Tennis Elbow Pain

Tennis elbow, technically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition marked by acute pain in the outer part of the elbow caused by the inflammation of the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm with the bone above the elbow joint. This may result from the natural wear and tear of the tissues of bones and tendons. Sometimes external injury and damage, caused by exertion of too much pressure or repeated stressful movements, may also cause pain in the elbow, in which case the condition is referred to as tendonitis. Tennis elbow makes the arm inflexible and hampers normal functions like lifting weights, holding and carrying things. The first symptoms of this condition are tenderness and swelling of the elbow, followed by increasing pain that may spread down the arm to the wrist. Even stretching the arm fully or moving the fingers becomes painful as the muscles of the forearm stiffen.

Though it is advisable to consult a doctor if you have tennis elbow and follow suitable medication, you may also try a few home remedies to remedy the condition. One of the most effective ways of reducing the swelling and pain in the elbow is to apply an ice pack on the elbow every couple of hours for 15-20 minutes. For better results, you should alternate the ice packs with heat packs, as this helps the muscles and tendons around the elbow joint relax faster and reduces the pain. Another useful remedy is to bake a few potatoes and apply them hot on the elbow as a poultice. This relieves pain and is greatly helpful in reducing the inflammation. You can also tie a pack of zostrix, which is a variety of hot pepper, around the elbow in order to warm the region naturally and treat tennis elbow. Celery is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties, so steam some celery seeds in boiling water and store it in a container. Drinking 4-5 drops of this solution during every meal gradually reduces the pain caused by tennis elbow. Drinking a cup of hot ginger tea 4-5 times a day also has similar effects. Local application of ginger paste is also useful in treating tennis elbow. Also, gently massage the region around the elbow joint and the forearm with avocado oil twice a day to reduce stiffness and pain. Include natural sources of omega 3 like flax seeds, salmon and mackerel in your diet, as this chemical helps greatly in curing the inflammation of joints.