It's never fun to have pain in your elbow that disrupts your training and overall wellness. Anyone with elbow pain knows what an ordeal it can be. It is an experience that hurts a lot, and some people are often ashamed to discuss it openly. It can interfere with your day-to-day life and make you unable to work out properly or play the sports you love. However, if you are struggling with elbow pain, don't worry because our Manhattan pain management clinic can help manage your pain.
This blog hopes to shed some light on the condition and give you information about pain relief for hand pain. Raising your awareness about the strategies that can benefit you by ensuring it does not lead to a bigger problem if you have ever experienced this.
What is tennis elbow pain?
Elbow pain is a common pain condition that develops in the tendons of your upper arm and can cause pain when performing motions. These tendons are called lateral epicondylitis (also known as "lateral epicondyle tendinopathy"). These pass through a narrow tunnel of tissue at their attachment point on the bone.
Tennis elbow usually occurs on the outside of your elbow and causes pain and tenderness. This condition is called "tennis elbow" because it usually affects people who play tennis and other racquet sports. However, this condition can develop in anyone of all ages. In fact, even some kids' sports, like pitching a baseball or batting in softball, can cause tennis elbow in young people because of the sheer volume of pitches they throw or hits they make during practice and games.
You may have tennis elbow if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Pain on the outside of your elbow. This pain can range from mild to severe, but it tends to worsen with activity. It can also feel like a burning sensation or a deep ache.
Tenderness over the outside of your elbow joint when you press down on it with your fingers.
Swelling over the outside of your elbow joint. The swelling might be noticeable when you bend your arm at a 90-degree angle, but it's not always present.
Stiffness in the muscles that extend from your forearm into your wrist (pronators). This stiffness is often worse when you first wake up in the morning and after periods of prolonged rest, such as sitting for long periods of time at work or school.
Weakness in lifting and lowering your forearm. When you reach out in front or behind or bend and straighten your arm against resistance.
Pain in your hand when you grip something firmly with your fingers (for example, holding something tightly).
Tennis elbow pain is most commonly caused by doing things like playing tennis, golf, swimming, rowing, and weightlifting. However, other non-sport activities that involve repetitive use of your forearm muscles can also cause it —for example, gardening, carpentry, or even using a computer keyboard. In addition, if you have poor posture and very tight hamstrings (the muscles in the backs of your upper legs), your elbows will likely be under more stress when you do things, like reaching forward to open a door or pick up something on the floor.
The pain often starts gradually and worsens over time. It can be sharp or dull and can get worse when you use your forearm muscles to lift something heavy or when you do something like carrying things with your arms straight out in front of you or opening a jar. Gripping activities like holding on to a steering wheel, turning a key in a lock, or even holding a fork while eating can also make your symptoms worse.
When to see a pain management specialist?
While tennis elbow pain is just a temporary annoyance for most people, it can be unpleasant, cause discomfort, and limit movement. Because the tennis elbow is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the forearm, it is not considered a serious injury.
Mild symptoms can be treated at home with simple measures. However, if you have persistent pain that does not improve with time despite rest from aggravating activities, and if the pain becomes more severe, consult with a pain specialist about the possible pain treatment options right away. You should seek medical attention immediately, especially if you've injured your elbow.
Pain management is a process that involves relieving the pain, swelling, and inflammation of the tendon by using treatments that ease the discomfort and help speed up the healing process. Tennis elbow can be managed with the help of non-surgical pain management methods.
It's important to get medical care from a specialist who can evaluate your injury and provide proper treatment. The pain management specialist will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical exam and possibly order imaging studies. Treatment for tennis elbow varies depending on the severity of the injury. The goal is to restore function and relieve pain without surgery.
The doctor or specialist will likely recommend pain treatment options for tennis elbow pain. These treatments may include physical therapy. Physical therapy may improve the range of motion in your arm and strengthen muscles that support your elbow joint. Your therapist may use massage, ultrasound therapy, heat or ice packs, exercises, and stretches to help heal and recover from tennis elbow symptoms.
Also, treatments may include steroid injections into the tendons as additional therapy options for tennis elbow pain relief. A corticosteroid injection may be used for severe cases of tennis elbow that do not respond to other treatments. An injection into the joint space will reduce inflammation around the tendons and allow more movement. With these treatments, it could take more than a week for it to disappear entirely, but as long as you follow the treatments and give yourself time to recover, you should be able to avoid any further damage or problems down the road. Surgery isn't usually recommended unless non-invasive treatments don't work.
Elbow Pain can be Treated
Tennis elbow is more than an annoyance—it can be a source of serious pain, and if you go too hard too fast, you could make things worse! The key to managing tennis elbow is patience, more than anything. Combined with professional treatment when necessary, and as long as you listen to your doctor, follow their recommendations, and give your body the time it needs to recover, you will be back with a full range of motion. You'll soon be back to playing like a pro.
If you want to learn more about treating tennis elbow pain, it is best to seek advice from a professional. And about pain management options available for this painful problem, which can positively affect the quality of your life. Call All Of Pain Manhattan pain management clinic today to find out what options are available for treating your tennis elbow problem, eliminating pain, and overcoming the limitations it may present in your life.
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