Exams and Tests

Tendinitis

The diagnosis of tendinitis is most often made based on history and a physical examination.

Imaging studies may help confirm the diagnosis. The imaging study of choice is the MRI. An MRI gives a very detailed picture and can identify a tear, rupture, inflammation, or other disease processes. An MRI is not useful in visualizing inflammation of the tendon sheath, tenosynovitis, unless fluid is present within the sheath itself.

Bursitis

Your doctor will check if your bursitis has an inflammatory or an infectious cause. The elbow and knee have a higher risk of having an infectious cause, so fluid will probably be drained from your joint to be checked for bacterial infection.

Conditions that place you at a higher risk for infectious bursitis include these:

• Chronic alcoholism
  
  
• Diabetes
  
  
• Uremia
  
  
• Gout
  
  
• Manual labor
  
  
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease