Tennis elbow treatment options

No active treatment

. Resting the arm and avoiding doing things that make it worse.

Benefits

Pain from tennis elbow usually lasts for 6 to12 weeks. In some people it can go after as little as three weeks. It is likely to settle more quickly if you can avoid any activities that bring on symptoms. There are no side-effects and there is no need for hospital treatment. You can choose another option at any time.

Risks

In about 1 in 10 people, pain can last for longer than 12 months. Once you have had tennis elbow, it may return. It may already have an impact on your life and well-being. It can be very hard to rest your arm, even just with usual day-to-day activities.

Ice cubes in a plastic bag

, held on the elbow for 10 minutes repeatedly.

Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

, such as ibuprofen gel.

Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

, such as ibuprofen as a tablet.

Nitrate (GTN) patches

, applied daily to the skin over the elbow.

Benefits

Simple and will ease pain for a while. Avoids potential side-effects from medication.

Can reduce pain a little. Less risk of side-effects compared with oral NSAIDs.

Sometimes helps to ease the pain.

Can help to reduce pain over 1-3 months. About 4 in 5 people are pain-free after 6 months.

Risks

Need to be prepared to apply it for up to 10 minutes at a time. Often need to repeat as relief does not last very long.

Rarely, the gel can irritate the skin.

Stomach pain is common. Bleeding from the stomach is the most serious side-effect. Other medication can be prescribed to protect the stomach if necessary. Some people with asthma, high blood pressure, kidney problems and heart failure may not be able to take NSAIDs.

1 in 5 people will not be better after six months of treatment. Potential side-effects include headaches, dizziness and low blood pressure.
There may be no further benefits after six months of treatment.

Supportive strap

. Small disc of plastic with a Velcro® strap that is fastened around the arm, just below the elbow.

Physiotherapy

. Can use a variety of treatments including exercises, soft tissue massage, ultrasound, laser therapy, acupuncture, and nerve mobilisations.

Benefits

Can help to reduce pain by taking the pressure away from the tendon insertion. This may help to allow natural healing.

There is some evidence that exercises can help the tendon to repair and therefore improve the chances of long-term benefit. Low-level laser treatment may be effective in the short term.

Risks

Some people do not find this helpful. Some people find it uncomfortable to wear.

Requires time and repeated visits to a physiotherapist. Most physiotherapy treatments have uncertain effectiveness.

Steroid (cortisone) injection

. An injection into the painful area.

Injecting part of your own blood

. This procedure is generally only considered if other treatments have failed, as research is ongoing.

Botulinum toxin A injections

Benefits

In the short term often helps to reduce the pain during the first 3 months. It can be useful if you absolutely have to be able to use the arm in the near future.

Long-term outcomes may be better than steroid injection. It is thought that blood helps to heal the tendon.

Has been shown to be effective in some studies.

Risks

A number of studies have shown that for many people, the pain tends to come back and the problem may recur more often than for other treatments. May be a painful injection and can ache for a few days. Potential side-effects include infection, shrinking (atrophy) of the fatty tissue under the skin, change in skin colour, bruising, bleeding and, rarely, damage to the tendon.

Not enough evidence to suggest better than other treatments. May be a painful injection. May require more than one hospital visit. Potential side-effects include infection, bruising, and bleeding. May not be available locally.

May be a painful injection.

May not be available locally.

Sometimes offered as an alternative treatment to surgery.

Surgery. Only considered if other treatments have failed and symptoms have been present for over 12 months. Involves an incision and release of the tendon.

Benefits

Good to excellent long-term results have been reported.

Risks

It can take up to six months to recover fully from the operation. Potential side-effects include infection and a small risk of damage to other structures - eg, nerves or blood vessels. Usually reserved for people who have more severe and more long-standing problems.