What Should I Do If My Tennis Elbow Hurts All the Time?

Reviewed by Tomas Diaz, MD

Emergency Medicine

Tennis elbow typically improves with rest and targeted rehabilitation exercises that reduce pain and build strength. Taking appropriate steps early can prevent additional injury and help manage discomfort long-term.

Explanation

When tennis elbow causes constant pain, the first step is modifying your activities to prevent further injury. Start by resting your arm from pain-causing movements and applying ice to reduce swelling. While over-the-counter pain relievers can provide relief, use them only as directed. Wearing a brace or strap during activities can also limit inflammation and help reduce tendon strain. If these simple treatments don't provide relief, a physical therapist or sports medicine provider can develop a personalized rehabilitation program to heal your elbow and prevent future flare-ups.

(References)

Bisset L, Coombes B, Vicenzino B. Tennis elbow. BMJ Clin Evid. 2011 Jun 27;2011:1117. PMID: 21708051; PMCID: PMC3217754.
Loew LM, Brosseau L, Tugwell P, Wells GA, Welch V, Shea B, Poitras S, De Angelis G, Rahman P. Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 8;2014(11):CD003528. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003528.pub2. PMID: 25380079; PMCID: PMC7154576.
Orchard J, Kountouris A. The management of tennis elbow. BMJ. 2011 May 10;342:d2687. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d2687. PMID: 21558359.

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