because of the risk to the elbows... Jay Cutler prefers Close-Grip Bench for his main mass builder. Work your routine around what feels good for your body... this may mean using the Hammer Strangth equipment or machines, etc... just so you can heal, then you'll be back to the big guns in no time.

I wouldn't hurt for you to take preventive measures in your Supplement stack either. At this point, these may be more benificial to you than anything else... make sure your getting enough fats in your diet, healthy fats... fish oils, all that good stuff. This will help keep your joints and tendons nice and lubricated. Also, I would stock up on a quality supp that contains Gelatin/Glucosamine/Chondrotin/MSM... all of which have been proven to hep rebuild damage cartilage and joint damage. I have personally noticed it gives me more stabilitly in my shoulders... You can pick those up anywhere, I think Lee Labrada's Joint Mix has all those ingrediants.

Check out that ART man, and that other stuff... play it smart and keep positive, you'll be back at at 100%. There is light at the end of the tunnel...

do you think the vasoldilator supplements that improve blood flow would help my bicep tendon heal quicker?

AGE 23
Height: 5'9"

Arms 14 5/8"




"TRAIN LIKE AN ANIMAL"

WTF?!?!?!

He told you tendons DONT HEAL?!

LMFAO..not a lot of things can shock me..but THAT is a doozie.

Total bullcrap. Tendons heal.

(Unless of course you are diagnosed with Tendinosis, which is trauma accumulated over time by not allowing the tendon to heal properly thru proper care.)

Was this a walk in clinic or something? With a prognosis like that, I'd suggest finding a new doctor.

was your doctor talking about cartlige? Because I know cartelige has NO blood flow.. and it does not heal. That's why people develop arthritis in old age.
Just a thought