Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Treatment
Tennis Elbow Treatment
Before we look at the various types of tennis elbow treatment, it is important to first understand the nature of this condition.
Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis, (lateral epicondylagia), or what is better known as tennis elbow, is characterized by the inflammation of tendons on the outside part of the elbow, near the bony prominence of the forearm.
Overuse and repetitive movements of the forearm muscles and wrist results to this elbow pain, and as its name suggest, it was derived from the common tennis player’s forearm problem.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
Any repetitive movement of the arm involving the wrist, such as playing tennis and other racquet sports, playing golf, excessive use of hammer or screwdriver, hedge clipping, gardening, painting, or any other activity that puts pressure and strain to the forearm can cause tennis elbow problems.
This condition specifically involves the part of the forearm where the muscles and tendons are attached to the outside bony area of the elbow. Usually, this problem usually occurs in the dominant hand, stress is usually present. However, it can also occur in the non-dominant arm or even both arms, which is quite common for people who spend long hours all day every day in front of the computer typing.
Tennis Elbow Symptoms
Before looking for any tennis elbow treatment, it is crucial that you assess the condition first, for more effective healing process.
Symptoms tennis elbow are easy to diagnose, and if you are constantly exposed to physical activities that usually lead to it, then you most likely have developed the condition.
Common symptoms Tennis Elbow include:
* Pain when squeezing objects, opening doors, opening bottles and even when shaking someone’s hands.
* Pain slowly intensifies on the outside part of the elbow, less often, pain may just develop quickly.
* Pain intensifies when stabilizing or moving the wrist by force, such as stretching, lifting objects, opening bottled jars, or even using simple utensils such as using knife and fork.
When to seek tennis elbow treatment
Though tennis elbow is not a life-threatening condition and usually does not lead to other serious health problems. Tennis Elbow can, however, be very debilitating and can leave you feeling very uncomfortable and weak even doing simple chores.
If symptoms still persist and left ignored people suffering from this condition may lose motion and function in their forearm and elbow. Thus, it is very important to seek for professional tennis elbow treatment as soon as the condition develops. If in any doubt, go and see a doctor.
Tennis elbow warning signs that you should not ignore
If you have any of the following tennis elbow symptoms you should see your doctor:
* Pain that persists despite of using cold compress, resting for a couple of days or more, and using topical analgesics and anti-inflammatory pain relievers.
* Pain significantly affects and limits daily activity.
* Weakness and numbness of the hand, which may even lead to additional type of injury along the arm, elbow and wrist.
Diagnosis of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow can’t be diagnosed through any types of blood tests and rarely by X-rays. What doctors do is diagnose the condition based on the description of the pain and particular findings from a physical exam.
Since there are many other conditions that contribute to pain around the elbow, it is very important that you seek professional advice from your doctor to get the right diagnosis. Then your doctor can prescribe the appropriate tennis elbow treatment.
Tennis elbow treatment
Tennis elbow treatment is usually involves medications, such as cortisone injections and exercise to rehabilitate the shoulder.
Reducing Tennis Elbow Inflammation
Doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, but the best way to reduce the inflammation and pain of the tennis elbow is rest. Our body has a unique ability to heal itself, and most of the time it only requires ample rest for the stressed part of the body to completely heal. Rest your arm for a couple of days before engaging to physical activities again. You can also use ice-packs to reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain.
Tennis Elbow Surgery
Tennis elbow treatment rarely requires surgery. However, for cases that do requires surgery, then after-surgery braces and support is usually required to immobilize the elbow and speed-up the recovery process.
Aircast Mayo Clinic Elbow Brace
The popular choice in Amazon for this kind of elbow brace is the Aircast Mayo Clinic Elbow Brace. This brace is designed to be used right after the surgery, and its hard-wearing metal uprights provide stability from the forearm to the elbows, as it straps with aircells hold the brace securely on its position, avoiding pressure points and giving the patient comfort.
Tennis elbow treatment depends on lots of factors, including overall health of the patient, age, medical history, types of other drugs being taken and the severity of the condition. The goal of tennis elbow treatment is to reduce the inflammation and pain, decreasing stress, promote healing and to prevent further abuse on the injured elbow by providing compression, support or in some cases completely immobilizing the elbow for a faster recovery.
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Kind Regads,
Tim Allardyce DO MCSP SRP
Tennis Elbow Pain Cure
Filed under Elbow Brace, Tennis Elbow, Tennis Elbow Treatment by on Feb 1st, 2012. 
