Tennis elbow hinders sports activities and everyday tasks. It features a number of persistent symptoms, which range from annoying and bothersome to debilitating. At our orthopedic facilities, our board-certified physicians care for a number of tennis elbow cases. Here are the symptoms and tennis elbow treatments that may affect you.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Also called lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is a progressive orthopedic condition that mostly affects people ages 30 to 50. The causes are many. However, the most prominent culprits are repetitive forearm and wrist motions associated with hard grasping and swinging of a tennis racquet or other sports equipment.
Other motions, such as those involved in manual sawing or even keyboarding, also can cause this repetitive stress injury (RSI). These activities require constant gripping, which can strain the muscles and tendons in the forearm and outer aspect of the elbow. Over time, the repetitive stress causes inflammation, swelling, and pain on the outside of your elbow.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
If you are experiencing pain on the outside of your elbow, which worsens with grasping or twisting motions, you may have tennis elbow. Other symptoms of lateral epicondylitis include:
- A weak grip
- Difficulty performing daily tasks such as holding objects, shaking hands or turning doorknobs
- Stiffness and aching in the forearm, elbow, and wrist
- A burning sensation in the affected areas
Treatments for Tennis Elbow
Treatment for tennis elbow begins with an in-office consultation with your orthopedic specialist. You will undergo a physical examination. Plus, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and medical history. Be sure to be specific about the location and intensity of your symptoms and what may help relieve them.
Additionally, your orthopedic specialist will do X-rays and possibly an MRI to confirm the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis. Imaging also helps rule out other diagnoses–fractures, for example. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to manage your symptoms and promote healing.
Treatment options for tennis elbow may include the following.
Rest
The first course of treatment is to rest the affected arm. This means avoiding activities that aggravate your symptoms, such as repetitive gripping or twisting motions.
Ice Therapy
Applying ice to the affected area can reduce inflammation and pain. You can place an ice pack or even a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel on the elbow and forearm.
Physical Therapy
Your doctor likely will recommend physical therapy exercises to help strengthen the muscles and tendons in your forearm and to improve flexibility.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. In addition, your doctor may advise corticosteroid injections for more severe symptoms.
Braces or Splints
Wearing a brace or splint on your elbow can provide support and relieve pressure on the affected area, allowing it time to heal. Some people benefit from wearing a forearm band for support while they play tennis or work.
Will I Need Surgery to Treat My Tennis Elbow?
This is a question our providers hear frequently. Fortunately, most cases of tennis elbow can be treated without surgery. Healing and a return to comfortable function will take some weeks to months, however.
If you still experience symptoms that keep you from doing the things you need and love to do, surgery may be your best option. There are a number of techniques your orthopedic surgeon may utilize to repair the damage in the area of the elbow.
One of the most innovative and least invasive techniques is arthroscopy. Arthroscopy involves the use of miniaturized surgical tools, regional anesthesia, and small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure.
Surgical patients also undergo a personalized program of physical therapy to strengthen the affected areas and to improve function and range of motion. Complete healing and functionality returns in about four to six months.
Tennis Elbow Treatments in North Dakota
At The Bone & Joint Center, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons deliver services and treatments that help people have their best musculoskeletal health and function. If you are bothered with symptoms of tennis elbow, don’t wait. Contact us for a complete evaluation and treatment plan.
Call us at (701) 946-7400 or request an appointment here. We have locations in Bismarck, Dickinson, Beulah, Garrison, Hazen, Linton, Hettinger, Minot, Turtle Lake, Williston and Wishek, ND. Let us hear from you soon!
