Tennis elbow is characterized by pain on the outside (also known as the lateral) of the elbow with tenderness on or under the bony prominence of the joint. The pain usually comes on gradually, and causes discomfort in motions associated with lifting, gripping, and carrying. Pain is frequent with tennis elbow and may radiate down the arm toward the wrist. Motions such as bending the arm, lifting, or grasping even light-weight objects like a book, can cause extreme pain. It is common for people with tennis elbow to experience difficulty in extending their forearm fully. This is caused by inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Typically, the pain that is associated with tennis elbow only lasts for about 6 to 12 weeks. However, there are cases of tennis elbow that can last for as little as a couple of weeks or as long as a few years.
The cause of the inflammation and pain related to tennis elbow are tiny tears in muscle coverings and tendons. After the initial injury heals, it is common for these same areas to tear again. This repeated tearing can lead to hemorrhaging and the formation of granulated tissue and calcium deposits in the tissues of the affected area. A protein, called collagen, leaks out of the injured tissues, which causes inflammation. The resulting pressure, caused by the inflammation, can hinder the flow of blood to the elbow, as well as pinch the radial nerve. The radial nerve is one of the main nerves responsible for controlling the arm and hand.
Tendons, that connect muscle to bone, heal more slowly than muscles do, because they do not have the same quantity of blood supply. It is for this reason that tennis elbow can last for years, even though the swelling subsides after only 6 to 12 weeks.
Tennis elbow that only has involvement of the tendons is considered a form of tendonitis. However, in many cases the muscles and bones are also involved, and when they are, the condition is called epicondylitis. If the pain is felt directly on the back of the elbow, rather than the outside of the elbow and down the arm, the pain is likely caused by bursitis, rather than tennis elbow. If the joint is visibly swollen, which is extremely rare in cases of tennis elbow, other conditions should be investigated like a tumor, gout, or arthritis.
To get relief from the pain of tennis elbow, it is most effective to rest the affected arm until the pain dissipates, then massage the affected area to reduce muscle tension, then exercise the joint to prevent re-injuring the area. There are a variety of medical treatments for tennis elbow, but the bottom line is that it is not possible to prevent re-injury unless the joint stops being stressed.
In minor cases of tennis elbow, aspirin or ibuprofen work well to reduce pain and inflammation, while the joint is being rested and allowed to heal. This can be followed by massage and exercise to increase the rate of healing. However, when rest and anti-inflammatory drugs do not relieve the pain, you should seek medical attention.
