Treating Tennis Elbow

Elbow

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Your treatment will depend on how inflamed your tendon is. The goal is to relieve your symptoms and help you regain full use of your elbow.

Rest and Medication

Wearing a tennis elbow splint allows the inflamed tendon to rest, so it can heal. Using your other hand or changing your grip also helps take stress off the tendon.

And oral anti-inflammatory medications and heat or ice can relieve pain and reduce swelling.

Exercises and Therapy

Your doctor may give you an exercise program, or refer you to a therapist, to gently stretch and then strengthen the muscles around your elbow.

Anti-Inflammatory Injections

Your doctor may give you injections of an anti-inflammatory, such as cortisone, to help reduce the swelling. You may have more pain at first, but in a few days your elbow should feel better.

If Surgery Is Needed

If your symptoms persist for a long time, or other treatments don’t relieve them, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the inflamed tendon.