Also see Epicondylitis, Epicondylalgia, and Tendomyopathy programs.Encyclopedia Entry for Tennis Elbow :Tennis elbow surgery - discharge. Soon after surgery, severe pain will decrease, but you may have mild soreness for 3 to 6 months.Place an ice pack on the dressing (bandage) over your wound (incision) 4 to 6 times a day for about 20 minutes each time. Ice helps keep swelling down. Wrap the ice pack in a clean towel or cloth. DO NOT place it directly on the dressing. Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or other similar medicines may help. Ask your doctor about using them. Your doctor may give you a prescription for pain medicines. Get it filled on your way home so you have it when you need it.The first week after surgery you may have a thick bandage or a splint. You should begin moving your arm gently, as recommended by your surgeon. After the first week, your bandage, splint, and stitches will be removed. Keep your bandage and your wound clean and dry. Your surgeon will tell you when it is OK to change your dressing. Also change your dressing if it gets dirty or wet. You will likely see your surgeon in about 1 week.You should start stretching exercises after the splint is removed to increase flexibility and range of motion. The surgeon may also refer you to see a physical therapist to work on stretching and strengthening your forearm muscles. This can begin after 3 to 4 weeks. Keep doing the exercises for as long as you are told. This helps ensure tennis elbow will not return. You may be prescribed a wrist brace. If so, wear it to avoid extending your wrist and pulling on the repaired elbow tendon. You should be able to return to normal activity and sports after 4 to 6 months.After the operation, call the surgeon if you notice any of the following around your elbow: Swelling Severe or increased pain Changes in skin color around or below your elbow Numbness or tingling in your fingers or hand Your hand or fingers look darker than normal or are cool to the touch Other worrying symptoms, such as increase in pain, redness, or drainage.Lateral epicondylitis surgery - discharge; Lateral tendinosis surgery - discharge; Lateral tennis elbow surgery - discharge.Adams JE, Steinmann SP. Elbow tendinopathies and tendon ruptures.Encyclopedia Entry for Tennis Elbow :Tennis elbow surgery. Surgery to repair tennis elbow is often an outpatient surgery. This means you will not stay in the hospital overnight. You will be given medicine (sedative) to help you relax and make you sleepy. Numbing medicine (anesthesia) is given in your arm. This blocks pain during your surgery. You may be awake or asleep with general anesthesia during the surgery. If you have open surgery, your surgeon will make one cut (incision) over your injured tendon. The unhealthy part of the tendon is scraped away. The surgeon may repair the tendon using something called a suture anchor. Or, it may be stitched to other tendons. When the surgery is over, the cut is closed with stitches. Sometimes, tennis elbow surgery is done using an arthroscope. This is a thin tube with a tiny camera and light on the end. Before surgery, you will get the same medicines as in open surgery to make you relax and to block pain. The surgeon makes 1 or 2 small cuts, and inserts the scope. The scope is attached to a video monitor. This helps your surgeon see inside the elbow area. The surgeon scrapes away the unhealthy part of the tendon.You may need surgery if you: Have tried other treatments for at least 3 months Are having pain that limits your activity Treatments you should try first include: Limiting activity or sports to rest your arm. Changing the sports equipment you are using. Taking medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Doing exercises to relieve pain as recommended by the doctor or physical therapist. Making workplace changes to improve your sitting position and how you use equipment at work. Wearing elbow splints or braces to rest your muscles and tendons. Getting shots of steroid medicine, such as cortisone. This is done by your doctor.Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are: Reactions to medicines or breathing problems Bleeding , blood clots , or infection Risks of tennis elbow surgery are: Loss of strength in your forearm Decreased range of motion in your elbow Need for long-term physical therapy Injury to nerves or blood vessels Scar that is sore when you touch it Need for more surgery.You should: Tell the surgeon about all the medicines you take, including those bought without a prescription. This includes herbs, supplements, and vitamins. Follow instructions about stopping medicines that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve). Ask your doctor which medicines you should still take on the day of your surgery. Stop smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can slow healing. Ask your health care provider for help. Tell your surgeon if you have a cold, flu, fever, or other sickness before your surgery. Follow instructions about not eating or drinking anything before surgery. Arrive at the surgery center when your surgeon or nurse told you to. Be sure to arrive on time.After the surgery: Your elbow and arm will likely have a thick bandage or a splint. You can go home when effects of the sedative wear off. Follow instructions on how to care for your wound and arm at home. This includes taking medicine to ease pain from the surgery. You should begin moving your arm gently, as recommended by your surgeon.Tennis elbow surgery relieves pain for most people. Many people are able to return to sports and other activities that use the elbow within 4 to 6 months. Keeping up with recommended exercise helps ensure the problem will not return.Lateral epicondylitis - surgery; Lateral tendinosis - surgery; Lateral tennis elbow - surgery.Adams JE, Steinmann SP. Elbow tendinopathies and tendon ruptures.Encyclopedia Entry for Tennis Elbow :Tennis elbow. The part of the muscle that attaches to a bone is called a tendon. Some of the muscles in your forearm attach to the bone on the outside of your elbow. When you use these muscles over and over again, small tears develop in the tendon. Over time, this leads to irritation and pain where the tendon is attached to the bone. This injury is common in people who play a lot of tennis or other racket sports, hence the name 'tennis elbow.' Backhand is the most common stroke to cause symptoms. But any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist (like using a screwdriver) can lead to this condition. Painters, plumbers, construction workers, cooks, and butchers are all more likely to develop tennis elbow. This condition may also be due to constant computer keyboard and mouse use. People between 35 to 54 years old are commonly affected. Sometimes, there is no known cause of tennis elbow.Symptoms can include any of the following: Elbow pain that gets worse over time Pain that radiates from the outside of the elbow to the forearm and back of the hand when grasping or twisting Weak grasp.Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The exam may show: Pain or tenderness when the tendon is gently pressed near where it attaches to the upper arm bone, over the outside of the elbow Pain near the elbow when the wrist is bent backward against resistance An MRI may be done to confirm the diagnosis.The first step is to rest your arm for 2 or 3 weeks and avoid or modify the activity that causes your symptoms. You may also want to: Put ice on the outside of your elbow 2 to 3 times a day. Take NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. If your tennis elbow is due to sports activity, you may want to: Ask your provider about any changes you can make to your technique. Check the sports equipment you are using to see if any changes may help. If you play tennis, changing the grip size of the racket may help. Think about how often you play, and whether you should cut back. If your symptoms are related to working on a computer, ask your manager about changing your workstation or your chair, desk, and computer setup. For example, a wrist support or a roller mouse may help. A physical therapist can show you exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your forearm. You can buy a special brace (night splint) for tennis elbow at most drugstores. It wraps around the upper part of your forearm and takes some of the pressure off the muscles. Your provider may also inject cortisone and a numbing medicine around the area where the tendon attaches to the bone. This may help decrease the swelling and pain. If the pain continues after 6 months of rest and treatment, surgery may be recommended. Talk with your orthopedic surgeon about the risks and whether surgery might help.Elbow pain may get better without surgery. But most people who have surgery have full use of their forearm and elbow afterwards.Call for an appointment with your provider if: This is the first time you have had these symptoms Home treatment does not relieve the symptoms.Epitrochlear bursitis; Lateral epicondylitis; Epicondylitis - lateral; Tendonitis - elbow.Elbow - side view Elbow - side view.Adams JE, Steinmann SP. Elbow tendinopathies and tendon ruptures.