Tennis elbow is a very painful condition that can keep a person out of work. It happens when there is pain and inflammation in the tendons on the outside of the elbow. When the joint bends, these tendons are stretched and strained, which can lead to microtearing or tearing which actually can be visualized on a MRI, and can cause a person significant pain. They may feel that they have lost strength in their arm or that there are certain physical activities they just can’t do anymore because it’s so painful.
This condition is also called lateral epicondylitis, and it is important to note that you certainly don’t have to play tennis to develop it. In actuality, it’s a repetitive motion injury. It has just been nicknamed “tennis elbow” because the motion of swinging a tennis racket often causes it. But someone who has to do a similar repetitive motion on the job could also develop the same inflammation, tenderness, and significant pain when they bend their elbow.
Can at-home treatments help?
There are some potential treatments that may help. Some people take painkillers that have anti-inflammatory components to try to reduce the inflammation and discomfort. Others use compression sleeves. Still others treat it with heat packs or ice packs.
But all of these treatments just address the general symptoms the person is facing. They don’t actually repair the damage, which could flare back up at any time. If the person continues making the motion that caused the injury, it may be impossible for their elbow to truly heal without medical intervention, such as cortisone injections or surgery.
Seeking workers’ comp benefits
Are you interested in finding out if you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits because your actions on the job led to tennis elbow or some other repetitive motion injury? Please get in touch with our firm today to find out more about your legal options.