Alternative Treatments for Tennis Elbow

Alternative Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a condition that affects the elbow joints. It causes pain and irritation around this area. It is mostly found in people engaging in frequent use of the arms, especially if it is repetitive. For example, people playing golf or tennis. It is also referred to as lateral epicondylitis.

What should you know about Tennis elbow?

This condition can vary with age and activities that an individual is engaged in. If you do vigorous work, especially involving the arms and it is repetitive, then the chances of having the condition are heightened. People between the ages of 30 to 50 are at a higher risk of suffering from the condition.

• Some of the effects caused by tennis elbow may include joint pain around the affected area, stiffness and swelling
• It is mostly experienced in one of the arms
• The condition is known to take some time before it is noticed. This can take up to one month before the pain becomes intense
• It can be accompanied by inflammation as one of the symptoms
• The condition can result from injuries which damage the tendons and tissues

Alternative Treatment

Here are some of the alternative treatment measures you should use to deal with tennis elbow.
They may include:

Use of Zostrix
This is a home remedy method that is used to relieve pain and at the same time reduce swelling of the affected area. Zosrtix is wrapped around the affected elbow.

Warm Baked Potatoes
Wrapping of warm baked potatoes around the affected elbow can help to heal the condition. This method is known to create a compression of heat around the affected joints, relieving pain and reducing inflammation.

Use of Ice Packs
This is a simple method to implement. Using ice packs for up to 15 minutes per day can help you deal with the symptoms of tennis elbow. Using ice packs will reduce inflammation and swelling of the tendons around the elbow.

Applying Heat
It is a method that ensures there is continuous and smooth flow of blood around the affected tendons. This can be achieved by using heating bags twice a day.

Surgery
This is one of the last options that are used in the treatment of tennis elbow. In some cases, treatment by use of other methods can fail. If this happens for up to 6 - 12 months, a patient should seek surgery treatment options.
The main goal for surgery treatment is to remove the affected muscles. There are a number of different types of surgeries which depend on the following factors:

• Health of the patient
• The intensity of the injury around the affected area
• Personal interest of the patient

Open Surgery - This is one of the surgery options, and it is the simplest method. It involves an incision which is made above the affected elbow. It is very common and usually done as an outpatient surgery.

Arthroscopic Surgery - It is made by making small incisions. This is done by use of tiny instruments. Through this, repairs can be made on the affected muscles.
However, surgery treatment can take some time before you recover. This means it can take up to 6 months. It can also be accompanied by a few side effects. They include:

• Long period of rehabilitation
• Decreased strength
• Decreased flexibility
• Infections
• Nerve damage

The Bottom Line

Tennis elbow is a simple condition that can easily be prevented. By avoiding overuse and injuries are a good way to prevent recurrent injuries or exacerbation of symptoms.