Tennis elbow is not a condition that affects racket players only. People who overuse their arms or swing them repetitively while gripping objects often suffer from this injury. Tennis elbow effects the tendons on the elbow of the predominant hand. Most of the time tennis elbow is treated by correcting the conditions in the environment which caused the injury in the first place. All muscles have to be given the chance to heal by themselves. Of course sometimes there is such extensive damage that an invasive treatment is required, namely surgery.
Since the pain from tennis elbow may sometimes extend as far as from the shoulder to the wrist, painkillers will be first on the list of effective tennis elbow treatment options. What should be done immediately when the injury is noticed? Put a pack of ice or anti-inflammation to quell the inflammation and prevent swelling.
Tennis Elbow is Painful
You should see a doctor to determine the severity of the injury and be prescribed the necessary treatment. In more than 95 percent of tennis elbow cases, the arm will be allowed to rest with regular application of anti-inflammation medicine for the duration of the injury. If the pain is excruciating and it is almost impossible to move the arm, fingers and even the shoulder, an injection of cortisone may be used to relieve the pain and make the muscles more flexible. Patients with tennis elbow injuries often wear tennis elbow braces to put the arm, and therefore the injured tendons, in the proper healing position.
An injured arm will be protected with a tennis elbow brace for the duration of the injury until the doctor examines the arm and finds it completely healed. This often takes time but healing can be accelerated through physical therapies including weight lifting and stretching exercises. It is important to see a doctor even when the injury does not seem to be serious, just to be sure that there are no underlying conditions that have similar symptoms like arthritis.
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