Tennis elbow is a painful condition. Most people who experience it feel the pain on the outside of their elbow. Tennis elbow is usually connected to strain or overuse. This strain and overuse leads to damage in the tendons that surround the elbow. For many people, simply stopping the activity that caused them to experience the condition is enough to make the symptoms disappear. Other people may need to try additional treatments.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for tennis elbow. Many turn to painkillers as a way to minimize the discomfort until the condition improves. However, this option comes with its downsides.
For most people, the pain associated with tennis elbow only flares up if they’re using their wrist or their forearms. They will feel it when they are using a turning motion. Other people feel the pain all the time. For some people, the pain is so severe that it inhibits their ability to sleep or to rest. The pain can start in the elbow and travel down to the wrist. It can get so severe that some people find it a challenge to hold a cup. They may not be able to fully straighten their arm. It is not uncommon for a person with tennis elbow to have stiffness in the affected arm.
This condition is caused when the tendons around your elbow either swell or thicken. In some cases, the tendon may even begin to degenerate. It is caused by repeatedly using your forearm muscles. People who have a job that requires them to constantly turn a screwdriver or do twisting motions are at the greatest risk of developing it. Playing tennis or playing racquetball can also lead to tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow only affects between one and three percent of the population. Both women and men can develop it. The condition is seen primarily in individuals 40 years of age and older. If you have weakened forearm muscles and then you start to do a project that requires you to use your forearms, you may develop tennis elbow.
Treating tennis elbow may require you to modify the actions that are causing symptoms. Ice is often used as a way to relieve pain. At Phoenix Regenerative Medicine, we are proud to offer PRP and OrthoBiologics treatments for the condition. As with any injury, prevention is better than a cure. The stronger your forearm muscles are, the lower your chances are of developing tennis elbow in the future. If you have issues, contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Phoenix.
