“How should I sleep with tennis elbow pain?”

Tennis elbow (also called lateral epicondylitis) is a pesky elbow inflammation of the outside extensor tendons that extend the wrist. A short trial of anti-inflammatory medication taken REGULARLY (not “as needed”) along with ice (30 mins) after exercise or before bed will help. Arnica gel (OTC) is also something you can apply before bed, and even wearing a cock-up wrist brace at night will also help. Most important, however, is to figure out what repetitive activity you are doing and make every attempt to eliminate this overuse of the elbow extensors (extending the elbow as in a push away move).

I recommend a wrist extension brace (aka Carpal tunnel brace) at night for at least 6 weeks. This keeps the wrist in a neutral position while sleeping. When the wrist volar flexes (palmar flexion) while sleeping, there is tension on the ECRB (extensor carpi radialis brevis), which is the pain generating tendon involved in lateral epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow).

The straighter the elbow the les tension on the lateral epicondyle. I would also suggest some light wrist and elbow stretching prior to bed and also 5 minutes of ice massage. Good luck