Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Treatment
“Tennis Elbow” is the common name for lateral epicondylitis, a medical condition in which the outer part of the elbow becomes inflamed and tender. This injury can be brought on abruptly or over time, and usually affects people in their dominant arm. Despite the name, less than 5% of all diagnoses are caused by actually playing tennis.
As shown in the illustration below (courtesy of WebMD), tennis elbow involves the area in which muscles and tendons in your forearm connect to the outside of the elbow. Diagnosis is usually fairly simple and rarely requires x-rays or blood tests; doctors can usually identify it by the patient’s description of the pain.
Symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Tenderness on the outer part of the elbow
- Pain gets worse when gripping an object
- Stiffness in the morning
The good news is that up to 95% of people who suffer from tennis elbow can recover on their own through rest and the use of over-the-counter pain medications. However, in some extreme cases, physical therapy may be required. If after six months of therapy a patient sees little-to-no improvement, they may need surgery to remove and repair damaged tissue.
If you are experiencing pain in your elbow or forearm, take action now before it’s too late. Continuing activity will only make the injury worse and delay the healing process. Connecticut residents can count on the medical experts at Orthopaedic Specialty Group to correctly diagnose their pain and provide them with effective treatment options.
Click here to visit our website or call (203) 337-2600 to schedule an appointment at one of our three offices. You can also receive immediate medical attention for your orthopedic injuries by visiting our walk-in OrthoFast clinic, located at 75 Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield, CT.