What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a type of tendonitis which causes pain in the elbow and/or arm. It is an irritation of the tissue connecting the forearm muscle to the elbow. The tendons that are affected in tennis elbow are “bands of tough tissue that connect the muscles of your lower arm to the bone.”
What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow can happen due to many factors but some of the main reasons are:
- Repetitive gripping activities
Motions like swinging a tennis racket, especially with poor technique - Using plumbing tools
- Painting
- Repetitive computer mouse use
Despite having the word tennis in its name, tennis elbow can affect anyone – even if they have never played tennis in their life! Any activity that requires repetitive gripping can be the main cause to developing tennis elbow.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone can develop tennis elbow, but there are factors that can cause someone to be more likely to develop this injury. Factors that increase the risk of tennis elbow include:
- Age – As you get older, your risk of tennis elbow increases. Tennis elbow is most common in people older than 40.
- Athletes – Athletes who regularly use repetitive arm motions, such as tennis players, have a greater risk of having tennis elbow. Those athletes that tend to be most likely to develop tennis elbow include:
- Crossfitters
- Tennis players
- Baseball players
- Football players
- Jobs – Construction related occupations such as carpentry or house painting require repetitive arm motions that can damage the elbow tendons over time.
These are the top three risk factors but there are many other reasons that can cause tennis elbow.
Tennis Elbow Injury Symptoms
As stated before, if you can answer yes to any of these questions, there is a good chance that you may have tennis elbow. A doctor is needed to properly diagnose the injury, so if you believe you may have tennis elbow we advise you to go see your primary care physician for a medical diagnosis. However, the following are general indicators that there is an issue with your elbow:
- Trouble raising your arm
- Experiencing pain when you move your arm in certain ways or lie on it
- Weakness in the elbow
- Unable to lift things as normal
- Hearing clicking or popping when you move your arm
- Trouble gripping objects
Typically, you will feel pain focused on the outside of the arm, where the forearm meets the elbow. It may be present with activities such as lifting or reaching or really any activity using your arms. You may feel pain when you try to sleep on the affected side. You may note weakness of your arm and difficulty with routine activities such as putting clothes on or reaching behind your back. If the inflammation of tendons occurs with injury, you may experience acute pain, a snapping sensation, and immediate weakness of the arm.
Tennis Elbow Surgery and Other Aids
Surgery is usually a last resort, depending on the severity of your tennis elbow. There are three different types of surgery your orthopedic surgeon may use.
- Arthroscopy – a small incision is made in the elbow. An arthroscope – a tube with a small camera and tiny instrument – is then used to fix the elbow.
- Open – a larger instrument used by a doctor to go into the tendon and fix the elbow.
- Combination – uses both arthroscopic and open methods.
Tennis elbow surgery may seem like an option but it comes at a hefty price.
According to a number of studies, surgical treatment for tennis elbow can cost anything between $1,500 to a little over $3,000. Treatment for elbow injuries typically would be covered by health insurance, with the possible exception of extracorporeal shock wave treatment. Read below to see if you can skip the surgery and use home remedies to fix your injury.
Can My Tennis Elbow Be Healed or Strengthened Without Surgery?
The answer is yes! Most tennis elbow injuries can be treated non-surgically by using anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and/or physical therapy. All three of these can be beneficial and can help treat symptoms of inflamed tendons. While anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections can be a great option, natural remedies are your best bet so you are not putting chemicals into your body that could worsen your symptoms.
Natural Remedies for Tennis Elbow Injuries
Tennis elbow surgery can come with a steep price and may not be an option for some people. Instead of invasive surgery here are some natural and at home remedies that may be used. Natural remedies include:
- Rest and ice – Apply ice to the affected area for 15-20-minute periods at least three times a day.
- Acupuncture – A holistic health technique that stems from traditional Chinese medicine. It helps reduce pain by stimulating specific points on the body through the insertion of very thin, practically-painless needles.
- Anti-inflammatory medications – Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or Advil can be used to reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain at the point of injury.
- Natural supplements – Natural supplements such as Flexicus can be used in place of medication and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) in order to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and promote healthy cartilage growth.
Flexicus
Finally, there is a safe alternative without harmful side effects that could save you from costly surgery.
Many of the current remedies for treating tennis elbow injuries involve synthetic chemicals and strong medications that can affect you in ways you cannot predict and cause unwanted side effects. If you are looking for an all-natural remedy that may save you from surgery look no further, this is where Flexicus comes in! Our all-natural supplement is here to help! Flexicus was specially designed to nourish the joints, support stronger cartilage, help stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, and increase total mobility.
Recovery from Injury
Flexicus can help relieve pain, help with inflammation, renew and maintain connective tissue, and will help in rebuilding joints and cartilage. If you choose the option of surgery you would want to use a natural supplement to help with the inflammation and renew the connective tissue. Please be aware though that if you choose to start Flexicus, it is imperative to make sure you monitor your activity and not start heavy activity prematurely. Often times, individuals start to feel relief and believe they are ready to push themselves with strenuous activity and cause greater injury in the process. Make sure in the beginning to keep your activity limited and do not push yourself too hard in order to avoid further injury.
Getting The Help You Need
Deciding whether you need surgery is a case by case decision which should be made after hearing all of your options and consulting with your doctor. The need for elbow surgery will typically depend on the severity of inflammation of the tendons surrounding the elbow, and knowing all of your options (including home remedies) could save you thousands of dollars. Whether or not you are using home remedies to cure your tear or recovering from surgery, one of the best pieces of advice a recovering athlete can have is to take a natural supplement. Flexicus is an all-natural supplement that was specially designed to nourish the joints, support stronger cartilage, help stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, and increase total mobility. It is hard to prevent tennis elbow injuries, but it is easy to provide yourself with the help you need to fix the issue.
Doctors and physical therapists believe Flexicus can help, scientists believe our ingredients can help, but most importantly our customers know it is helping (and clinical trials of CM8, the key ingredient in Flexicus, have shown that it works)! It is time to get back to the activities you love without the harmful side effects of other products. By taking an all-natural supplement you can finally feel relief from your injuries and get back in the game!
What Sets Flexicus Apart?
CM8. Not found in any other supplement.
Cetyl Myristoleate (CM8 for short) is a clinically tested, all-natural compound that is highly effective in treating joint pain. It’s the key ingredient in Flexicus, and is not found in any other supplement on the market.
Need more info? Check out Cetyl-myristoleate.com to learn more about this essential compound.
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