While a large percentage of tennis players will suffer from tennis elbow at some point in their career, they only make up a small percentage of all reported cases of tennis elbow. 

Tennis elbow can strike anyone whose job or activity requires a repetitive motion of the wrist, including painting, plumbing, and using a hammer. It causes pain on the outside of your elbow that radiates down into the forearm and wrist due to swelling in your tendons. 

Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:

• Pain or burning on the outside of your elbow
• Pain when lifting something or raising your hand
• Weak grip strength

To diagnose tennis elbow, your doctor will do a thorough exam and may use imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI. Typically, tennis elbow will heal on its own with adequate rest, but icing, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and steroid injections may help. 

It is also beneficial to take time to stretch your arm or wrist, warm up before your job or activity, and strengthen your forearm using hand weights. If conservative methods do not provide relief, surgery could be an option. 

If you’re suffering from elbow pain or think you may have tennis elbow, schedule an appointment online with one of our elbow doctors at OrthoSC or call (843) 279-2378.