Lateral Epicondylitis

What is it?

Tennis elbow is a condition that results in pain that usually occurs on the bony lump on the outside of the elbow, known as lateral epicondyle. The condition tends to affect people who are around 40 years old and the dominant hand is more commonly involved. 

What causes it?

Tennis elbow is sometimes caused by playing tennis, but it is also related to activities that increase the stress on the extensor tendons of the forearm.The medical name for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis.

What are the symptoms?

There is pain on the outside of the elbow where the forearm tendons attch to the bone. Twisting movements, such as turning a door handle or opening the lid of a jar, can be very painful.

How is it treated?

Lateral epicondylitis is a self limiting condition. The average duration of a typical episode is about six months to two years, but most patients recover within one year.

Many treatments have been used to treat elbow pain including painkillers, corticosteroid injections and physiotherapy.

In persisten cases surgery can be performed either through a small skin incision about 1 cm long, or arthroscopically (key hole surgery) from within the joint.