Symptoms not Caused by Tennis Elbow

While most people will not rush off to the doctor the minute they get a pain in their elbow, if you do repetitive movements with your arms and elbows, you should be aware of the symptoms of Tennis Elbow and what to look for. This is one syndrome that should not scare you as 90 percent of cases are cured within 6 weeks after physical therapy treatment and will not impede your life.

On the flip side, if you experience the following symptoms, they may not be caused by tennis elbow but by a more serious condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

These symptoms include:

Pain that wakes you from your sleep.
Tennis Elbow, while painful, rarely wakes you up. Any pain that awakens you from your sleep should be examined by a medical professional. Pain is your body’s
way of telling you that something is wrong. When pain awakens you, it is time to go to the doctor.

Pain that continues for more than a week.
This can be Tennis Elbow as well as other types of pain. Any pain that persists is
something that you should talk to your doctor about. This is especially true if the pain gets continually worse.

Bruising in the area.
This is an indication that you can have a contusion or a fracture in the arm. This should be looked at by the doctor. Any bruising or swelling can indicate a contusion (which is really just what happens when you badly bang your arm) or a fracture. When you bang your arm, you will get a black and blue mark. But if the swelling does not go down after a day and remains discolored, see your doctor.

Unable to bend your wrist without pain.
This can be indicative of a more serious condition or even a broken wrist. Some people experience fractures without even realizing that there is something wrong. You should talk to your doctor if you cannot bend your wrist, hand or arm without experiencing pain.

Losing your grip on doorknobs, dropping things, etc.
This can also be indicative of a more serious illness or syndrome and should not be ignored. Talk to your doctor about this. While we all drop things occasionally and lose our grip, if it is happening repeatedly to you, it can be indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome or another condition.