Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Condition
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis, is a tendonitis of the outside of the elbow unlike golfer’s elbow which affects the inside of the elbow. Tennis elbow is mainly caused by repetitive use during tennis or any other activity that uses the hand or wrist muscles. These muscles share a common tendon which is connected to the portion of the elbow bone known as the lateral epicondyle. Tiny tears happen over time and with age, the body has a more difficult time repairing itself which leads to symptoms of tennis elbow.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis include:
- Pain while bending wrist
- Tenderness or pain in elbow
- Difficulty picking up heavy objects
- Weakness in hand and wrist
When the pain and/or weakness is interfering with your daily activities, it is time to seek tennis elbow treatment from an Orthopaedic hand specialist such as Dr. Besh.
Treatment
Treatment for tennis elbow includes physical therapy, stretching, rest and/or anti-inflammatory medication. If the symptoms of tennis elbow persist with the above treatment then cortisone injections and minimally invasive surgery are other options for tennis elbow.