Tennis Elbow
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What is a Tennis Elbow?
This is a very common condition. Almost everyone at some time in their life will have these symptoms. This is usually a self-limiting disorder and settles on its own. Rarely it may persist, and become severe and sometimes it may be recurrent.
The pain is usually located at the outside of the elbow joint where the muscles are attached. There is localised inflammation at that area usually due to overuse or a repetitive sports related injury. Racket games are commonly blamed to cause tennis elbow.
Treatment
First Line: Mainstay of treatment is rest combined with anti-inflammatory medication for 6 – 8 weeks. Most patients get relief with this. If symptoms persist then the next step is usually adding in physiotherapy. This involves specific intensive exercise to stretch the extensor muscle group and re-educate them.
Second Line Treatment:
This mainly with local injections. This with steroids usually combined with local anaesthetic. The point of maximal tender is identified and a long acting steroid is injected. This helps in reducing the local inflammation and reduces pain. This allows for intensive physio therapy to continue which is the mainstay of all treatment. Before deciding on injection, a clinical examination is a must to make a definitive diagnosis.
PRP (platelet rich plasma)
This is made from the patient’s own blood so there is minimal chance of any untoward reaction. This helps healing at the tendon insertion site to relieve symptoms.
Surgical Intervention:
This is a specialist procedure done only in hospital setting. It involves release of tendon and re insertion.
Comment:
Tennis elbow and its partner golfer’s elbow are benign but can be quite disabling. They usually settle with time and rest. However, recurrence is common.
Disclaimer: This treatment varies from person to person.
