Epicondylitis Treatment
Heat or ice is helpful in relieving tennis elbow pain. Once acute symptoms have
subsided, heat treatments are used to increase blood circulation and promote healing. The
physician may recommend physical therapy to apply diathermy or ultrasound to the inflamed
site. These are two common modalities used to increase the thermal temperature of the
tissues in order to address both pain and inflammation. Occasionally, a tennis elbow
splint may be useful to help decrease stress on the elbow throughout daily activities.
Exercises become very important to improve flexibility to all forearm muscles, and will
aid in decreasing muscle and tendon tightness that has been creating excessive pull at the
common attachment of the epicondyle. The physician may also prescribe nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to reduce inflammation and pain. Injections of cortisone
or anesthetics are often used if physical therapy is ineffective. Cortisone reduces
inflammation, and anesthetics temporarily relieve pain. Physicians are cautious regarding
excessive number of injections as this has recently been found to weaken the tendon's
integrity.
Surgery as a treatment for Epicondylitis
If conservative methods of treatment fail, surgical release of the tendon at the
epicondyle may be a necessary form of treatment. However, surgical intervention is
relatively rare.
Alternative treatment for Epicondylitis
Massage therapy has been found to be beneficial if symptoms are mild. Massage
techniques are based primarily on increasing circulation to promote efficient reduction of
inflammation. Manipulation, acupuncture, and acupressure have been used as well. Contrast
hydrotherapy (alternating hot and cold water or compresses, 3 minutes hot, 30 seconds
cold, repeated 3 times, always ending with cold) applied to the elbow can help bring
nutrient-rich blood to the joint and carry away waste products. Botanical medicine and
homeopathy may also be effective therapies for tennis elbow. For example, cayenne (Capsicum
frutescens) ointment or prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) oil applied
topically may help to increase blood flow to the affected area and speed healing. |
