Causes

• Bicipital tendinitis can be caused by overuse or due to an injury. The Mayo Clinic says individuals who regularly play baseball or tennis or those who swim or golf are vulnerable to tendinitis in their shoulders, arms and elbows. Runners and basketball players are more likely to develop the condition in their feet and legs. Tendinitis is sometimes diagnosed in people with body-wide (systemic) diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  

Symptoms

• The symptoms of bicipital tendinitis include pain and tenderness as well as discomfort alongside a tendon. The pain is typically felt near a joint (e.g., shoulder or wrist).
  
  The aching and soreness associated with tendinitis is often worse during physical activity and may intensify at night.
  
  

Physical Exam

• When diagnosing bicipital tendinitis, your doctor will check for signs of pain irritation. Careful pressure testing and movement of the parts are generally all that's needed to detect tendinitis. The skin overlying the tendon may be red and warm due to inflammation. Some superficial tendons are rather obvious and simple to diagnose. If your doctor thinks your tendinitis may be due to an underlying condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, a blood test may also be performed.
  
  

Imaging Tests

• While X-rays are not usually effective in testing of bicipital tendinitis (tendons can't be seen on the images), your doctor may recommend an X-ray in order to eliminate other possible causes of your symptoms.
  
  In rare instances, an MRI may be conducted to identify tearing or weakening of the tendon.
  
  

Treatment

• The symptoms of bicipital tendinitis generally lift with treatment and rest. Your doctor may suggest the use of a removable brace or splint to encourage immobilization of the tendon.
  
  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen diminish inflammation and discomfort. Your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication around a tendon to lessen the symptoms of tendinitis.
  
  In rare cases, surgery may be performed to eliminate inflammatory tissue from around the tendon.