Tennis Elbow- How To Treat It?

Tennis elbow is a clinical condition which is caused by the inflammation of tendons which are responsible for attaching the extensor carpi radialis brevis to the outer bony prominence or lateral epicondyle in the elbow. It is often caused by some specific movements of the wrist. It may occur in any person who strains the tendons of the forearm, and there is no reason to think that it will only affect the tennis players. If you have pain and tenderness near the elbow, it is crucial to bring it to the notice of an orthopedic expert.

Steroid and corticosteroid injections are two effective options against the pain arising from tennis elbow. Even though steroid injections are considered a safer option, you cannot take them more than two to three times in a year since taking more than the recommended dosage may weaken the tendon and make it susceptible to rupture. But you can take corticosteroid injection to the inflamed area for improvement of the pain and discomfort. Before taking any of these injections, it is advised to consult an expert.

Tennis elbow normally does not lead to serious health problems. When the condition continues and is left untreated, it becomes necessary to seek medical advice. If you ignore this condition, it may cause complete loss of motion or function of the elbow. That is why it is advised to contact a healthcare professional if you face numbness or weakness in the hand and elbow. If you have been diagnosed with tennis elbow, you must not ignore the condition and follow the treatment process thoroughly.

Even though surgery is the last resort in the treatment of tennis elbow, it can successfully treat the condition in most people. The surgeon would make a small incision over the elbow for trimming the tendon or release and reattach it to the bone. This is usually done as an outpatient process and takes about a few hours or so. You will have to consider surgery only if you had pain for a year despite trying other alternatives.