Symptoms and evaluation
Patients often have tenderness over the outer elbow and pain with gripping, lifting a cup, shaking hands or resisted wrist extension. Symptoms can develop without playing tennis and often reflect repetitive loading of the common extensor tendon origin.
Treatment options
Most cases are initially treated without surgery. Activity modification, progressive therapy and strengthening, bracing and medication when appropriate may be used. Persistent symptoms warrant reassessment of the diagnosis and discussion of additional treatment options.
Recovery and return to activity
Improvement can be gradual because tendon adaptation takes time. Return to heavier gripping, lifting, work and sports is progressed according to symptoms and strength.
When to seek evaluation
Persistent pain, numbness, weakness, loss of motion, deformity or symptoms that interfere with sleep, work or daily activities are reasonable reasons to seek an orthopedic evaluation. Urgent injuries with severe deformity, open wounds or compromised circulation require prompt medical attention.
Common questions
Tennis elbow is a tendon disorder rather than an elbow-joint arthritis problem. Similar pain can occasionally arise from nerve or joint conditions, which is why persistent symptoms benefit from a focused examination.
Specialized upper-extremity care
Dr. Devin W. Collins is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in hand, upper-extremity and microvascular surgery. Treatment recommendations are individualized to the diagnosis, severity, goals and needs of each patient.