Tennis Elbow Treatment in MRC Nagar, Chennai

Introduction to Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is referred to as an inflammation of the elbow joint which is a result of overuse and persistent stress. Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis and can be very painful. The pain in the elbow usually originates from outside but also radiates on your forearm. It might become extremely painful to extend your arm completely. For further information, you should contact an Orthopaedic specialist near you.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

If you get a tennis elbow you might experience some of the following symptoms:

Pain in your elbow that might feel mild but slowly starts getting worse and worse
A pain that radiates from your elbow and then extends down to your forearm and wrist
A lose or weak grip while holding objects
Sharp pain or increase in pain when you shake someone’s hand or try to squeeze an object
Pain in the hand or arm when you try to lift something, use tools or open jars

Causes of Tennis Elbow

The part of the muscle that connects it to a bone is known as a tendon. Tendons in the forearm connect the muscles in the forearm to the bone of the elbow. Tennis elbow occurs when this connected muscle gets damaged. This muscle is known as the ECRB, and it helps in raising the wrist.

When this muscle experiences persistent stress or overuse it becomes weak and starts developing tiny tears in the muscle and tendon. These tears then cause inflammation and pain.

Overuse and stress can be caused by any activity that requires twisting of the wrist, but some major factors include:

Tennis
Other racquet sports like badminton, ping-pong, squash, or table tennis
Golfing
Swimming
Frequently using tools like screwdrivers, hammers, or even computers
Turning keys
Painting

When to see a doctor for Tennis Elbow?

If you have extreme pain in your elbow that does not go away even after a while, you should look for Orthopedic doctors in Chennai.

Request an appointment at Apollo Hospitals, MRC Nagar, Chennai.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

Risk Factors for Tennis Elbow:

The major risk factors of getting a tennis elbow include:

Age: It is more common between adults of age 30 to 50.
Occupation: People with jobs that require more wrist motion like plumbers, painters, cooks, carpenters, etc. are more likely to get a tennis elbow.
Certain sports: Participating in certain racquet sports increases your risk of getting a tennis elbow, especially if you have a bad form.

Treatment for Tennis Elbow:

A majority of cases of tennis elbow can be easily treated without the need for surgery. You will be prescribed some of the following treatments:

Rest: The first step will be to give your arm a rest. The doctor might also give you a brace to immobilize your muscles.
Ice: Ice your elbow to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Medicine: You will be prescribed some medicine to help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Physical therapy: It will help you strengthen your forearm and regain your mobility.

Some other forms of therapies that can be recommended include:

Ultrasound therapy: In this type of therapy an ultrasound probe will be placed over the most painful area of the arm. It will emit ultrasound radiation that will help in reducing swelling and pain.
Shockwave therapy: In this procedure shockwaves are sent in the body to encourage your body’s natural healing mechanisms to heal the elbow faster.
Steroid Injections: In some cases, the doctor may inject steroids into the muscles to reduce inflammation.
Platelet-rich Plasma Injection

Surgery for Tennis Elbow

Surgery might be required if the symptoms don’t improve after a year of treatment. You can either get an elbow arthroscopy in which small incisions are made over your elbow or an open surgery where one large incision is made on the elbow. In both methods, the surgeon will remove all the dead tissue and reconnect the muscle to the bone. There might be some loss of muscle strength in the surgery and your arm will be immobilized with a splint. But surgeries are successful in healing a tennis elbow.

You can consult an Orthopedic Hospital near you for more information about the surgery.

Request an appointment at Apollo Hospitals, MRC Nagar, Chennai

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

Conclusion

Tennis elbows are a common injury in middle age. In case you have pain or swelling in your elbow that causes you problems in gripping objects or extending your arms you should contact Orthopedic Doctors near you.