Tennis elbow pain

definition

Tennis elbow is the colloquial term for irritation of the outer elbow. It is also known as the tennis elbow. In the technical language, the term is "epicondylitis humeri lateralis". The tendon origins of various muscles that cause stretching in the elbow and wrist are affected. The pain arises as a symptom of irritation. Various other symptoms can follow.

Not only athletes are affected by this irritation with pain. In addition to tennis as the main cause, many other activities come into consideration. The elbow has a protruding bone on the inside and outside called the "epicondyle". From inside and outside, one speaks on the forearm when the palm is facing forward. The muscles that arise from the outer protrusion of the bone partially attach to the back of the hand and cause the forearm to rotate in addition to stretching the elbow and wrist. The rotation that is triggered is called “supination,” which rotates the arm so that the palm is facing forward.

What helps against the pain?

There are various options available to treat the pain of tennis elbow. The irritation rarely responds to therapy and chronic complaints result.

Unfortunately, for the complaints that are triggered by sporting activities, the pausing of sport is in the foreground. Only by sparing the muscles can the tendons be given the necessary time to heal. Bandages can be put on for this, but movement should not be completely avoided. Slightly maintaining movement with stretching is beneficial for healing.

In addition, ointments or topical medication can promote and accelerate healing.
For this purpose, anti-inflammatory ointments with drugs from NSAIDs, for example "Diclofenac" or ointments containing cortisone, are available. These alleviate the pain and suppress inflammation. In severe cases, anti-inflammatory drugs can also be given directly to the elbow via a syringe.

In pronounced cases, surgical therapies can be used. The tendons are inspected, adhesions removed and, if necessary, small nerves that are responsible for the pain are obliterated.
Please also read our topic: Operation of a tennis elbow

Appointment with a tennis elbow specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".

As a former performance-oriented tennis player, I specialized early on in the conservative treatment of chronic tennis elbow.
In the last few years I have successfully treated several thousand tennis arms.

You can find me in:

• Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
  Kaiserstrasse 14
  60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert.

Therapy options

The possibilities are very diverse here. Starting with cold treatments, which help especially in acute cases, to heat treatments that tend to help in chronic cases. Furthermore, there are forms of physical therapy such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy, which uses high-energy sound waves as well as medicinal agents such as diclofenac as an active ingredient for creams and ointments for topical application on painful areas. A means of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, is also used here, as is conventional medicine, which is often used in the form of a cortisone injection for inflammation and complaints of unclear origin.

Physiotherapy treatment and certain stretching exercises for a tennis elbow are now considered the most promising form of therapy, as they are probably best effective against cramping and weakness of the muscles. This means that they promote the regeneration and healing of the muscles through their stretching and strengthening.

Read more about this at:

• Therapy / treatment of tennis elbow
• Shock wave therapy to treat tennis elbow
• Physiotherapy for a tennis elbow
• Taping a tennis elbow
• Tennis elbow

Duration of pain

The duration depends on how long and how intense the pain in a tennis elbow has been. With light initial discomfort can a Protection for a short time already fix the problem. At a pronounced tennis elbow must be a Therapy and rest for a few weeks be respected.

The complete healing may in some cases Months to complete to take. Even after that, a sporting activity must be slowly increased and must not be carried out intensively again immediately.

causes

The cause of the pain is that irritation and the light one Inflammatory reaction of the tendons on the outer elbow. The tendons of several muscles attach there. At excessive use and burden These tendons can be caused by the physical stimulus, the pressure or the friction painful irritation of the tendons occur. This can be followed by an inflammatory process, which additionally increases the feeling of pain through hormonal messenger substances and sensitizes the affected area. The diagnosis can then be made by the Description of the pain and a scan by the Doctor asked become.

The stress and irritation of the tendons is a common disease, especially in tennis. But other sports can also trigger the symptoms. Any sports that involve powerful striking movements go hand in hand, predestine for similar tendon complaints, such as golf, bowling or Canoeing.

It can, however redundant, permanent loads behind it that are not primarily due to a sport. Often can Computer mouse use, Typing on a keyboard and similar monotonous activities may be the cause. Especially in artisanal and physically demanding Occupations can result in an incorrect burden. Tennis elbow pain can sometimes even be triggered by poor posture during sleep.

By a Overuse the extensor muscles arise small crackswhich can then express themselves painfully.

Because of the close proximity to the elbow Diseases of the joint first be excluded. If there was an accident or a twisting, the causes are often to be looked for elsewhere.

Contrary to the name, up to 90% of the illnesses are not sport-related.

• Golf elbow
• Pain in the elbow

Concomitant symptoms

The typical symptom of tennis elbow is the stabbing, tearing pain when moving. The pain also occurs when external pressure is applied to the tendon attachment point. One cannot speak directly of an inflammation, since the reddening, overheating and swelling are often missing. If these occur, it is more likely that another disease, for example bursitis, is to be assumed.

The pain is felt especially after prolonged exercise and when the affected muscles move accordingly. The supination and extension provoke the pain the most. This means that during activities such as using a screwdriver or grasping objects, the pain is particularly noticeable.

Initially, the pain occurs during exercise, and as it progresses, even with light movements. The pain can radiate into the upper arm and forearm, even into the hand. In exceptional cases, tingling and sensitivity problems of the fingers can occur. This can be due to irritation of the surrounding nerves.

Read more about this at: Symptoms of tennis elbow

Properties of pain

The pain is particularly noticeable when the wrist and finger joints are extended (bending towards the back of the hand). This movement is performed with a simple backhand hit in tennis.

It can also be used with static physical exertion like holding a pen or glass, sometimes severe pain can arise, which can make it difficult or even impossible to carry out these everyday activities.

In addition, the Close fist or arm movements like that Waving be painful, as the corresponding muscle groups are also involved here.

Furthermore, the pain occurs mainly or intensified at night and In the morning on. A Cramp and an accompanying one Shortening of the affected muscles are possible contributors to the pain. So are the other muscles at night, and especially those Opponent (Antagonists) calm and the affected muscles continue to cramp. This causes the pain to persist.

So it is typical that the pain mainly manifests itself at night and at rest.

The pain is usually on outer elbow localized. It manifests itself as a pain that is outlined above the tendon insertion Forearm extensor muscles and may affect the muscles themselves.

The pain can also be triggered by pressure on the outer, bony part of the elbow. This property is also important to protect it against other injuries and diseases, such as the Supinator boxes-syndrome or other entrapment and damage to nerve tracts.

The pain from a tennis elbow can occur in some cases up to the upper arm and the Radiate shoulder. The attraction spreads along the muscles out. Nerve irritation can also be the cause. At sole pain in the upper arm must often also after other causes to be researched.

In most cases, the pain radiates along the nerve tract off away from the core of the body. At the elbow, the vessels, nerves and muscle structures are guided in various paths through the protruding bones. This is how the muscle runs along the muscles affected by a tennis elbow Radial nervewhich supplies parts of the hand. If there is pronounced pain from tennis elbow, nerve fibers can also be affected. A nerve stimulus is triggered in the elbow, which supplies the hand sensitively. Because of this, the Pain in forearm, hand or the fingers perceived, although its cause lies in the elbow. In this way, tennis elbow can sometimes become too tingle and Numbness come in the fingers.

Pain after an injection

Injections in the elbow are used for many diseases. Can also be used in therapy for tennis elbow cortisone medication Injected directly into the affected area, often providing short-term pain relief and allowing the tendon time to recover Suppresses inflammation becomes.

Incorrectly placed syringes can also irritate and damage the tendons. A syringe into the body is basically a minor injury that can also cause pain in the elbow.

Pain especially at night

In some patients it happens Pain in the night. The pain can go through Improper stress in sleep arise or if irritation is already present it is intensified at night. Are to blame Positions in sleepputting pressure on the elbow. By resting the head on the arm, the pain can arise or be aggravated.

If you have a sore tennis elbow, movements during sleep can also cause pain. This is particularly difficult to bear for those affected, as they wake up more often at night from the slight movements.

forecast

The prognosis is usually very good. The symptoms disappear after 1 or 2 years and the disease heals without consequences. Then there is no more pain. It is important that the time is adequate treatment or. Protection of the arm to allow regeneration of the arm.

prophylaxis

Stretching and warm-up exercises after and before sport have an effective preventive effect on muscle cramps. But these are not only useful in the sporting field but also in the work environment. Stretching and stretching exercises in small work breaks help to prevent this symptom and to treat minor cramps at an early stage.

Please also read our topic: Stretching exercises for a tennis elbow