Treating Tennis Elbow

6 Jan 2017 General , , ,

Treating Elbow PainTennis elbow is another term for tendonitis that affects the elbow. Tendonitis is a repetitive stress injury, or an injury that results from overuse of tendons and muscles in a specific area. Tennis elbow is caused by overuse of arm, forearm, and hand muscles, which results in elbow pain. While it is a common injury for those who play tennis, athletes in other sports or employees who use vibrating equipment (e.g., a jackhammer) or their forearms during manual labor are also susceptible.

The medical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis, which stems from the part of the elbow that is affected: the lateral epicondyle, or the bony area on the outside of the elbow where the muscles and tendons of the forearm attach.

Most cases of tennis elbow respond to nonsurgical treatments, and resting the forearm from the activity causing the pain is the most important part of treatment. Rest allows the small tears in the tendon to heal. The length of time you need to rest depends on how severe your condition is. It might be necessary to rest for a few weeks to a few months. In addition to rest, treatments may include:

  • Ice: Apply ice to the outside of your elbow as soon as you notice pain. Use for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, several times a day.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help relieve pain.
  • Corticosteroid medication: Your doctor may inject a corticosteroid at the outside of the elbow to relieve pain and enable you to participate in physical therapy.
  • Physical therapy: A physical therapist will prescribe specific exercises to stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons around the injured elbow. Your PT can also teach you new techniques to handle movements that aggravate your condition.
  • Counterforce brace: This is an elastic band that wraps around the forearm just below the injured elbow. It may relieve symptoms by spreading pressure throughout the arm instead of putting it all on the tendon.
  • Surgery: This is a last resort if other treatment isn’t helpful. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your elbow pain doesn’t improve after 6 to 12 months of rest and rehab, or if you have a large tear in the tendon.

If you have or think you may be experiencing tennis elbow and at-home treatment is not relieving your pain, make an appointment with one of our orthopedists at a Tucson Orthopaedic Institute office near you.

Lecture Focuses on Hand Pain

7 Dec 2015 Doctors, Mark Braunstein , , , , , , , ,
As published on Green Valley News

written by: Ellen Sussman

12/07/2015 – Aches, pains and discomfort of the hand and arm may be the result of years of physical labor handling heavy loads that is only now taking its toll years later. Pain may also be due to falls, traumatic injuries or arthritis, said Dr. Mark Braunstein at a Wednesday lecture at Green Valley Recreation’s East Center.

Braunstein, an orthopedist at Tucson Orthopedic Institute told an audience of 28 that elbow, wrist and hand pain are common.

Lateral Epicondylitis, also known as “golfers elbow,” may be treated with surgery, which Braunstein said is successful 50 to 80 percent of the time. Less invasive is a cortisone injection that shows results within two to three days.

Stretching exercises often work well for anyone with “tennis elbow,” and splints and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) offer relief for bursitis. Whenever bones, tendons and ligaments move against each other, especially near joints, the contact points are cushioned by small fluid-filled sacs called bursae. When a bursa becomes irritated or swollen, it’s called bursitis.

“The worst pain is from carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendons swell. Blood flow is affected in the hand,” Braunstein said, adding that tingling and/or numbness is a bad sign.

Carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated with night splints, a change or cessation of activity causing the pain. Aches associated with gripping, numbness and a history of overuse may be treated with a splint, massage or cortisone injection.

De Quervain tenosynovitis, named for a Swiss surgeon, is an inflammation of the sheaths that cover the tendons that move the thumb up and out and may also be successfully treated with cortisone.

Arthritis in finger joints may be the result of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, Braunstein said. A common indication of arthritis in the fingers is swollen knuckles, and cortisone injections often provide pain relief in the knuckles, too.

Contact Green Valley freelance reporter Ellen Sussman at ellen2414@cox.net.

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