One of the most complicated aspects of tissue injuries is that tendon, ligament, and fascia injuries possess mostly the same, if not at least vastly similar, symptoms for each degree of injury. In most cases, inflammation occurs in the area of the injury and it is accompanied by any amount of pain, depending on the severity of the damage.

Tendons: Injuries to the tendons are certainly different by definition, however the symptoms are quite similar. Pain and swelling are the basic elements of tendon injuries, with additional symptoms setting in depending on the affected area and the severity.

• Tendonitis: Pain and swelling are the primary results of an onset of tendonitis, as the repeatedly torn and pulled tendons have become inflamed and are increasingly pressing on the nerves as the damage continues to go untreated. Additionally, the spot of the tendonitis will feel abnormally warmth to the touch because of the excessive inflammation.
• Tendinosis: As aforementioned, tendinosis is simply the same affliction as tendonitis, however while there is pain from repeated and untreated tears and pulls, there is no inflammation taking place when tendinosis has set in.
• Acute tears: As acute tears are the basic cause of tendonitis and tendinosis, they share most of the same traits. In smaller tears, like the types that eventually lead to the aforementioned injury, the general symptoms are pain, swelling, and discomfort. However, in bigger acute tears, which are caused by repetitive activity, the victim will experience loss of strength in the injured body part and loss of range and mobility.
• Degenerative Tears: Unlike acute tears, degenerative tears are caused by excessive use and, therefore, have different symptoms. Acute tears are more permanent and linger because they aren’t being treated properly, but degenerative tears only feature random instances of pain. When degenerative tears occur, the tendon is almost like a piece of rope unraveling over a period of time. This could lead to deformity around the tendon. Degenerative tears also cause weakness in the affected area.
• Subluxation: Like degenerative tears, subluxation causes a sporadic pain, but this type of injury is highlighted by a snapping sensation, as if the tendon was completely splitting in half. Like the other tendon injuries, subluxation also causes loss of strength in the injured area.

Ligaments:

Sprains and strains may be differentiated by the severity of damage to a ligament, but their symptoms are generally identical. Ironically, though, in some cases of ligament sprains, there is very little pain unless pressure is applied to the affected joint.

• Strains: Ligament strains are milder than sprains because there is no complete break of the ligament involved. There can be serious tearing of the ligament, which can cause just as much pain, but strains fall into three categories: Mild, Medium, and Severe. Mild ligament strains will experience light tenderness with very little swelling. Medium strains will show much more tenderness and obvious swelling. The joint will be unable to bend completely and there will be consistent pain. In a severe strain, there is a significant tear of the ligament, and the joint becomes unstable and flimsy in nature. The pain is extreme and the swelling is intense.
• Sprains: Ligament sprains are typically accompanied by an initial popping sound as the ligament is ruptured, and followed by a great deal of pain when the affected joint is moved or if pressure is applied to that area. The muscles around the severed ligament will experience spasms due to the body’s natural reaction against inflammation of a wound. The area will swell up and the pain will become constant, while the victim will lose the ability to use the damaged joint or apply any further pressure to it. Crepitation (crackling noises) and calcification will set in and the wounded region will become stiff to the touch as the tendon sheath also becomes inflamed.

Fascia: An injury to the fascia may be the most difficult to diagnose right away since the symptoms are very basic. When the fascia has caused a nerve to move, the result is pain and stiffness. In some cases, the affected nerve and tissue will lead to a numb sensation and the ability to feel will become sporadic at best.