Tennis elbow

Introduction

Tennis elbow was identified by doctors more than a hundred years ago. Today, it has turned out to be one of the most common disorders amongst men or women above the age of 40. It is known as tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis in the medical terms just because every person who plays tennis suffers from this disorder at some or the point of his or her life. However, the tennis players only make 5% of the total people suffering from this disorder. As this disorder is growing at a very rapid rate, it is extremely necessary for every one to know the symptoms and take precautions. The simplest way to be relieved from the tennis elbow is to stop doing anything that irritates the patient’s arm. The most conventional treatment for the tennis elbow is rest the arm until the pain disappears. 

Symptoms

The main symptoms of this disorder are that the person suffers from recurring pain on the outer part of the upper forearm that is just below the bend of the elbow. Normally, pain moves down from the arm towards the wrist causing the whole hand to pain. The person also might suffer from pain caused by lifting or bending the arm or grasping even light objects such as a cup of coffee or a glass of water. The might also find it difficult to extend his arm fully because of inflamed muscles, tendons and ligaments as well. The pain normally lasts form 6 to 12 weeks. The pain might also last for as little 3 weeks or as long as several years.

Cause of tennis elbow

Usually tennis elbow is caused due to tiny tears in a part of the tendon and in muscle coverings. Even if the initial injury heals these muscles tend to tear again and again. The tearing of the tendons again and again leads to hemorrhaging and formation of rough granulated tissue and calcium deposits within the surrounding tissues. A protein named collagen leaks out from the injured areas which causes inflammation. This leakage results into a pressure that can cut off the blood flow and pinch the radial nerve. The radial nerve is one of the major nerves that control muscles in the arm and hand.