Self-care

• If tennis elbow pain is severe or affects your ability to function, self-care can provide relief. Initial treatment usually involves protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation, also known as the PRICE method. Avoid using the joint to protect it from further damage. Rest your elbow for several weeks to give the injury time to heal. Wear a forearm splint at night to reduce morning pain. Apply an ice pack to the area immediately after the injury occurs to limit swelling. Try slush baths or ice massages for potential relief. Compress the affected area with a bandage or elastic wrap and elevate your elbow so that it stays above your heart to prevent swelling.
  
  Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, and anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, can provide short-term relief. However, these medications can cause gastrointestinal problems when taken regularly over an extended period of time.
  
  

Professional Care

• If you still have pain and reduced functioning, your doctor may recommend consulting an expert to find better ways to move your arm during tennis or at work without causing additional stress or further injury. These techniques usually involve using your upper arm muscles and keeping your wrist straight while lifting or swinging. A tennis expert may also recommend using a racquet that does not place as much stress on the injured area. Your doctor may advise use of an arm brace, which can relieve pain by allowing your muscles to rest. A physical therapist can show you how to strengthen and stretch your forearm muscles. Physical therapy may include muscle stimulation to improve healing.
  
  Corticosteroid injections in the damaged muscle can provide relief for persistent pain and cab reduce inflammation and swelling. Corticosteroids applied directly on your skin can also reduce pain.
  
  

Surgery

• If pain persists for longer than six months, even with self- and professional care, your doctor may recommend surgery to replace damaged tissue with healthy tissue. Only about one in 10 patients requires surgery for tennis elbow, according to the Mayo Clinic. Open surgery involves making an incision above the elbow. Arthroscopic surgery involves using tiny instruments to make smaller incisions. Both types are usually outpatient procedures, meaning you will not be kept in the hospital overnight. Risks from surgery include loss of strength or flexibility, blood vessel or nerve damage and infection.
  
  After gradual strengthening exercises, normal activities can usually resume within four to six months. The success rate for surgery falls between 80 percent and 90 percent, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.