Will Tennis Elbow Heal by Itself or You Need an Elbow Tendonitis Brace ? 

Maybe you’re just developing your first mild case of tennis elbow. Or maybe you’re dealing with the pain for months. Whatever the situation, you may be wondering: “Will my tennis elbow go away on its own?”

Keep reading to find the answer. You’ll also learn other information you need to know about tennis elbow and ways how to prevent it from coming back.

Will tennis elbow heal on its own?

The answer to this question is a big YES! Tennis elbow will get better without treatment. Tennis elbow usually lasts between 6 months and 2 years. Most people completely recover from tennis elbow within a year but it may take longer than that, with pain lasting up to 2 years.

But if you want your injury to heal faster, there are some guidelines that you have to follow.

• Rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that caused it.
• Avoid doing strenuous activities.
• Apply an ice pack to your elbow for 15 to 20 minutes, several times a day.
• Use a compression bandage or an elbow brace.
• Change your work habits.
• Change your sports equipment and technique.
• Warm up before exercising.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain outside the elbow. It’s clinically known as lateral epicondylitis. Tennis elbow occurs when the forearm muscles are overused, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.

Despite its name, most of the people with tennis elbow don’t play tennis or any racquet sport. Their work often involves tasks that require them to do the same motion over and over again.

What are the causes of tennis elbow?

Overuse is the most common cause of tennis elbow. Repeated motions and stress cause tiny tears and inflammation. But sometimes, it can happen after a direct blow to the elbow.

The following are the activities that can give you tennis elbow:

• Playing racquet sports (tennis, badminton, etc.) or sports that involve throwing (disc golf, baseball, etc.)
• Painting
• Gardening
• Typing
• Sewing
• Plumbing
• Cooking

Risk Factors

Some people are at a higher risk of developing tennis elbow than others. Here are some factors that may increase your risk of tennis elbow:

• Tennis elbow is common among adults aged 30 to 50
• Jobs that involve repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.
• Use of heavy hand-held tools.
• Improper use of sports equipment.
• Poor stroke technique.
• Recreational activities that involve the repetitive use of the arm and wrists.

What are the signs and symptoms of tennis elbow?

Pain is one of the classic tennis elbow symptoms. The pain is usually on the outer arm just beneath the elbow but sometimes you may also have pain in your forearm and the back of your hand.

If you have tennis elbow, you may experience the following:

• Pain that increases with activities. (Holding a pen, turning a door handle, etc.)
• Pain that continues for a long period.
• Stiff and achy arm upon waking up in the morning. 
• Pain and stiffness when the arm is fully stretched.
• Increased sensitivity to pressure.

How to prevent tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is something you don’t want to experience. Not only it prevents you from doing the things you love like playing sports, but it can also make simple activities like combing your hair painful.

The following measures can prevent tennis elbow from developing or coming back:

• Avoid using your wrist and elbow more than the rest of your arm.
• Warm up properly before doing any activities.
• Do strengthening exercises.
• Avoid making the same hand and arm movements.
• Choose tools with bigger grips.
• Make sure you use the right sports equipment.
• Learn to use your shoulder and upper arm.
• Avoid working with a bent wrist.
• Wear an elbow brace when playing sports.

Why is my tennis elbow not healing?

There are two main reasons why your tennis elbow is not healing. First, you might have been misdiagnosed. Second, you didn’t give your elbow enough time to recover. Remember that tennis elbow pain can go away in a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean that your tendons have fully healed.

When to see a doctor?

Tennis elbow means that your tendons are damaged. Most people with tennis elbow find their pain disappears with home remedies such as rest and applying cold. If you tried healing your tennis elbow and didn’t see any improvement, it could mean that the injury or damage is more severe and needs medical attention.

You should call a doctor if:

• The pain does not improve or gets worse over time.
• You have difficulty moving your arm.
• There’s a lump or bulge on your arm.
• The injured area is red or swollen.

Your elbow is one of the most important joints in your body. It gives you independence as it allows you to do a lot of activities on your own such as combing your hair, cooking, eating, getting dressed, showering, lifting objects, etc.

If you’re suffering from elbow pain, wearing an best elbow brace can help alleviate the pain. Senteq elbow brace offers dual-layer compression, a gel pad, and a wide adjustable strap for your comfort.

Take care of your elbow and live a pain-free, healthier life!