Tennis Elbow Treatment
Overuse of your arm can result in pain on the outside of your elbow. This condition, known as tennis elbow, can limit your dexterity, since pain will typically grow worse with movement. Gregg A. Vagner, M.D. offers conservative tennis elbow treatment at his Austin, TX, practice. Often, your arm will heal on its own, especially with simple exercises and stretches. Dr. Vagner may also teach you different ways to lift and move your arm that will place less strain on your muscles. If surgery becomes necessary, Dr. Vagner will remove the damaged tissue, closely monitor your recovery, and refer you to a physical therapist. With his care and your commitment to recovery, you can experience dramatically improved comfort and range of motion.
Dr. Vagner's Conservative Approach
Dr. Vagner describes the conservative methods he initially recommends to treat tennis elbow, as well as the surgical techniques he can perform as necessary.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Constant strain can damage the muscles and tendons in your forearm. In particular, tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, most often involves the carpi radialis brevis muscle and tendon on the outside of your arm. Despite the name, tennis elbow does not only affect athletes. Rather, anyone who makes the same movements repeatedly is at risk for the condition. These individuals can include gardeners, painters, professional house cleaners, butchers, mechanics, factory workers, golfers, and many others. Tennis elbow is more common in men than in women. It most frequently develops in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s.
With Dr. Vagner's care and your commitment to recovery, you can experience dramatically improved comfort and range of motion.
The Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis is characterized by chronic forearm pain. Inflammation and discomfort will usually originate at your elbow, but it could radiate all the way down to your hand. Most often, this discomfort will develop slowly, but, in rare cases, it could come on without warning. Often, pain will worsen with gripping, squeezing, or lifting movements.
Tennis Elbow Treatment Options
Dr. Vagner can provide a tennis elbow diagnosis through a simple exam and evaluation of your symptoms. X-rays and other tests are not required. Tennis elbow is not a serious condition. Nevertheless, elbow pain can develop for a number of reasons, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dislocation, fractures, and more. Therefore, it is important to receive an accurate diagnosis so you can be sure that you are receiving the right treatment.
Fortunately, with rest, tennis elbow will often heal naturally. Dr. Vagner can teach you certain exercises and stretches to alleviate your pain more quickly. Occasionally, however, he may refer you to a physical therapist. This specialist can teach you more advanced exercises, collaborating with Dr. Vagner to ensure a complete recovery. If your discomfort is severe, or if you do not experience noticeable relief in six months to a year, Dr. Vagner may recommend surgery. Through an incision on the outside of your elbow, he will excise compromised tendon tissue. If needed, he will reattach the muscle to the bone. This procedure has a very high success rate. To achieve a complete recovery, you will need to work with a physical therapist after surgery.
Receive the Right Treatment for Your Symptoms
If you are suffering from chronic elbow pain, our conservative care can help you find lasting relief. Contact Dr. Vagner’s office to schedule an appointment.
