Any repetitive motion of the wrist can cause tennis elbow, including tennis, hedge clipping, excessive use of a hammer or screwdriver, painting, or any activity that requires constant gripping or squeezing. This is according to an article at eMedicineHealth.com.
The elbow is one of the most used joints of the human body. If it does not function properly, a person's ability to complete tasks and care for self is restricted, wrote Wanda Thibodeaux in an article at eHow.com.
Tennis elbow, known clinically as lateral epicondyle, is a condition caused by inflammation of the tendons on the outer bony prominence of the elbow. It can occur in anyone who strains the tendons of the forearm and is not limited to tennis players, according to medical author William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR in another article at eMedicineHealth.com.
Symptoms and Signs
Common symptoms of tennis elbow mentioned in the article by Shiel Jr. are:
- Tenderness on the outer bony part of the elbow
- Morning stiffness of the elbow with persistent aching
- Soreness in the forearm
- Pain worse when grasping or holding an object
When to Seek Medical Care
While tennis elbow does not usually lead to serious issues, if the condition continues and is left untreated, loss of motion or loss of function of the elbow and forearm can develop, wrote Shiel Jr. Professional help is advised if the following conditions develop:
- Pain that limits daily activity
- Pain that lasts despite ice, resting, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers
- Any weakness or numbness in the hand, as this may mean there is another type of injury in the wrist or elbow
Diagnosis
In taking the patient’s medical history, the doctor may ask questions
about activity level, occupation, recent recreational activities, medications,
and other medical problems.
During the physical exam, the doctor will feel the elbow and possibly other joints, wrote Shiel Jr. in his article. The nerves, muscles, bones, and skin may also be examined. X-ray images may be required if the symptoms suggest another problem in the elbow joint.
Self Care at Home
Some home remedies mentioned by Shiel Jr. in the article include:
·
Icing the area with a wrapped towel for 20 minutes twice
a day to help decrease inflammation and relieve pain
·
Rest the sore area to prevent further injury and
decrease pain
·
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen, which can help decrease the pain and possibly speed up the healing
Medical Treatment
A second line of therapy may be recommended by the doctor if home care treatment does not produce the desired result. This may include physical therapy involving different exercises to increase flexibility and strength.
According to Sheild Jr. in his article, while steroid injections are safe, they are usually limited to two to three times a year. Steroid injections if done too frequently can weaken the tendon and make it more likely to rupture. If positive results are not seen after the first injection, additional injections are unlikely to work.
Surgery is usually a last resort, but successes are known to help relieve 85 to 95 percent of pain. The operation for tennis elbow involves a small incision over the elbow to trim the tendon or sometimes to release and then reattach the tendon to the bone. It can usually be performed within several hours as an outpatient procedure.
Prevention
The best way to prevent tennis elbow is to stretch and strengthen the arm muscles so they are flexible and strong, according to advice from an article at WebMD.com.
Try warm up, stretching and strengthening exercises.
Other approaches to prevent tennis elbow include:
- Staying in good overall physical shape
- Using the correct techniques and movements during activities
- Using equipment appropriate for a person’s ability, body size, and body strength
- Not overusing arm with repeated movements that can injure tendon
- Strengthening the muscles of the arm, shoulder, and upper back to help take the stress off the elbow
- Wearing a counterforce brace during activities that require grasping or twisting arm movements
by Dr. Nabil Ebraheim
by SingHealth
For professional help with tennis elbow, please consult a doctor or an orthopedic specialist.
2 comments:
I agree physical therapy is best to reduce elbow pain. We can get complete relief with the help of this treatment.back and neck pain bergen county
The experience of elbow pain is very horrible, we have to take pain killer for temporary relief but it is not the long lasting end of pain. We should find out the main causes of this pain and reduce them.
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