Tennis Elbow: What Happens

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What Happens

Tennis elbow pain is a symptom of tendon injury.

See an illustration of the tendon commonly involved in tennis elbow injury.

Overuse or stress can cause microtears in the tendon. This usually occurs because of repetitive motions of the arm or wrist. The longer you use an injured tendon, the more damaged it becomes.

The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow. Given enough rest, the tendon can mend on its own. However, if the activity continues, the weakened tendon becomes more vulnerable to tear or rupture from a sudden accidental blow, fall, or forceful movement.

With early rest and treatment, an injured tendon is likely to heal with minimal scar tissue and maximum strength. While a recent, mild tendon injury might need a few weeks of rest to heal, a severely damaged tendon can take months to mend. Corticosteroid injection may give you short-term pain relief to allow you to start a rehabilitation program, but may weaken tendon tissue if given too often.

• Mild soreness in the elbow that comes and goes may improve in 6 to 8 weeks.
• Prolonged elbow pain and soreness may improve in 6 to 12 months.
• Severe elbow pain or tennis elbow that doesn't improve with 6 to 12 months of tendon rest and rehabilitation may benefit from surgery.

Last updated:	February 14, 2007
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, David Pichora, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC