Tennis Elbow Diagnosis
You don't have to play tennis to have tennis elbow. Repetitive motion of the forearm causes this injury. The tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow become inflamed and may even tear due to the stress of the repetitive movement. Luckily, a doctor can easily diagnose tennis elbow, and you can easily treat it at home with rest and medication.
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Symptoms
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Typically, tennis elbow pain begins gradually in your elbow. It may be negligible at first and slowly get worse over the course of a couple weeks or a month. At that point, the pain will radiate from your elbow down to your forearm, causing soreness and weakness of your arm and wrist. You may have difficulty gripping or holding items for extended periods of time.
Causes
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Tennis elbow, like carpel tunnel syndrome, is an injury caused by overuse or repeated motion of a limb. This repeated motion stresses the tendons connecting your forearm and elbow. As the motion continues, the tendons become inflamed and possibly torn. This causes the radiating pain.
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Diagnosis
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To diagnose tennis elbow, your doctor will examine your arm and your medical history. He will ask about your activities and how you use your arms. To determine what type of motion causes you the most pain, he will use pressure points and ask you to move your arm in different ways. Rarely, a doctor will X-ray or scan your arm if he suspects arthritis or a fracture may be causing the pain, rather than tennis elbow.
Treatment
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The best treatment for tennis elbow is rest. Taking an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can help reduce the pain and inflammation. You may have to use a cold compress on the area to further reduce swelling. Also consider using a wrap or brace on the elbow until it heals. Only about 10 percent of patients with tennis elbow eventually require surgery to correct the condition and relieve the pain.
Prevention
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If you experience tennis elbow, analyze the way you use your arm. Find out exactly what type of motion causes you pain, and train yourself to stop using your arm in that way. For example, tennis players routinely experience tennis elbow due to poor technique during swings or strokes. They practice a new and correct technique that doesn't cause pain until it becomes habit.
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