What you may feel
- Pain or burning near the bony outer side of the elbow.
- Lifting a cup, shaking hands or carrying a bag may hurt.
- Extending or turning the wrist may aggravate symptoms.
- Pain sometimes extends along the outer forearm.
- Grip may feel weaker because of pain, even in non-athletes.
How it is assessed
Assessment considers grip strength, pain with wrist movement and work demands.
Describe tasks that have become difficult, such as dressing, gripping or raising the arm. Mention night pain, finger numbness or strength changes.
Approaches to care
Care includes adjusting load and progressively exercising the tendon. Progress is reviewed over time.
Set practical goals with your clinician, such as better sleep, dressing or everyday hand use. Activity changes are adapted to your abilities.
When to seek urgent help
Major injury, a deformed joint, sudden loss of arm strength, or a hot red joint with fever need prompt medical assessment.
Further reading: AAOS OrthoInfo
This is educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Similar symptoms alone do not establish a diagnosis.