What treatment options are available for tennis elbow?
November 30, 2022 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Eva Ziegler
Dear Doctor,
My name is Tatiana Buchner and I have been suffering from tennis elbow for some time now. I regularly play tennis and a few months ago, I started feeling pain in my elbow. These pains have worsened over time and now occur both during tennis play and in daily activities. I have already tried to reduce my activities and rest my arm, but the pain just won't go away.
I am worried that the tennis elbow could affect my sports activities and daily tasks. That's why I would like to know what treatment options are available for tennis elbow. Are there specific exercises or physiotherapy that could help me? Or are medications or even surgery necessary to alleviate the pain and support healing?
I would greatly appreciate your assessment and would like to know what steps I can take to effectively treat my tennis elbow. Thank you in advance for your help and expertise.
Sincerely,
Tatiana Buchner.
Dear Tatiana Buchner,
Thank you for your message and for trusting in my expertise in orthopedics. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering from tennis elbow and that the pain is affecting your tennis playing and daily activities. Tennis elbow, also known as epicondylitis, is a painful condition caused by overuse of the tendons at the elbow. It is important to take these symptoms seriously and treat them appropriately to avoid long-term damage.
When it comes to treatment options for tennis elbow, there are various approaches that can be individually tailored depending on the severity of the condition. Initially, I recommend, as you have already done, reducing activities that worsen the pain and resting the affected arm. This can help reduce tendon inflammation and promote healing.
Furthermore, specific exercises and physiotherapy can be effective in strengthening the muscles and tendons in the elbow area and improving mobility. A physiotherapist can help you create an individual exercise program tailored to your needs. These exercises can help alleviate pain and restore functionality to the arm.
In some cases, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. In more severe cases where conservative measures are not enough, a corticosteroid injection in the affected area may be considered to target inflammation.
In rare cases, if symptoms do not improve or worsen despite conservative treatment, surgery may be considered. During this surgery, the affected tendons at the elbow are repaired or removed to alleviate pain and restore arm function.
It is important to consult with an experienced orthopedic specialist to receive an accurate diagnosis and develop a suitable treatment plan. I recommend scheduling an appointment with a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist to discuss your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment strategy.
I hope this information helps you and that you find relief from your pain soon. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or need assistance. I wish you a speedy recovery and a swift return to your tennis and daily activities.
Best regards,
Eva Ziegler
