Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is a condition caused by the overuse of the elbow. As the name suggests, playing a lot of tennis or other sports that use racquets, such as badminton can also result in this condition. It is micro-tearing or inflammation of the tendons that connect the forearm muscles on the exterior of the elbow. However, you must also know that you can have a tennis elbow even when you are not into sports activities.

In a tennis elbow, your forearm muscles and tendons tear by repeated motions of the elbow for a long time, causing pain and tenderness.

Causes

• Backhand motion while playing tennis
• Repeated motions or over usage of the elbow
• Idiopathic

Symptoms

• Increased pain while lifting an object, squeezing or extending the forearm to shake hands
• Swelling
• Reduced grip strength

Diagnosis

Ongoing to a bone specialist, you will be advised to take imaging tests like:

• MRI (to detect soft tissue injury)
• X-Rays (to detect bony abnormality)
• EMG (to detect nerve compression)

Treatment

Non-surgical treatments

Rest: It is essential to give complete rest to your elbow for several weeks. Your orthopedist may provide braces to immobilize the affected elbow.

Ice packs: You should apply ice packs to reduce pain and inflammation before going to the doctor.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin can help minimize swelling and pain.

Physical therapy: Your physical therapist will help you do some simple exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles and encourage healing.

Ultrasound therapy: In this process, the doctor will place an ultrasound probe on the painful area allowing high-frequency sound waves from the probe, into the affected tissues for a specific time.

Steroid injections: Corticosteroid medications are injected into the muscle or the connecting point of the tendon and elbow bone to reduce inflammation.

Shock wave therapy: In this therapy, sound waves are sent to the elbow to allow healing. However, it is not always suggested by orthopedists.

Surgical treatments

When non-surgical methods don’t work for treating tennis elbow, orthopedic surgeons recommend surgery. In the surgical process, a small scope is inserted into the affected elbow (Arthroscopic surgery) or via a large incision over the elbow (open surgery). With both the surgery types, the dead tissue is removed, and healthy muscle is reattached onto the bone.
Make sure to follow the rehabilitation measures suggested by your orthopedic specialist post-surgery.