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although i don't have exactly the same issues with my tendons, i used to have some similar stuff to suffer over a rather long period. unfortunately i'm no native english speaker, i don't know the medical term, but i can describe it a bit:
my issues were a kind of cronical tendon irritations resulting from repeatedly using the same finger and wrist motions you easily can get for example from monotonous jobs like lockong screws or bolts the whole day. in my case it came from playing bass quite a lot of hours each day rehearsing/playing gigs and studio jobs for semipro mainly soul-, reggae- (especially those genres are quite a bit of fingerboard journeys and weird fingerknotting scales from time to time) but also other bands for more than 20 years. got that in both hands and it also affected my tattooing. i really had to learn to do everything with my hands very relaxed, if i don't want to f... them up completely. tattooing was even the worst- there were also added those nasty vibrations to increase problem & pain.
silicon- and foam grip covers helped me big way, but i mainly had to learn to split my focus a bit between tattooing and relaxed use of my hands while doing that job.
also it was good, to have a special eye on the tools- too heavy is shite for the wrist, too light is shite because of the vibrations. that was the main reason why i started to build my own machines, where i combined vibration-sucking but heavy materials like brass and bronze with as few as possible frame material to keep weight to a minimum- that for example resulted in constructions like single coils and totally stripped down reverse hitters, where there's no need for a sideplate or a long upright arm for the front contact but i can have a very shortened back brace for that job sitting at the side of the spring shelf...

but in general: you surely can't avoid to learn handling your tools in a very relaxed way and thus you always have to be aware of gripping and holding- at least as long as you've uploaded that exercise in the "autopilot"-department of your brain.
but don't worry- normally you will get used to that rather soon.

i hope you'll be better soon ;o)

Thanks, I appreciate the imput. I agree that learning to relax my grip a little would help, and for years I have been making the effort, but as we all know, when we get "in the zone" it is beyond easy to forget my my posture, my wrists and arms - and focus completely on the work. Then once I'm finished and the ache sets in - I realize how tight my grip was, how hunched over I was, how tensed my shoulders were.

So basically, I guess I am just hoping how anyone that has these tendonitis issues handles the condition once they have it. Any tips for during the work and after to work to help alleviate the worst of the pain and to protect myself from future "crippling" effects that might put a premature end to my career.

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sorry, i completely forgot all that important stuff about working enviroment, that is mainly underestimated from most of the people in the industry. so here's a good link:

http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2012/06/14/markus-lenhard-workplace-ergonomics-and-long-term-health-improvement-techniques-tattoo-artist-magazine-blog-tamblog-tam/

first things i did after reading was purchasing one of those wobbly chairs and i'm verry happy that i did it...

The TAM blog has a few more excellent articles on wrist exercises if you feel like looking for them.

One exercise that I love for wrist/forearm/hand strength and flexibility is one that I learned from a previous coworker who had his radial tendons severed during surgery, and now has full turning mobility in his hands and wrists.

What you do is raise your arms level in front of you (think zombie "braaaaiiins" pose), and bring your fingertips together so that your hands resemble bird heads. Slowly, very slowly, draw circles in the air with your bunched fingers while keeping your forearms still. You should only be moving your hands and wrists. It is important to do this slowly because it really helps to stretch out your tendons and ligaments. This may be a somewhat painful exercise if you already suffer from tendonitis or carpal tunnel. If so, start out with small circles and go even more slowly. You can work your way up to larger circles as your flexibility improves. Do this in both clockwise and counter-clockwise motions, taking 10 second breaks every 10 circles that you make.

http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2012/07/30/durb-morrison-tattoo-artists-loosen-your-belts-while-youre-tattooing-tam-tamblog-tattoo-artist-magazine-blog-health/

more good hand exercises on that page. Cheers!

Thanks guys! Every little bit helps for sure.

I'm Brooklyn Gator Tattoo on facebook...I've been tattooing 25 years, and it has just started on my right outer forearm... up into below the elbow. i too am scared about this development. I'm going to keep checking in here to see how other folks are handling it. Thanks so much for having this topic here

Craig Cooley