Tennis elbow is a common cause of elbow pain. It occurs as pain in the lateral (outer) portion of the elbow and upper forearm. The risk of acquiring or aggravating tennis elbow may be increased by rolling the wrist on contact to put top spin on the ball, by using a very stiff or tightly strung racket, or by excessive play. Using a two-handed backhand stroke may help prevent tennis elbow.

Less than half of all cases of tennis elbow are actually associated with playing tennis. Tennis elbow also results from work that requires a twisting motion of the arm, such as using a screwdriver.

Bursitis, another common cause of elbow pain, is the result of inflammation of the bursa, a cushion in the joint. Bursitis of the elbow may look like a small egg at the end of the elbow.

• Tennis elbow
• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Elbow strains
• Infection of the elbow

For tennis elbow, reduce playing time or time spent doing the activity that aggravates the elbow pain. Warming up slowly, doing stretching exercises, and applying ice after activity may help.

For bursitis, resting, applying ice, maintaining mobility, and strengthening are usually helpful. When you first notice this condition, apply ice for half an hour, then leave it off for 15 minutes. Continue this cycle for 6 to 8 hours. Be careful not to freeze the skin.

Give the elbow complete rest for at least 2 days and do not return to the activity that caused the problem for at least 3 weeks. After the initial rest period, you should begin to gradually strengthen the muscles around the elbow through exercise.

For strains, rest and analgesics may help.

For arthritis, physical therapy and analgesics may help.

For infections, antibiotic treatment under your health care provider's direction is recommended.

You should contact your health care provider if any of the following occur:

• You have a prolonged case of tennis elbow that doesn't improve with home care
• The pain is due to an injury
• There is obvious deformity
• The pain prevents any use of the elbow
• There is fever, swelling and redness, or inability to use the joint

Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting elbow pain may include the following:

• Distribution
  • Are both elbows affected (symmetrical)?
  • Does the pain shift from the elbow to other joints?
  • Is the pain over the outside bony prominence of the elbow?
• Time pattern
  • Did the pain begin suddenly and severely?
  • Did the pain begin slowly and mildly and then get worse?
  • Is the pain resolving spontaneously?
  • Did the pain begin following an injury?
• What other symptoms are also present?

The physical examination will include a thorough examination of the elbow.

For chronic tennis elbow, your health care provider may prescribe a pain reliever and a corticosteroid injection into the painful area. Usually no more than 3 such injections are performed. Surgery is a last resort.