Tennis elbow primarily hurts on the outside of your elbow, specifically where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to the bony bump called the lateral epicondyle.
Understanding the Pain of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, isn't just about elbow pain. The discomfort stems from inflammation or, more accurately, micro-tearing of the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the lateral epicondyle. This is the bony prominence on the outer side of your elbow.
-
Primary Pain Location: The pain is most intense directly over the lateral epicondyle. You can usually pinpoint this spot with your finger.
-
Pain Radiating: The pain can then radiate down your forearm towards your wrist. Sometimes it can even be felt in the upper arm.
Common Symptoms and Pain Characteristics
Here's a breakdown of how the pain manifests:
- Gradual Onset: Often, the pain starts subtly and gradually worsens over weeks or months.
- Pain Aggravated by Movement: Actions that involve gripping, lifting, or twisting your forearm – even simple things like turning a doorknob or shaking hands – will likely increase the pain.
- Tenderness to the Touch: The area around the lateral epicondyle will be tender to the touch.
- Weak Grip Strength: You might notice that your grip is weaker than usual.
Factors That Can Influence Pain Location and Intensity
Several factors can influence the exact location and intensity of your tennis elbow pain:
- Severity of the Condition: More severe cases, with more extensive tendon damage, will typically result in more widespread and intense pain.
- Individual Anatomy: Slight variations in individual anatomy can affect the specific location where pain is most pronounced.
- Activities: The types of activities you engage in will influence the pain. Certain movements will aggravate the affected tendons more than others.
In Summary
Tennis elbow hurts primarily on the outside of the elbow at the lateral epicondyle, with potential pain radiating down the forearm. Pain is often exacerbated by gripping, lifting, and twisting movements.
