Tennis Elbow Signs and Symptoms

Understanding Tennis Elbow: Causes, Symptoms & Recovery Strategies

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a clinical condition that results from repetitive straining of the forearm tendons and muscles located around the elbow joint. Contrary to its name, it isn’t exclusive to tennis players. The condition is typically associated with repetitive wrist and arm motions that put a strain on the elbow tendons over time.

Surprisingly, the majority of sufferers from tennis elbow have never even touched a racket. Occupations involving repetitive hand and arm use—such as plumbing, painting, carpentry, and meat cutting—are commonly associated with tennis elbow signs and symptoms. In some instances, however, no specific cause can be identified.

Pain is generally felt where the forearm tendons connect to the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. This discomfort can extend into the forearm and sometimes even reach the wrist.

Fortunately, most cases improve with rest, over-the-counter pain relievers, and physiotherapy. If symptoms persist or interfere with daily functioning, medical interventions like injections or surgery may be recommended.

Read on to learn more in detail!

What are the Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?

The symptoms of tennis elbow often start subtly and gradually intensify. In the majority of situations, it begins as a slight pain on the lateral side of the elbow (lateral epicondyle) and worsens with wrist activities that involve lifting, rotation, or gripping. The following are some common signs of tennis elbow:

• Terminal Pain and Tenderness: Stabbing or burning pain on the lateral side of the elbow, particularly with pressure placed on it or use of the forearm.
• Radiating Pain: Pain radiates from the elbow to the wrist or forearm, making activities such as opening doors or picking things up painful.
• Weak Grip: Difficulty holding objects like mugs, hand tools, or pens because of decreased grip strength.
• Pain on Use: Activities such as racket swings, handshaking, or twisting movements (e.g., turning keys) worsen the pain.
• Decreased Flexibility and Joint Stiffness: Others experience stiffness, primarily upon waking or following prolonged periods of rest.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Even without playing sports, repetitive arm use can cause this condition. It is one of the leading causes of elbow pain in adults, especially those between 30 and 60 years old.

Tennis elbow symptoms and treatment are often linked to the way tendons are overloaded due to repeated strain. For example, gripping a racket tightly during a swing shifts the workload from muscles to tendons, leading to inflammation and tiny tears over time.

Common triggers include:

• Playing racket sports such as tennis, squash, or racketball
• Fencing
• Weightlifting or gym exercise
• Manual labour occupations such as carpentry or painting
• Office work such as typing or computer data entry
• Hobbies include raking leaves or knitting

How is Tennis Elbow Diagnosed?

Doctors review your history and symptoms to diagnose tennis elbow. They will examine sensitive areas and ask you to perform specific movements involving your wrist, elbow, and fingers to pinpoint regions of pain and assess functionality.

Other tests may include:

• Electromyography (EMG): Tests for nerve health and identifies nerve damage in the elbow.
• MRI Scan: May identify tendon damage, spinal problems, or neck arthritis as a cause of elbow pain.
• X-rays: Helpful in evaluating bone shape and identifying arthritis in the joint.

What are the Treatments for Tennis Elbow?

If you’ve been diagnosed with tennis elbow, your healthcare provider will recommend specific therapies that promote tendon healing and relieve discomfort. A well-known and effective first-line approach is the RICE method—a non-invasive way to help reduce inflammation and encourage recovery:

• Rest: Pause the physical activity that triggered the condition. Try to reduce elbow movement during the healing process.
• Ice: Apply a cold compress to the hurt elbow for 15–20 minutes several times a day. Always place the ice in a towel or cloth, not directly against the skin.
• Compression: Use an elastic bandage or compression wrap to support the elbow. Your physician can show you how to do this properly and safely.
• Elevation: Attempt to keep the elbow higher than your heart level, particularly to reduce swelling.

Other Conservative (Non-Surgical) Treatment

If the RICE process alone is not working, there are a couple more tennis elbow treatments your physician might suggest:

• Over-the-counter Pain Medications: Pain and inflammation will be eased with medication such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It is always best to discuss with your physician before taking them for longer than 10 consecutive days.
• Physical Therapy: A therapist may recommend specific stretches and exercises to strengthen your elbow, making it more flexible and resilient.
• Supportive Bracing: Wearing an elbow or wrist brace reduces strain so that your tendon rests and heals. Your doctor will show you the right brace type and duration of usage.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) Injections: This entails taking a small sample of your own blood, processing it to extract and concentrate the healing platelets, and injecting them into the inflamed tendon.
• Corticosteroid Injections: These prescription anti-inflammatory medications may be injected into the elbow, though they are less useful for chronic conditions (more than six weeks).
• Tenotomy: With the help of ultrasound, a needle is passed through the skin and into the injured tendon to dissolve and eliminate the diseased tissue, initiating natural healing.
• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): Controlled acoustic shockwaves are applied to the injured tendon area to stimulate healing.

Tennis Elbow Surgical Alternatives

• While the majority of the patients can be cured without surgery, a few would need a surgical procedure, especially if the symptoms of tennis elbow fail to show improvement after a few months.
• In the course of surgery, the doctor removes the injured tissue and fixes the tendon. These procedures are usually outpatient, meaning you can return home the same day.
• Recovery varies, but a few months of post-op rest and physical therapy are typically needed.
• Your healthcare provider will explain the surgical approach, expected outcomes, and recovery time.

Healing from tennis elbow symptoms can be both a physical and financial challenge. In this regard, having a reliable health insurance policy provides a safety net during medical treatment. Star Health Insurance offers extensive coverage with access to over 14,000 network hospitals, fast cashless claims, and stress-free services.