Tennis elbow is a condition where the tendons connecting your forearm muscles to your bones become painful and weakened. It results when there is excessive use of the elbow by performing certain movements repeatedly.
Introduction
Tennis elbow is a condition where the tendons connecting your forearm muscles to your bones become painful and weakened. It results when there is excessive use of the elbow by performing certain movements repeatedly. In medical language, it is called lateral epicondylitis.
What is funny about the name is that, despite lending its name, tennis is responsible for only about 5% of cases. One can develop a tennis elbow from any repetitive activity, such as painting or using hand tools. It is quite a common injury that typically requires minimal treatment, but healing requires time and rest.
Where does it hurt in tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow pain occurs on the outside of one’s arm, specifically where the forearm meets the elbow.
The pain is usually linked to the muscles and tendons (connections between muscles and bones) in your forearm. When you perform a repetitive arm action, the tendons near the elbow, especially the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle, is likely to develop small tears.
These tears can put a strain on the rest of your arm, causing pain when you try to lift objects or grip things. Without proper treatment, the pain can persist for a very long period.
Symptoms of tennis elbow
It is important to realize and become aware of the signs and symptoms of tennis elbow so that you can approach treatment at the earliest. The most common symptom of tennis elbow is a perennial ache on the outside of your elbow. This ache can gradually develop into constant pain over a few weeks to months.
The pain can be so intense at times that even touching the outside of your elbow becomes too painful. It may gradually spread into your forearm and wrist. The worst part is, the pain can occur even when someone is not engaged in any activity.
It is usually triggered by particular movements, especially those that involve using the wrist or straining the tendon at the elbow. Tennis elbow can impact one or both arms.
So, if these symptoms persist for a week or more, or if they exacerbate over time, one should immediately consult the doctor.
On the other hand, one must also visit the doctor in the advent of the following symptoms:
- When there is difficulty in moving your arm
- When there is a lump or bulge in the affected area
- When you experience pain or limited mobility in your arm hindering your daily activities
- Redness or swelling around the elbow region, etc.
Causes and risks associated with tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is not a very common disorder and it affects only a small percentage of the population, plaguing individuals in the age group of 30 to 50 years.
One of the main causes of tennis elbow is repetitive and forceful motions that strain the tendons and muscles surrounding the elbow. For example, while playing tennis, when you hit a backhand shot, your forearm muscles contract, building stress on the tendons. If a player’s technique is faulty or if he/she grips the racket too tightly, it increases the strain on the tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow. This may lead to tiny tears in the tendons.
Players of other sports can also develop tennis elbow. One such famous case is of Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar who suffered from a tennis elbow that troubled him considerably during a phase of his career. So, we can see that tennis elbow can trouble players from other sports also including racquet sports like squash or racquetball. Apart from this, certain professions and activities involving repetitive arm movements can also trigger its development, such as:
- Painting
- Carpentry
- Playing certain musical instruments
- Kitchen work that involves knife cutting
- Plumbing
- Car mechanics
- Working on an assembly line, etc.
Moreover, when there is a direct impact on the elbow it can lead to swelling of the tendons, contributing to tennis elbow symptoms.
Diagnosis of tennis elbow
During the assessment or medical examination for a tennis elbow, the doctor usually asks about the symptoms and medical history. They will examine for any areas of pain in your arm and may need you to perform simple movements, such as bending your wrist on an outstretched arm, while they apply pressure.
In most cases, these assessments are adequate to ascertain if one has tennis elbow. However, when the physician doubts another underlying condition, a few additional tests may be recommended including:
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): An MRI scan is excellent in identifying arthritis in your neck or detecting issues in your back, such as a problem with a spinal disk, which may be causing elbow pain.
Electromyography: This test helps doctors to evaluate the condition of the nerves in the elbow and assess how effectively and quickly they transmit signals. It can also measure the electrical activity in your muscles when at rest and during contraction.
X-ray: An X-ray examination is used to check for the presence of arthritis in the elbow.
All these above-mentioned diagnostic tests can help a doctor in confirming the diagnosis and ruling out other potential causes of your symptoms.
Treatment Procedures
The first step in addressing tennis elbow is to stop engaging in sports or activities that worsen the condition, allowing your arm to rest. The doctor will likely recommend physical therapy and prescribe medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen to alleviate pain.
Additionally, a few other treatment options may be required, which include:
Corticosteroid medications: These are administered via injection into the affected area to reduce swelling and lessen pain.
Splint or brace: Wearing a splint or brace on your arm can also provide support and allow the muscles and tendons to rest, supporting the healing process.
Ultrasound therapy: In this treatment procedure, ultrasound waves are used to break up scar tissue, improve blood flow, and facilitate healing.
In the case of tennis elbow, in very rare instances surgical intervention becomes necessary. Almost 95% of people with tennis elbow do not require surgery.
However, if the pain persists after six to 12 months of conservative treatment, the doctor may suggest a surgical procedure to remove damaged tissue through incisions in your arm.
Elbow MRI price
If a doctor advises an MRI, some people may worry about the elbow MRI price, as it is a sophisticated diagnostic modality and is costly. However, if the doctor has ordered it then a patient must not think about the elbow MRI price. One should also realize that it may vary depending on several factors like the location of the facility, its standard and extra screenings needed for the MRI. So, it is better to directly talk with the facility and get the actual elbow MRI price to be sure and have peace of mind.
Conclusion
It is always better to try and prevent tennis elbow injury rather than go for treatment. So, one should consider simple adjustments to reduce the risk of getting a tennis elbow. One should maintain strength and flexibility of the arm and wrist as it can go a long way in thwarting a tennis elbow. So, be mindful of repetitive activities to avoid suffering from tennis elbow. If you have to do any repetitive actions, it is important to do some warm-ups before it. Even while playing sports, maintaining safety precautions will help in dodging a tennis elbow.
