Q: I have had tendonitis on my shoulder for 6 weeks now. Do you know long it can take to heal ? And would physiotherapy do any good?

A: Shoulder tendonitis can be very bothersome and stay for a long time (years!) so you should approach it carefully. If it's in the early stages, it should subside in anywhere from several days to several weeks when given rest. If you haven't worked the shoulder in these 6 weeks and the pain is still there it may well be an indication of a more serious problem. In this case you should definitely see your doctor or physical therapist (and yes, physical therapy may be required). Going forward decrease the volume of work you put on your shoulder and give it more frequent rests.

If you HAVE worked the shoulder despite the tendonitis, then stop immediately!!! It will only heal when given a chance to rest! By continuing to work through the pain you are only making the problem worse and it will take longer and longer to heal.