When the tendons in our elbow get too much use, they can become irritated, which causes pain. This condition is known as tennis elbow. In spite of its name, it can happen to anyone, even if they’ve never picked up a tennis racket. Look out for tennis elbow symptoms so that you can get treatment if you need it.
Pain In the Elbow, Forearm, and Wrist
The most common symptom that people with tennis elbow experience is mild to intense pain. While the pain will primarily be concentrated in your elbow, it’s normal for the pain to spread throughout the arm. Even if your elbow pain isn’t severe, you could experience intense pain in the wrist, forearm, or upper arm.
Because your tendons are irritated, your elbow will typically be sensitive to the touch. You can expect that any pain you’re experiencing will intensify whenever you try to move your arm or do something using your hands. While there are other causes of elbow pain, such as golfer’s elbow, it’s best to seek treatment if you’re experiencing recurring elbow pain.
Difficulty Gripping Objects
Tennis elbow can also make it difficult to grip objects with your hands. Simple tasks, like picking up a coffee mug, turning a doorknob, or using a writing utensil, can be very challenging. While over-the-counter painkillers can reduce inflammation, it can still be difficult to complete certain tasks while the condition persists.
While you may feel a surge of pain when you try to complete these activities, you may also find that your fingers feel still. If you’ve noticed that it’s harder for you to grip objects than usual, you should check out your elbow, even if you haven’t experienced much pain.
Arm Weakness
As your strained muscles try to recover, you may experience weakness throughout the arm. One of your arms may feel as though it doesn’t have much strength, even if the other arm is fine.
It’s best not to push through this weakness. Instead, you should rest your arm and seek treatment. That way, you’ll be able to recover from your muscle strain and return to your normal tasks.
For many, tennis elbow is a recurring problem, which makes it all the more important to watch for tennis elbow symptoms. A professional can diagnosis the condition, recommend treatment, and give you advice that will help you to avoid this type of strain injury in the future.
