Dealing with Tennis Elbow: Should you consider surgery?

A large percentage of tennis players suffer from tennis elbow which is actually a painful condition. Tenderness at the joints and weakening of the muscles are often felt by the person who experiences tennis elbow conditions. In most cases, doctors prescribe over the counter medicines such as NSAIDs to reduce inflammation and discomfort.

Temporary solutions include applying ice on the affected area can minimize swelling and pain. Rest is also advisable to prevent further complications from tennis elbow. Tennis elbow surgery is the last option when all other interventions have failed to address the condition.

When to consider the surgical option

Tennis elbow surgery is advisable when symptoms such as soreness and pain persists for at least 6 months and all other measures have been exhausted. Because of such situation, the individual is unproductive due to inability to perform simple tasks such as lifting or carrying objects. There are also instances where doctors have administered corticosteroid injections which resulted to failure. Tennis elbow surgery would then be the last option.

There are two types of tennis elbow surgery, namely, traditional open surgery or arthroscopic surgery that uses special instruments to repair the tendons. Usually, an overnight stay at the hospital is required for full recovery. Local or general anesthesia can be applied depending on the doctor’s evaluation. Arm movement should be minimized and patient needs to be very comfortable.

Cons of tennis elbow surgery

After tennis elbow surgery, you may feel certain loss of ability to straighten the arm. Sometimes, elbow pain can still be felt.Like any surgery, infection, blood loss or nerve damage is very possible. Anesthesia may also have some side effects after surgery. For certain, the muscle strength is decreased after tennis elbow surgery.

Recovery from tennis elbow surgery-

If one wants to enhance recover from tennis elbow surgery, then the following advice are useful:
1. Avoid smoking since this delays the healing process of the wound
2. Get into a physical rehabilitation program
3. Make some changes in activities or even avoid doing things that makes use of the arm.

Truly, tennis elbow surgery such be the last resort for a person with tennis elbow. It is a very invasive procedure with potential risks. Tennis elbow can be prevented by stretching and spacing break between practice days.