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SMART TENNIS ELBOW CURE
- Doctors first identified what we now call Tennis Elbow more than 100 years ago and at that time gave it the medical name of Lateral Epicondylitis, which over subsequent time has come to be called and known as Tennis Elbow.
- Although now named Tennis Elbow, tennis players suffering from this disorder and needing a Tennis Elbow Cure, account for less than only 5% of all reported cases.
What Is the Cause of Tennis Elbow and What is the Resulting Physical Damage Causing the Need for Tennis Elbow Cure:
- Tennis elbow is caused by repeatedly forcing a major impact or jerk strain by the forearm tendons and their surrounding muscle coverings going to the elbow joint, which is amplified by wrist and finger movement and in tennis the jolt in the hand caused by hitting the tennis ball, but can be and is more frequently caused from other activities than tennis such as repeated lifting at work or in the home, and/or from playing other sports.
- The physical damage that is incurred with tennis elbow consists of;
- Tiny tears in a part of the tendon and its muscle coverings near the elbow in the forearm, resulting in an inflamed a) elbow joint, and b) nearby tendons and ligaments, and this inflammation causes pain.
- After the initial injury heals, the initial tendon and muscle coverings often tear again after new extreme arm activity, which can lead to a) hemorrhaging in the muscle areas, b) the formulation of rough granulated tissue, and c) the subsequent generation of calcium deposits within the surrounding tissues resulting in the generation of pressure which can cut off the flow of blood and pinch the radial nerve.
- The radial nerve is one of the major nerves controlling the muscles in the arm and hand, and the pinching described above can cause severe pain in the arm and hand.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow Indicating a Need for a Tennis Elbow Cure:
- Recurring pain on the outside of the upper part of the forearm with occasional pain radiating down the forearm towards and too the wrist.
- Elbow/forearm pain caused by 1) lifting objects, 2) bending the arm, 3) grasping objects with the hand and even light objects such as a coffee cup, or 4) by purposely physically pressing down on the forearm near the elbow with your fingers from the opposite hand.
- Difficulty in extending the forearm fully without severe pain.
- A pain discomfort that, 1) typically lasts for about 6 to 12 weeks, but 2) can last for as little as 3 weeks with early tennis elbow detection and early tennis elbow cure implementation , or 3) can last for several years in extreme injury circumstances.
- The duration of the tennis elbow and resulting pain is dependent upon, 1) the severity of the initial tennis elbow injury, 2) how early the detection of tennis elbow occurs after an initial injury, and 2) how soon a good tennis elbow cure begins after the initial injury.
- Thus, to minimize the lasting duration of tennis elbow, it is imperative that, 1) there be a virtually immediate recognition that a tennis elbow injury has occurred, and 2) that an appropriate immediate tennis elbow cure begins.
Tennis Elbow Cure:
- The best cure for almost any ailment is to prevent it from happening, if possible, and this is the case for tennis elbow cure, such as:
- Appropriately exercise the forearm and its tendons on a regular basis, 1) a simple recommended exercise is to move the hand from side to side, then up and down and then in circular motion, and while closing and opening the fingers, and 2) while doing this exercise take the fingers from the other hand and press down on the outside of the forearm and its tendons moving the fingers up and down the forearm and occasionally squeezing the skin and tendons with the thumb and fingers, 3) two small variations of this exercise is to hold a tennis ball in the hand while squeezing it or alternatively to hold a tennis racket in the hand, 4) get in the habit of doing this exercise 3 or 4 times each day such as setting at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table, watching TV and/or walking and certainly before playing tennis.
- In labor activities, in lifting objects, to the degree possible, try to get your hands underneath the object being lifted with the inside of your hand facing your eyes and try not to jerk the object in lifting it, carrying it or putting it down.
- If you ever develop a slight soreness in the outside forearm area after playing tennis or from other sources, 1) immediately in returning home put an ice pack on it for 3 to 5 minutes, which will reduce the chance of swelling, 2) follow that up several hours latter by putting heat or a therapeutic ointment or lotion on the outside forearm area and gently performing the exercise and rub suggested in 1. above, 3) repeat the procedure just described in 2) 3 or 4 times a day and do not play tennis again until the pain has grossly subsided (typically at least 2 to 5 days). 4) just before you play tennis again perform the exercise outlined in 1. above for at least 3 to 5 minutes, and take periodic rest breaks while playing tennis.
- Specific methods for a tennis elbow cure:
- Stop doing whatever it was that caused the tennis elbow injury, which is simple for the weekend tennis player, but is not as easy for the laborer required to do lifting chores or the professional athlete.
- As soon as you can, after experiencing the tennis elbow injury, put an ice pack on the outside of the forearm for 3 to 5 minutes, which will reduce the swelling.
- Starting a few hours thereafter, 1) put a heat pad on the outside forearm for 3 to 5 minute or rub on a therapeutic ointment or lotion, 2) then gently rub the forearm area with a very gentle form of the exercise that has been described, and do this 3 or 4 times each day, 3) a tennis elbow cure will typically take about 6 to 12 weeks, but may be less, or can take several years in the case of an extreme tennis elbow injury.
- Taking over-the-counter oral drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help to reduce the pain and in some cases the inflammation. You may want to consult your family doctor for other prescription options as well as other options.
- If pain and the condition persists you should probably consult your Doctor for a tennis elbow cure: 1) one option is the injection of corticosteroid into the forearm region, which dramatically reduces inflammation and the resulting pain, and 2) another option is surgery, where a) one procedure is the cutting of the tendon loose from the epicondyle, which is the rounded bump at the end of the bone, but unfortunately this makes the muscle useless, but it takes the pain away, and 2) another procedure is the removing of the granulated tissue in the tendon and repairing tears.
- After a tennis elbow cure has been achieved, follow the steps listed above to prevent tennis elbow from occurring again.
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