Tennis Elbow Pain & Treatment
Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation on the outer part of the elbow Call us today to make an appointment for tennis Elbow pain treatment we serve patients across New York and New Jersey, including communities such as Plainview, Ronkonkoma, New Hyde Park, Montville, and Plainfield.
Tennis Elbow Overview
Tennis elbow — medically called lateral epicondylitis — is pain on the outer side of the elbow from overusing the forearm tendons. You don’t have to play tennis to get it; any repetitive gripping or wrist motion can cause it. The good news: most cases heal without surgery. Our orthopedic and sports medicine team treats it across Long Island and northern New Jersey, with offices in Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma, NY, and Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield, NJ.
The short version
- Tennis elbow is an overuse injury of the tendons on the outer elbow.
- The main symptom is pain and tenderness on the outer elbow, worse with gripping and lifting.
- The cornerstone of treatment is rest, bracing, and physical therapy — not surgery.
- The large majority of cases resolve with conservative care, though it can take several months.
What tennis elbow is
Tennis elbow develops when the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the outer part of the elbow become irritated or start to break down from repetitive stress. Gripping, twisting, and repeated wrist motions — from sports, work, or everyday tasks — are common triggers. It’s a wear-and-overload problem, not a sudden tear, which is why it usually responds to unloading and strengthening the tendon rather than to surgery.
The hallmark symptom is pain and tenderness on the outer elbow that worsens with gripping, lifting, or shaking hands, and may radiate down the forearm.
How tennis elbow is treated
Treatment is conservative and works well for most people. According to Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, the ladder looks like this:
- Relative rest and activity modification — easing off the aggravating motion, or adjusting technique and ergonomics, is the critical first step.
- Bracing and ice — a counterforce forearm strap changes how force travels through the tendon; ice and anti-inflammatory medication help flares.
- Physical therapy — eccentric strengthening exercises are highly effective at stimulating tendon healing and preventing recurrence.
- Injections — for stubborn cases, a corticosteroid injection offers short-term relief, or PRP therapy may support tendon healing.
- Surgery — rarely needed, and only considered if symptoms persist for many months despite full conservative treatment.
Straight talk: Tennis elbow can be slow and frustrating to heal, and it rarely needs surgery. The reliable path is a well-designed strengthening program plus patience with load management — not a quick injection or a rushed operation. We’ll set realistic expectations with you.
Are you a candidate for treatment?
It’s worth being evaluated when:
- You have persistent outer-elbow pain that worsens with gripping or lifting
- Rest and home care haven’t resolved it
- The pain is affecting work or daily activities
- You want a structured plan to recover and keep it from coming back
Related conditions
If your pain is on the inner side of the elbow instead, see our golfer’s elbow page. If you also have tingling into the fingers, see cubital tunnel syndrome, or return to our elbow pain overview.
Why patients across Long Island and North Jersey choose Empire
We’re a local orthopedic and sports medicine practice, so your evaluation, therapy, and follow-up all happen close to home with the same team.
- New York: Plainview, New Hyde Park, and Ronkonkoma — across Nassau and Suffolk
- New Jersey: Clifton, Montville, and Plainfield — serving Passaic, Morris, and Union County communities
- Orthopedics and sports medicine under one roof
- Regenerative options like PRP for stubborn tendon problems
Insurance
Coverage varies by plan and by location, and we accept many major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. The simplest way to know exactly what your plan covers is to call — our team will verify your benefits before your visit, so there are no surprises. Whether you’re on Long Island or in North Jersey, reach out and we’ll walk you through your options.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the fastest way to recover from tennis elbow?
Starting early makes the biggest difference: rest the aggravating motion, use a counterforce brace, and begin a guided strengthening program. Rushing back to the activity that caused it is the most common reason it lingers.
What should I not do with tennis elbow?
Avoid pushing through the painful gripping and lifting that triggered it, and don’t rely on complete rest alone — tendons need gradual, guided loading to heal. A therapist can help you find the right balance.
What’s the root cause of tennis elbow?
Repetitive overload of the outer-elbow tendons beyond what they can handle. Over time this irritates and breaks down the tendon, producing pain.
How long does it take to heal?
Many cases improve within 6 to 12 weeks of consistent care, but full recovery can take several months, and longer in stubborn cases. Consistency with the strengthening program is what makes it stick.
Do I need surgery?
Rarely. The large majority of cases resolve without surgery. It’s considered only when symptoms persist for many months despite a full course of conservative treatment.
Can a brace fix tennis elbow?
A counterforce brace helps reduce strain on the tendon during activity, but it works best alongside physical therapy rather than on its own.
Outer-elbow pain when you grip or lift?
Our orthopedic and sports medicine team sees patients across Long Island, NY and northern New Jersey. We’ll confirm it’s tennis elbow and build a plan to get you back to activity.
New York: 516-229-1443 | New Jersey: 732-630-7246
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No Fault & Others.
We accept most major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. Select your state to see accepted plans.
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Accepted at our New Jersey Locations
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Lien Cases
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Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted at our New Jersey locations. Not sure about your plan? Call us and we'll verify before your visit.
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Monica Misak
Interventional Pain Specialist
Dr. James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.