|
What is tennis elbow?
Anyone who repeatedly and forcefully uses wrist extension strains the extensor muscle tendon at the outer side of the elbow. Tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players.
What you feel
The outer side of the elbow hurts during or after lifting heavy weights. The elbow tendon is too weak for the weights.
Treatment
You can either lessen the strain or strengthen the tendon. The latter is easier said than done. The strain can be lessened in a couple of ways.
- Reduce the force with which you lift weights and
- Reduce the frequency with which you lift weights.
- I splint the wrist in extension to reduce the extension strain on the extensor muscles and tendons.
- If this does not work, I prescribe anti-inflammatory medications. Advil is off-the-counter medication. It should be taken in proper dose. It is not good for people with stomach ulcers.
- If this does not work, I give a cortisone injection. The dose is small and does not cause side effects. I give the injection as many times as necessary. It is repeated after two weeks, a month, two months, as dictated by the severity of pain.
- Surgery is the last resort.
-
|
