How To Cure Tennis Elbow

If you've been suffering from pains in your arms, you may need to know how to cure tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is characterized by pain surrounding the elbow and, at times, radiating to the wrist. It can range from a chronic inconvenience to a condition serious enough to warrant surgery. Whether you play tennis or not, you should know that tennis elbow affects mostly men but also women in their 30s to 50s .

Tennis elbow, or epicondylitis, is typically caused when the tendons and muscles of the forearm connecting to the bone begin to tear. This causes gradual, or in rarer cases sudden, pain, increasing when you shake hands or exercise the wrist, for example by lifting or holding objects.  Overall, tennis elbow afflicts 1% to 3% of the population, though it affects about 50% of those who play tennis, thus its colloquial name.

1. Tennis elbow is most commonly treated at home by simply by resting the arm and wrist which allows the muscles and tendons time to repair. This can be aided by applying ice to the affected area to reduce inflammation and pain. The administration of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen can also help in alleviating the pain. 
2. Approximately two weeks after the pain of your elbow has reduced or been eliminated, you can begin stretching and working the muscles to promote continued health and flexibility. 
3. Be careful not to aggravate the area or cause yourself pain. If it hurts, stop. But, if you can manage some light stretching and tension, you will be helping the muscles to become more limber and reactive, preventing future tearing.
   
4. On an outpatient basis, a doctor may prescribe a Cortisone-type injection to help relieve pain in the area more effectively than ibuprofen.
5. In approximately 5% of cases, it may become necessary to seek professional medical assistance for tennis elbow. In this case, the treatment is typically a small surgery to repair the muscles and tendons in the elbow area. In 80% to 90% of patients, the pain will be relieved and strength will return.

As with many cases, the best way to learn how to cure tennis elbow is to prevent it from ever happening. If you play tennis, be sure to stretch properly before every game, and warm up and cool down when you exercise or train. If you don't play, be sure to keep active so your muscles stay flexible and reactive, also stretching, warming up and cooling down when appropriate.