Arm Pain When Extended | safe4cure
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful elbow joint inflammation brought on by excessive use and repetitive stress. The discomfort may travel down the back of your forearm from its location on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow. When you fully extend or straighten your arm, you’ll probably experience arm pain when extended.
What causes tennis elbow?
The portion of a muscle that connects to the bone is called a tendon. The forearm muscles are connected to the elbow’s outer bone via forearm tendons. Tennis elbow frequently results from injury to the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle in the forearm. The ECRB aids in lifting and extending the wrist.
The ECRB muscle is weakened by repetitive tension, which results in incredibly small tears in the tendon where the muscle joins to the outside of the elbow. These tears cause pain and inflammation.
Tennis elbow can be triggered by any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist. These activities may include:
- tennis and other racquet sports
- swimming
- golfing
- turning a key
- frequently using a screwdriver, hammer, or computer
What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?
You may experience some of the following symptoms if you have tennis elbow:
- Modest at initially then steadily getting worse elbow ache
- The outside of the elbow, as well as the forearm and wrist, are all in discomfort.
- A feeble grip
- Greater discomfort when squeezing or shaking hands with an object
- pain when using tools, lifting objects, or opening jars
How is tennis elbow diagnosed?
Usually discovered via a medical examination, tennis elbow. Your doctor will inquire about your occupation, your participation in sports, and the history of your problems.
After that, they’ll do a few quick tests to aid with the diagnosis. To determine whether there is any pain, your doctor may apply pressure to the area where the tendon joins the bone.
You will experience pain as you extend (straighten) the wrist when the wrist is flexed (bent towards the palm side) and the elbow is straight.
How is tennis elbow treated?
Your doctor will first prescribe one or more of the following treatments:
Rest: The first phase of your recuperation entails giving your arm a few weeks of rest. Your doctor might recommend wearing a brace to assist keep the injured muscles immobile.
Ice: Applying ice to the elbow might help to ease pain and reduce swelling.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory: Prescription drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen are available over the counter and can help lessen discomfort and swelling.
Physical therapy: To build up the muscles in your forearm and speed up recovery, a physical therapist will utilise a variety of exercises. These could consist of arm workouts, ice massages, and muscle-stimulating methods.
Ultrasound therapy: The most painful spot on your arm is covered with an ultrasound probe during ultrasound therapy. For a predetermined amount of time, the probe sends high-frequency sound waves into the tissues. This kind of therapy can lessen inflammation and hasten recovery.
Steroid injections: In some cases, a corticosteroid medicine will be directly injected into the injured muscle or the area where the tendon joins the bone at the elbow. This may assist in lowering inflammation.
Shock wave therapy: This cutting-edge procedure uses sound waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes at the elbow. Your doctor might or might not recommend this treatment.
Platelet-rich plasma injection: Some doctors are using this therapy option since it seems pretty promising. However, insurance companies currently rarely provide coverage for it.