Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

 

Specialist Upper Limb Assessment and Treatment in Rochdale

 

Tennis elbow is a common cause of pain on the outside of the elbow and forearm. Despite its name, it often affects people who do not play tennis and can significantly interfere with work, sport and everyday activities.

Mr Robin Seagger is a fellowship-trained shoulder and upper limb surgeon in Rochdale, specialising in the assessment and treatment of tennis elbow and related elbow conditions.

 

 

What is tennis elbow?

 

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is caused by overuse or degeneration of the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow.

 

Rather than being an inflammatory condition, it is usually due to:

 

• Microscopic tendon damage

• Tendon degeneration over time

• Repetitive gripping or wrist extension activities

 

It commonly affects the dominant arm.

 

 

Who gets tennis elbow?

 

Tennis elbow is commonly seen in:

 

• Manual workers

• Office workers using a mouse or keyboard extensively

• DIY enthusiasts

• Racquet sport players

• People aged 35–60

 

It often develops gradually without a single clear injury.

 

 

Common symptoms

 

Symptoms of tennis elbow may include:

 

• Pain on the outside of the elbow

• Pain when gripping, lifting or twisting

• Weakness in the forearm or hand

• Pain radiating into the forearm

• Difficulty with everyday tasks such as lifting a kettle or turning a door handle

 

Symptoms may fluctuate and can persist for many months if untreated.

 

 

How is tennis elbow diagnosed?

 

Diagnosis is usually based on:

 

• A detailed history of symptoms

• Clinical examination of the elbow and forearm

• Specific tests that reproduce pain

 

Imaging such as ultrasound or MRI is not always required but may be used in persistent or atypical cases.

 

 

Does tennis elbow get better on its own?

 

In many cases, tennis elbow does improve over time, but recovery can be slow and symptoms may last 6–18 months.

 

Treatment aims to:

 

• Reduce pain

• Improve tendon health

• Restore strength and function

• Shorten the duration of symptoms

 

 

Treatment options

 

 

Non-surgical treatment

 

Most patients improve without surgery. Treatment may include:

 

• Activity modification

• Physiotherapy with a focus on tendon loading exercises

• Bracing or supports in selected cases

• Pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medication

• Targeted injections in selected cases

 

Treatment is tailored to the individual and their work or sporting demands.

 

 

When is surgery considered?

 

Surgery may be considered when:

 

• Symptoms persist despite prolonged and appropriate non-surgical treatment

• Pain significantly affects work or quality of life

• There is clear tendon degeneration on imaging

 

Surgery is usually performed as a day-case procedure and aims to remove damaged tendon tissue and stimulate healing.

 

 

Why see a specialist upper limb surgeon?

 

Elbow pain can have several different causes, and treatment needs to be matched carefully to the diagnosis.

Mr Robin Seagger completed additional fellowship training in shoulder and upper limb surgery after qualifying as an orthopaedic surgeon.

 

His specialist focus allows:

 

• Accurate diagnosis of elbow conditions

• Avoidance of unnecessary or inappropriate treatments

• Individualised management plans

• Surgical intervention only when genuinely needed

 

This specialist approach helps maximise recovery and function.

 

 

Local specialist care in Rochdale

 

Mr Seagger treats patients from Rochdale, Bury, Oldham, Heywood and North Manchester, providing specialist upper limb care locally without the need to travel into central Manchester.

 

Consultations and procedures are carried out at The Highfield Hospital, Rochdale, with access to imaging, physiotherapy and comprehensive aftercare.

 

 

Arrange a consultation

 

If you are experiencing persistent pain on the outside of your elbow that is affecting work, sport or daily activities, a specialist assessment can help confirm the diagnosis and discuss the most appropriate treatment options.