Tennis Elbow

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Tennis elbow is pain and swelling of the bony areas, muscles, and tendons in the elbow. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Tennis elbow usually affects adults. It may take weeks to months before the elbow feels better.

Causes: You may have a small tear in the tendon in the elbow. This may be caused by stress to the tissues that attach to the muscles in the forearm. (lower arm). Moving your forearm in the same way over and over again (as in playing tennis or golf) may cause this problem. Auto mechanics, carpenters, and manual laborers may also get tennis elbow.

Signs and Symptoms: You may have pain, tenderness, or swelling of the elbow. It may hurt for you to move your elbow.

Care: Rest your elbow until the pain and swelling are gone. Put ice on the injured arm for 1 or 2 days and then use heat to help your pain. You may need to wear a sling or brace to rest the elbow.

• You may need medicines for pain and inflammation (in-flah-ma-shun) or redness and swelling. These may given as a shot.
  
  
• Caregivers' may suggest you have a MRI. A MRI is also called magnetic resonance (reh-zuh-nuns) imaging. During the MRI 3-D (three dimensional) pictures are taken of your elbow. Caregivers use these pictures to look for a torn tendon.
  
  
• Very bad tennis elbow that does not get better over time may need surgery.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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