Tennis elbow is also known as “Lateral Epicondylitis”. It’s a condition that is caused by swelling tendons. It’s these tendons that cause the pain in the elbow and arm. Each of these tendons is made of tough tissue. They connect the muscles in your lower arm to your bone.
Not everyone is aware that you don’t need to play tennis to suffer from tennis elbow. Any activity that involves gripping can be the cause.
Rest Your Arm
One of the best things that you can do is to rest your arm. Most people recover from tennis elbow within 12 months. However, this can depend on the severity of the condition and your overall health. One thing that you should do is rest your arm. You should also stop doing the activity that caused the pain in the first place. This might be hard if you injured yourself at work, but rest is crucial if you want your elbow to recover.
Use a Cold Compress
Consider using a cold compress on the painful area. Take a bag of frozen peas, for example, and wrap them in a towel. Now place the towel against your elbow for 2-3 minutes. Do this a least a few times each day.
Please make sure that you always wrap anything that’s frozen in a towel. If you don’t you could damage your skin. To avoid ice burns, use a towel or a thick cloth every time.
Use Painkillers
Painkillers such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication can help. Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication can work on the pain much quicker than some tablets. In addition to this, they can have fewer side effects while reducing inflammation. Other people like to use PRP as this has proven to be effective. Change Your Behaviors
A good way to help prevent any future pain is to change your behaviors. You need to stop undertaking any activities that affect your tendons and muscles. If you tend to lift things while you work, you might need to avoid doing this until your pain has almost disappeared. This is because lifting things too early can make the pain worse.
If you have to lift anything, please change the way you lift. Changing the way you lift can ensure you’re less likely to strain your arm.
Have Physical Therapy
If the pain in your elbow is bad, you should consider seeing your doctor. Your doctor could prescribe you some painkillers and/or recommend that you see a physical therapist.
Physical therapists are trained professionals. They can help you to use manual techniques, ensuring you’re likely to feel less pain. They can also recommend a range of exercises to help you strengthen your elbow and your forearm muscles. In addition to this, the exercises can help you to keep your arm as mobile as possible.
Tennis elbow can be surprisingly painful. However, with the right amount of rest and treatment, your elbow can start to recover. Use the above tips to help you recover quickly.
