Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) is a condition caused by swelling of the tendons that connect the forearm to the outer side of the elbow. The swelling ultimately damages the muscles and tendons from using them over and over again. That is why tennis elbow is an overuse injury. Pain is often experienced on the outer side of the elbow, and the condition can be extremely painful.

While playing tennis regularly can result in this condition, most patients treated for this condition don’t play tennis. Repetitive activities cause the tendons to get overworked, causing small tears.

To prevent this type of overuse injury, you simply have to not overuse it. If you start to have pain in the lateral side of the elbow (tennis elbow), the best way to try to avoid the pain is to do things with the palm-up position. By putting your palm up, you transfer the forces from the hand to the medial side of the elbow.

Your physician will work with you to determine the best possible approach to your care.

Conservative, Nonsurgical Treatments

Patients with tennis elbow are best treated non-operatively. Depending upon the nature and extent of the inflammation, there are many treatment options available which are successful in 80% to 90% of tennis elbow cases.

• RELAXATION. Stop the activities that are causing the pain. Your pain is telling you to rest the muscles by taking a timeout from using it. You will need to take a break from taking part in sports as well as refraining from heavyweight activities.
• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS. Either over-the-counter (Ibuprofen and aspirin) or prescription anti-inflammatory medications can reduce swelling and pain.
• EQUIPMENT INSPECTION. If you use a tennis racquet regularly, have it professionally inspected to ensure the size or weight of the racquet is appropriate.
• TOPICAL COMPOUND CREAMS. Can be rubbed onto the affected area.
• PHYSICAL THERAPY. Exercises that concentrate on reinforcing the forearm muscles are beneficial.
• MUSCLE-STIMULATING PROCEDURES. Prescribed by your doctor and physical therapist improve the healing of the tendons. Ultrasound and massaging with ice also help.
• BRACING. A brace can also ease symptoms.

For those patients who fail the most conservative measures over roughly three months, cortisone shots into the affected muscle or other types of injections are used. New technologies such as injections of stem cells and platelet rich plasma are being used by the surgeons at Florida Orthopaedic Institute.

Surgical Treatments

As always, your Florida Orthopaedic Institute surgeon will exhaust all applicable nonsurgical healing methods before advising surgery. Surgical intervention may be recommended if the pain continues and all conservative methods have been exhausted after approximately a year. If surgery is required, it is typically used to eliminate unhealthy muscle and connect healthier muscle to the bone.

The right surgical approach for you will depend on a range of factors. These include the scope of your injury, your general health, and your personal needs. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute surgeon can discuss all the options.