Tennis Elbow Treatment in Singapore

You will feel tennis elbow on the outside of your elbow. This pain may even extend down into your forearm and your hand. The area of pain may range by severity level. In mild cases, you might feel discomfort only when you’re using your elbow. In more severe cases, you might feel the pain even when your elbow is at rest.

Tennis elbow affects the lateral tendon, which is the outer part of your elbow. In contrast, golfer’s elbow affects the epicondyle tendon, which is the inner part of the elbow. While tennis players can certainly get golfer’s elbow, just as golfers can get tennis elbow, it is a question of the part of your elbow affected.

If you have golfer’s elbow, you will feel a pain that travels from your inner elbow all the way down your arm. It is common to feel a tingling or numbness in your fingers with golfer’s elbow.

Since tennis elbow is caused by overuse, the symptoms will usually come on slowly. You will find that that pain has gotten worse over recent weeks and months.

A few telltale signs of tennis elbow include:

• Pain in your outer elbow
• Discomfort that extends to your wrist
• Aches that get worse at night
• Pangs when you twist or bend your arm
• Stiffness when you extend your arm
• Swollen elbow joint
• Your elbow is tender to the touch
• Your grip is weak

When you come to our Singapore clinic, you can expect to get started with a physical examination. Our specialist will check for signs of swelling and ask you about the symptoms of stiffness and pain you have been feeling.

To take a closer look, your doctor may recommend one of the following exams to check for tennis elbow.

• X-rays: This will confirm it is tennis elbow and not arthritis or a fracture.
• MRI or CT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans are used to take a clearer look at the damage to your tendons and muscles.
• EMG: An electromyography (EMG) test can measure your nerve's electrical activity and look for compressed nerves.

What is the fastest tennis elbow cure? Let’s look at a few of the most common steps that your doctor may recommend to cure tennis elbow.

• Rest: This is the first step. Your tendons need a few weeks to heal.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen will help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Support brace: Wearing a removable support brace can be helpful for taking the stress off of your tendons and muscles while they heal.
• Physical therapy: Strategic exercises can help you build up the muscles of your forearm and build up your grip strength again.
• Massage: Focused massage can help to reduce pain while improving your range of motion.
• Steroid injections: For more severe cases, corticosteroids may be recommended to relieve pain and inflammation.

Depending on the severity of your tennis elbow, your doctor may recommend any of these or a range of additional more intensive treatments.

We often get questions about how to treat tennis elbow at home. While it is essential to remember that you need to get your elbow looked at by a professional, some natural cures for tennis elbow can help with mild cases.

In addition to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, your doctor may recommend a range of other at-home remedies like rest and over-the-counter medication.

Is Hot or Cold Better for Tennis Elbow?

During the early stages of an injury, it is best to opt for cold treatment. It will help to reduce inflammation. While it is uncomfortable at first, it will reduce the pain.

Remember, if your pain is getting worse with time despite rest and applying ice, it is time to see a doctor. Once your issue has been diagnosed and other potential problems have been eliminated, your doctor may recommend regular heat treatment for chronic pain.

Is Deep Heat Good for Tennis Elbow?

Deep Heat works in a similar way to applying a hot compress. If you’re dealing with long-term pain, this can be a good solution. Keep in mind, however, that it’s not right for everyone. Chat with your medical specialists before starting a regular routine at homecare.

Is Tiger Balm Good for Tennis Elbow?

Like Deep Heat, products like Tiger Balm can help to warm up the area in a similar way to a hot compress. This can be great for occasional pain but it’s important not to overuse it. If the pain persists, it’s time to see a specialist to find other solutions.

On average, tennis elbow gets better within one month to a year. Occasionally severe cases may take up to two years. The speed of recovery depends greatly on treatment. The sooner that you seek treatment, the faster your recovery will be. In cases where tennis elbow is left untreated, we find that recovery is slower and more difficult.

Tennis elbow only gets better with proper care. If you ignore the issue and avoid starting treatments, the pain can persist indefinitely. The good news, however, is that treatment is simple and painless. In most cases, a simple wrap and anti-inflammatory treatments will resolve the issue. If you delay, however, these quick and easy fixes for tennis elbow become less successful.