What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a medical condition that is usually accompanied by a variety of symptoms. It is also referred to as lateral epicondylitis. There are people who may experience a few of the symptoms, while others may experience many of all of the symptoms. The type of symptoms that show in an individual may depend on how severe the problem is.
What Are Some Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?
If you have tennis elbow disease you may experience the following:
Pain
Depending on how bad your case is, pain can range from mild to severe to extreme pain. In most cases the intensity of the pain escalates during movements of the wrist or as you try to use your arm.
Pain may also be felt as you grip an object or during extension of the arm. Doing other simple tasks such as turning a door handle or opening a jar may also be made difficult due to the decreased pain tolerance of the elbow.
Tenderness
You may also experience tenderness on the outer part of your elbow if you are suffering from lateral epicondylitis.
Elbow Stiffness
This may happen more so in the morning.
Elbow Soreness
A common side effect.
What Methods Are Available For Dealing With The Pain?
In case the pain becomes extremely unbearable, you can try out the following options to try and reduce it:
- Use of ice or frozen peas. Place them against the part of the arm that is aching and wait for a few minutes.
- Use of over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medication.
If the pain still persists, consider visiting a doctor.
How Long Does The Pain Last?
The most significant symptom is pain. This is usually experienced across all individuals with the condition. The degree of the pain may start as mild and then progress to become intense with time if the problem is not treated. Other symptoms such as soreness or tenderness should also keep you alert. If they begin to show, do not hesitate to inform a doctor as soon as possible.
However, there are times when the pain still persists, even after treatment. When this happens, it may be time that you consider trying out a different kind of treatment. The tennis elbow condition usually lasts between six months to a year. In most cases, the affected patients will heal within a year.
If you continue to experience aches and pains even after trying several methods of relief (such as resting, use of ice and taking pain relievers), then it may be time that you go see a doctor for a check-up.
The Bottom Line
Tennis elbow is a condition that can affect any person, not specifically tennis players. Therefore, if you happen to notice any irregularities or abnormalities around the elbow or with your arm, it is advisable to visit a doctor.
Check for such symptoms in children too, especially if they complain of elbow pains. Always keep track of your arm’s health condition, even after treatment. If symptoms persist then seek medical advice.