Symptoms

The pain associated with tennis elbow may radiate from the outside of your elbow into your forearm and wrist. Pain and weakness may make it difficult to:

• Shake hands
• Turn a doorknob
• Hold a coffee cup

When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if self-care steps such as rest, ice and use of over-the-counter pain relievers don't ease your elbow pain and tenderness.

Causes

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse and muscle strain injury. The cause is repeated contraction of the forearm muscles that you use to straighten and raise your hand and wrist. The repeated motions and stress to the tissue may result in inflammation or a series of tiny tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony prominence at the outside of your elbow (lateral epicondyle).

As the name suggests, playing tennis — especially repeated use of the backhand stroke with poor technique — is one possible cause of tennis elbow. However, many other common arm motions can cause tennis elbow, including:

• Using plumbing tools
• Painting
• Driving screws
• Cutting up cooking ingredients, particularly meat
• Excessive computer mouse use

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of tennis elbow include:

• Age. While tennis elbow affects people of all ages, it's most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
• Occupation. People who have jobs that involve repetitive motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. Examples include plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks.
• Certain sports. Participating in racket sports increases your risk of tennis elbow, especially if you employ poor stroke technique.

Complications

Left untreated, tennis elbow can result in chronic pain — especially when lifting or gripping objects. Using your arm too strenuously before your elbow has healed can make the problem worse.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to first bring your problem to the attention of your family doctor. He or she may refer you to a sports medicine specialist or an orthopedic surgeon.

What you can do
Before your appointment, you may want to write a list that answers the following questions:

• When did your symptoms begin?
• Does any motion or activity make the pain better or worse?
• Have you recently injured your elbow?
• Do you have rheumatoid arthritis or a nerve disease?
• Does your job involve repetitive motions of your wrist or arm?
• Do you play sports? If so, what types of sports do you play and has your technique ever been evaluated?
• What medications or supplements do you take?

What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor may apply pressure to the affected area or ask you to move your elbow, wrist and fingers in various ways.

Tests and diagnosis

In many cases, your medical history and the physical exam provides enough information for your doctor to make a diagnosis of tennis elbow. But if your doctor suspects that something else may be causing your symptoms, he or she may suggest:

• X-rays. An X-ray can help your doctor rule out other possible causes of elbow pain, such as a fracture or arthritis.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Problems in your neck can sometimes cause symptoms similar to tennis elbow. MRI machines use radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of bones and soft tissues.
• Electromyography (EMG). This type of test can check to see if your symptoms are linked to a pinched nerve. During an EMG, fine wires are inserted into a muscle to assess electrical changes that occur when the muscle moves.

Treatment and drugs

Tennis elbow often gets better on its own. But if over-the-counter pain medications and other self-care measures aren't helping, your doctor may suggest physical therapy. Severe cases of tennis elbow may require surgery.

Therapy

• Learn proper form. Your doctor may suggest that experts evaluate your tennis technique or job tasks to determine the best steps to reduce stress on your injured tissue. This may mean going to a two-handed backhand in tennis or taking ergonomic steps at work to ensure that your wrist and forearm movements don't continue to contribute to your symptoms.
• Exercises. Your doctor or a physical therapist may suggest exercises to gradually stretch and strengthen your muscles, especially the muscles of your forearm.
• Braces. Your doctor may also suggest you wear a forearm strap or brace to reduce stress on the injured tissue.

Surgery
If your symptoms haven't improved after at least a year of extensive conservative therapy, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove damaged tissue. These types of procedures can be performed through a large incision or through several small incisions. Rehabilitation exercises are crucial to recovery.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Follow the instructions for R.I.C.E. — rest, ice, compression, elevation:

• Rest. Give your elbow a rest. But don't avoid all activity. Sometimes, wearing a forearm splint at night helps reduce morning symptoms.
• Ice. Use a cold pack, ice massage, slush bath or compression sleeve filled with cold water to limit swelling after an injury. Try to apply ice as soon as possible after the injury.
• Compression. Use an elastic wrap or bandage to compress the injured area.
• Elevation. Keep your elbow above heart level when possible to help prevent or limit swelling.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be helpful.