For chronic tennis elbow, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever and a corticosteroid injection into the painful area. Usually no more than 3 such injections are performed. Surgery is a last resort.
For arthritis, physical therapy and analgesics may help. For infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
For bursitis, your doctor may need to drain fluid.
Prevention:
Reduce how much time you spend doing the activity that causes the pain.
Warm up slowly. Stretch the forearm before, during, and after exercise.
Use an "elbow sleeve" to help keep your elbow warm while playing.
Use ice or ibuprofen after the activity to prevent swelling and pain, if you have had an elbow injury in the past.
Prevent tennis elbow by using the correct grip size, a two-handed backhand, and racquet strings that are not too tight.
Wear an "elbow band" over an injured or rehabilitated area to prevent further injury and reduce pain.
Perform regular stretching and strengthening exercises (given to you by your physical therapist or doctor).
To prevent nursemaid's elbow in children, do not pull on a straightened arm. Avoid lifting or holding the child up by the hands or forearm. Children who get nursemaid's elbow once can easily get it again. Usually this is outgrown by age 4.
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