Most racket players and manual laborers often suffer a lateral epicondylitis injury commonly called tennis elbow. This injury that affects the outer part of the elbow is caused by repetitive motions like swinging the arm, throwing or hammering. This article will cover the tennis elbow symptoms and treatment and banish the common belief that this is a condition that is suffered only by people who play tennis sport.

The first symptoms of this condition are inflammation, pain, soreness and weakening of the muscles on the outer part of the elbow. Feeling this area with a finger, you will find that the muscles are soft and tender and may tingling effect at the start but this will eventually turn to pain and soreness. During its early stages, this injury may not seem to be anything serious and the mistake that most people make is to continue using the arm despite the early signs. This will only damage the injury further and the symptoms of severe injury will set in with time. These include numbness, pain and inability to use the forearm, the wrist, fingers and the shoulder. The whole arm will be painful and it will be almost impossible to use the arm or the fingers.

There are several cures for tennis elbow depending on the severity of the injury. If the patient takes note of the injury as soon as it happens and can still use the arm as well as the elbow, the only treatment may be applying a pack of ice three times a day for ten minutes and the tendons will heal by themselves. A doctor would prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and quell swelling and inflammation or use a comatose injection if the injury does not allow even basic movements of the arm. The most important thing is that the injured arm has to rest, and the patient should wear an arm brace to prevent further damage.

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