Tennis Elbow

You do not need to play tennis to experience the pain of tennis elbow. Although common with tennis players, tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a common workplace or sports injury. It occurs when too much or repeated stress is placed on the tendons and muscles in the forearm that control the wrist. Bowlers, baseball players, mechanics, carpenters and many others that grip items frequently can experience tennis elbow. Our team at Medici Orthopaedics & Spine offers effective, non-invasive treatment options for those suffering from tennis elbow.

Tennis and golfer’s elbow both are elbow injuries to the tendons that connect to the elbow but affect different areas and movements. Golfer’s elbow is linked to moving the wrist forward toward the palm. With tennis elbow, the strain is when gripping and moving the wrist backward, as when backhanding in a tennis game. Tennis elbow can be caused by an intense injury to these tendons, but it is more likely to occur when repeating the same movement over and over. The symptoms tend to increase over time, which include:

• Pain on the outside of the elbow
• Pain increases when gripping or squeezing with the hand
• Severe pain when holding or lifting a gripped item

Repetitive use of the wrist when gripping is the most common cause. Pain can slowly become worse. For some, the pain can become too great to perform simple gripping tasks, requiring treatment.

Treatment for Lateral Epicondylitis

If you have lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, symptoms, the first steps for relief should be resting your elbow and wrist. Applying ice and using OTC anti-inflammatory medications can offer relief. Wearing a wrist or elbow brace reduces stress on the tendons. When home care is not effective, medical treatment may be needed to restore function and relieve pain.

We use comprehensive treatment plans for patients suffering from painful conditions like tennis elbow. Some treatments that may help recovery from a tennis elbow injury include steroid injections, physical therapy and customized devices for support.

If elbow pain is stopping you from work or play, come see us at Medici Orthopaedics & Spine. Contact us to schedule your appointment. We have clinics in the greater Atlanta area to diagnose and treat your elbow condition.