5 Ways to Treat Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow can be surprisingly painful. Caused by tendons swelling in your elbow, this condition can affect almost anyone.
There is a range of treatments available for those who are suffering from tennis elbow. Some of these treatments can be administered at home, whereas others will need the help of a professional.

Here 5 things that you can do to help speed up the healing process.

Place Ice on Your Elbow

A great way to help reduce any swelling and pain is to place some ice on your elbow. Please make sure that you wrap the ice in a cloth before you place it on your elbow. If you were to place the ice directly onto your skin you could damage it.
Ice your elbow for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 hours. Ideally, you should do this for no more than 3 days or until your elbow is no longer painful.

Use an Elbow Strap

If you would like to make sure that you don’t hurt your elbow even more, you could always use an elbow strap. A strap such as this can limit your range of moment. In addition to this, it can help to support your elbow while you go about your day.

Undergo Treatment

If your elbow is particularly sore, you might want to undergo treatment. For example, you might choose to see a massage therapist or a physical therapist. They can use a range of methods to ensure that your elbow heals faster. Please make sure you always follow the advice you are given as it can make a huge difference to your treatment.

Start Exercising your Elbow

When your pain lessens, you might want to start exercising it. The right exercises can help to reduce stiffness and increase your elbow’s flexibility. The exercises can also help to prevent you from hurting your elbow again.
Your doctor can suggest a range of exercises for you to do. Please make sure you do the exercises as often as your doctor recommends. While it might be uncomfortable to exercise at first, you should find that the more you do the exercises, the easier they become. This is why you should always stick to the exercise routine you’re given.

Take Painkillers

When someone has tennis elbow, chances are they’re in quite a bit of pain. However, you can take painkillers as prescribed by your doctor. Please make sure you always follow your doctor’s dosage instructions.
If your tennis elbow is particularly bad, your doctor might recommend that you have steroid injections. Alternatively, they might wish to inject painkillers. While steroid injections do not help on a long-term basis, they can temporarily help to ease some of the pain and swelling.

Conclusion

Tennis elbow can be particularly painful. Usually caused by performing repetitive movements, this condition can get better. However, you will need to keep up with any treatments that are recommended to you. With a bit of work, you could soon find that your painful, swollen elbow is much better.