That nagging pain on the outside of your elbow might be more than just a passing ache. Often called tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, it's not just for athletes; anyone performing repetitive arm or wrist movements can experience it. Identifying if your elbow pain is indeed tennis elbow is crucial for getting the right treatment. Read on to recognize the signs and understand what your elbow pain could mean.

Treatments at Miller PT

We’ve combined the best in time-tested traditional treatments with cutting edge technology. Some of the tools we utilize to help our patients reach their fitness goals. When it comes to injuries and impairments, we’re specialists treating:

• Post-surgical ligament and tendon repairs and reconditioning
• Post-surgical joint replacement
• Neck and back pain 
• Overuse injuries
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Sports-related injuries
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

Programs

To facilitate the healing process and encourage the maintenance of strength and flexibility, our programs and services include:

• One-on-one training and therapeutic sessions
• Orthopedic rehabilitation
• Manual therapy
• Lumbar (lower back) stabilization programs
• Injury prevention programs
• Ergonomic assessment
• Return-to-Work programs
• Pain management
• Holistic wellness programs
• Sport-specific training

Diagnosis

Often, medical history and an exam are enough to diagnose tennis elbow. During the physical exam, a health care provider might press on the affected area or ask you to move your elbow, wrist and fingers in various ways.

X-rays, sonograms or other types of imaging tests might be needed if a care provider suspects something else might be causing the symptoms.

Treatment

Tennis elbow often gets better on its own. But if pain medicines and other self-care measures aren't helping, physical therapy might be the next step. A procedure, such as a shot or surgery, might help tennis elbow that doesn't heal with other treatments.

Therapy

If symptoms are related to tennis or job tasks, an expert might look at how you play tennis or do job tasks or check your equipment. This is to find the best ways to reduce stress on injured tissue.

A physical, occupational or hand therapist can teach exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the forearm. A forearm strap or brace might reduce stress on the injured tissue.

Surgical or other procedures

• Shots. Different types of shots into the affected tendon are used to treat tennis elbow. They include corticosteroids and platelet-rich plasma. Less commonly used are botulinum toxin A (Botox) or an irritant solution, either sugar water or salt water, known as prolotherapy.

  Dry needling, in which a needle gently pierces the damaged tendon in many places, also can be helpful.

• Needle fenestration. This procedure uses ultrasound to guide a needle through a numbed tendon again and again. This starts a new healing process in the tendon.
• Ultrasonic tenotomy, called a TENEX procedure. Similar to needle fenestration, this procedure uses ultrasound to guide a special needle through the skin and into the damaged part of the tendon. Ultrasonic energy vibrates the needle so fast that the damaged tissue turns to liquid. It then can be sucked out.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy. This treatment involves sending shock waves to injured tissue to relieve pain and help the tissue heal. A tool placed on the skin delivers the shock waves.

• Surgery. For symptoms that haven't improved after 6 to 12 months of other treatments, surgery to remove damaged tissue might be an option. The surgery might be open, which uses a large cut, known as an incision. Or it can be done through several small openings, known as arthroscopic.

  Whatever the treatment, exercises to rebuild strength and regain use of the elbow are vital to recovery.

Experiencing persistent elbow pain? Don't let it sideline you! Learn the signs and take the first step towards relief. Contact our physical therapy clinic today at (561) 278-6055.

We are conveniently located on Federal Highway, just steps from the heart of beautiful downtown Delray Beach.

247 SE 6th Avenue, Unit 2
Delray Beach, FL 33483

For more tips and advice, follow us on Instagram @millerphysicaltherapy.

Reference: [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tennis-elbow/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351991]