1. Take the Pain Quiz!

In this Article

• Introduction
• What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?
• Who gets tennis elbow?
• How is tennis elbow diagnosed?
• How is pain and inflammation reduced?
• How can I promote healing of my injury?
• How do I decrease stress and abuse on the injury?
• What is the outlook for people with tennis elbow?
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Tennis Elbow Index

To reduce the pan and inflammation of tennis elbow, try:

• Rest and avoid any activity that causes pain to the sore elbow.
• Apply ice to the affected area.
• Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
• Cortisone-type medication may be put on topically by you or injected into the sore area by your doctor.

This step begins a couple of weeks after the pain of tennis elbow has been reduced or eliminated. It involves specific physical-therapy exercises to stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons around the injured elbow. Any activity that aggravates the pain must be avoided.

To help lessen the continued stress and abuse on tennis elbow:

• Use the proper equipment and technique in sports and on the job.
• Use of a counter-force brace, an elastic band that wraps around the forearm just below the injured elbow (tendon) may help to relieve pain in some people.
• Avoid tight gripping, overuse of the wrist.
• Pay attention to the movements that cause pain.

Overall, 90% to 95% of people with tennis elbow will improve and recover with the treatment plan described. However, about 5% of people will not get better with conservative treatment and will need surgery to repair the injured muscle-tendon unit around the elbow. For 80% to 90% of people who have surgery, it results in pain relief and return of strength.

WebMD Medical Reference

SOURCES:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

WebMD Health News: "Study Questions Support Bands for Tennis Elbow."

Reviewed by Kimball Johnson, MD on June 01, 2012

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