Epicondylitis lateral, often called tennis elbow, brings pain and tenderness on the outer elbow. It happens when the elbow’s tendons are overused from repetitive wrist and arm motions. This happens not only to tennis players but to anyone using their forearm and elbow a lot.
People with epicondylitis lateral feel pain and tenderness at their elbow’s outer area. They can also experience stiffness, weak forearm muscles, and tingling in their hand and fingers. To diagnose it, a doctor will examine your elbow, checking for pain and how well you can move it. They might also order X-rays, an MRI, or an ultrasound to look closer at your tendons and muscles.
To treat this condition, there are many options. You can rest, use ice, and take pain medicine from the store. Physical therapy and wearing a brace might help. Doctors can also give steroid shots or do surgery in serious cases. Stem cell therapy is a new and hopeful way to treat epicondylitis lateral without surgery.
Key Takeaways
- Epicondylitis lateral, or tennis elbow, causes pain and tenderness on the elbow’s outer side.
- It is triggered by overusing the elbow’s tendons through repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.
- Symptoms include elbow pain, tenderness, and issues like forearm muscle weakness and tingling in the hand or fingers.
- Diagnosis involves a physical exam and sometimes imaging tests to confirm and rule out other causes.
- Treatment can start with self-care but may progress to physical therapy, injections, or innovative therapies like stem cell treatment.
Common Symptoms of Epicondylitis Lateral
Epicondylitis lateral, or tennis elbow, shows several key symptoms. Firstly, there’s pain and tenderness on the outer elbow. This starts as mild discomfort but can get worse with time. It happens with actions like lifting or using your hands often.
You might also feel stiff around your forearm and elbow. This makes moving them hard and can really slow you down. You could also have trouble gripping things, making you drop items by accident. Sometimes, you might even feel tingling or numbness in your hand or fingers.
If these signs sound familiar, especially after doing movements that strain your elbow, it’s time to see a doctor. Getting a diagnosis and starting treatment early can help your elbow recover better.
| Symptoms of Epicondylitis Lateral | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Pain and Tenderness | Mild initially, worsens with repetitive use |
| Stiffness | Limitation of range of motion |
| Weakness | Difficulty gripping objects, tendency to drop items |
| Numbness and Tingling | In the forearm, hand, or fingers |
Diagnosis and Treatment of Epicondylitis Lateral
To diagnose epicondylitis lateral, a doctor combines a physical exam and imaging. This means checking for swelling, pain, and tenderness at the elbow’s outer part. They also test your arm movement, grip, and how much pain you feel when doing certain actions.
X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasound help doctors get a clearer view of the elbow. They look for things like tendon tears or if the tissues are wearing down.
Treatment of Epicondylitis Lateral
For epicondylitis lateral, many treatments can help, and most don’t require surgery.
Lateral epicondylitis treatment starts with simple steps to heal and reduce pain. These include rest, using ice packs, taking drugs like ibuprofen, wearing a brace, and doing specific exercises. The goal is to recover and avoid worsening the injury.
If pain doesn’t get better with these steps, shots might be an option. Shots reduce swelling and can bring relief. But they’re not the first treatment doctors usually suggest. They’re saved for hard cases or when other treatments fail.
If none of these work, surgery could be the next step. It might involve cleaning up damaged tendons or fixing tears. The type of surgery needed depends on how bad the problem is.
Remember, every case is different. Your doctor will help choose the best treatment for you based on your health, how bad your symptoms are, and what you prefer.
Conclusion
Tennis elbow is a usual problem bringing pain around the elbow’s outer part. It comes from doing the same wrist and arm moves over and over. People often think of tennis players, but it can happen to others who move their elbow and forearm a lot.
You might have tennis elbow if your elbow hurts, feels stiff, or your hand is weak. You could also feel tingling and numbness. Doctors use exams and pictures to find out if it really is tennis elbow or something else.
Getting better from tennis elbow might need rest and ice. But you might also do physical therapy, wear a brace, get shots, or even have surgery. Stem cell therapy might be another choice for some people.