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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. Tennis elbow is diagnosed from your symptoms and how your arm moves on camera, and treated with rest, a strap, exercises and pain relief; injections and surgery are in person.
- What it is: an overuse injury of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow affects the inside.
- Who gets it: anyone who grips, twists or lifts repeatedly, most often between the ages of 35 and 54; more than 9 in 10 people with it do not get it from tennis.
- How long it lasts: it often settles with a few weeks of rest, but recovery usually takes about 6 months and can take up to 18.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for a hot, swollen elbow with a fever, or an elbow that looks deformed or cannot move after a fall.
Do not book a video appointment if your elbow is hot, red and swollen and you have a fever or feel unwell, if it looks misshapen or you cannot bend it after a fall or injury, or if you think a bone could be broken. Call 112 or go to an emergency department.
Can an online doctor treat tennis elbow?
Yes, usually. Tennis elbow is diagnosed from where it hurts and which movements bring the pain on, and both work by video: the doctor asks about your work and sport, and watches you grip, lift and turn your wrist on camera. Most people get better with rest from the movement that caused it, a strap or brace, exercises and pain relief. Injections, shockwave therapy and surgery are in person, and the doctor tells you when they are worth considering. Golfer’s elbow is assessed and treated the same way.
How an online consultation helps with tennis elbow
- The cause found: Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, a swollen bursa or a nerve problem hurt in different places and in different ways.
- The movement that triggers it: Your work, sport, tools and computer set-up, and the changes that take load off the tendon.
- Pain relief that suits you: Gel, tablets or neither, after the doctor checks your other medicines and conditions.
- A plan for the months ahead: Exercises to rebuild the tendon, when physiotherapy helps, and when an injection or surgery is worth discussing.
What the doctor checks in an online tennis elbow consultation
The doctor rules out the warning signs first, then looks at the pattern of your pain. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: a hot, swollen elbow with a fever, a fall or injury, an elbow that looks misshapen or will not bend.
- Where it hurts: the outside of the elbow, the inside, the tip, or the forearm and wrist.
- What brings it on: gripping, lifting, shaking hands, turning a doorknob, typing or using tools.
- Nerve symptoms: numbness or tingling in the fingers, or weakness in the hand.
- Your work and sport: repetitive tasks, hours a day, racket sports, and your technique and equipment.
- Your health: smoking, diabetes, earlier elbow problems, and the medicines you take.
Before the call, wear a short-sleeved top, and have the object or tool that brings the pain on to hand so you can show the movement.
What is tennis elbow, and how do you get it?
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. Repeated tensing of the muscles that straighten and raise the wrist and hand breaks down the tendon fibres, causing pain and inflammation. Less often it follows an injury, and often no single cause is found.
Despite the name, most people with tennis elbow do not play tennis: more than 9 in 10 get it from something else. Activities that can cause it include:
- computer work, especially heavy use of a mouse, and typing
- using screwdrivers, plumbing tools or a paintbrush, and cutting food such as meat
- sewing and playing a musical instrument
- racket sports, especially backhands with poor form
- lifting heavy loads regularly
It is most common between the ages of 35 and 54. Plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks are at higher risk, and so are people who smoke, are overweight, or play racket sports for more than 2 hours a day.
What does tennis elbow feel like?
The main symptom is pain on the outside of the elbow. It ranges from mild discomfort when you use the arm to constant pain that disturbs sleep, and it is often sharp or burning. It can spread down the forearm to the wrist. Other signs:
- pain when you lift or bend the arm, grip something, or turn your wrist
- difficulty shaking hands, turning a doorknob or holding a cup
- tenderness or slight swelling over the outside of the elbow
- stiffness, difficulty straightening the arm fully, and a weaker grip
How do you know if it is tennis elbow?
Pain that sits on the bony bump on the outside of the elbow, is tender when you press it, and is brought on by gripping and lifting is the typical pattern. A doctor confirms it by asking about your symptoms and watching how your arm moves.
Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?
They are the same kind of tendon injury on opposite sides of the elbow:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Feature | Tennis elbow | Golfer’s elbow |
|---|---|---|
| Where it hurts | The outside of the elbow | The inside of the elbow, nearer the body |
| What makes it worse | Gripping, lifting and turning the wrist | Gripping, lifting, making a fist and bending the wrist |
| Other symptoms | Pain spreading to the forearm and wrist, a weak grip | Weak hand or wrist, and sometimes numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers |
| Common causes | Computer work, tools, racket sports | Racket and throwing sports, weight training with poor form, building trades |
| Who gets it | Mostly aged 35 to 54 | Mostly aged 40 and over, with repetitive movements for 2 or more hours a day |
What gets mistaken for tennis elbow?
Pain on the inner side is golfer’s elbow. A soft swelling at the tip of the elbow is usually bursitis. Numbness or tingling in the fingers needs the nerves checked, and pain after a fall needs an examination for a fracture. Tendon pain elsewhere is covered on the tendonitis page.
How long does tennis elbow last?
It often improves after a few weeks of rest, but tendons heal slowly. Recovery usually takes about 6 months, some people need up to 18 months, and almost everyone makes a full recovery. Carrying on with the movement that caused it before the tendon has healed raises the risk of a tear.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Time | What usually happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 weeks | Pain often eases with rest from the trigger | See a doctor if it has not improved after 2 weeks of self-care |
| 6 weeks | Most people are improving | Physiotherapy if symptoms persist after 6 weeks of home treatment |
| About 6 months | Most people have recovered | Keep up strengthening, and return to sport and work gradually |
| 6 to 12 months or more | A few still have pain | Surgery can be considered, though it is rarely needed |
Which tennis elbow treatment might the doctor recommend?
There is no single best cure: the treatments that work best are rest from the movement that caused it, then exercises that build the tendon back up. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer or inner elbow pain from gripping, for a few weeks | Rest from the trigger, a strap or brace, ice or heat, pain relief and exercises | Yes | Not usually needed |
| No better after 2 weeks of self-care | A review, prescription pain relief if it suits you, and exercises | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Still painful after 6 weeks | Physiotherapy | Partly | For physiotherapy |
| Still painful after several months | Shockwave therapy, an injection or, rarely, surgery | Partly | For the procedure |
| Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand | Assessment of the nerves | Yes, to assess | For nerve tests |
| A hot, swollen elbow with a fever, or a misshapen elbow after a fall | Emergency assessment | No | Call 112 or go to an emergency department |
Not sure whether your elbow pain is tennis elbow? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for tennis elbow
What you can do yourself
- Avoid or cut down the activities that bring the pain on, and change how you grip tools, rackets or your mouse.
- Hold a hot or cold pack, such as frozen peas wrapped in a towel, on the elbow for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours.
- Do simple bending and straightening exercises, then build up stretching and strengthening of the wrist and forearm.
- Wear a forearm strap, or a wrist or elbow brace, to rest the tendon; they are sold in pharmacies.
- Take paracetamol, or rub an anti-inflammatory gel such as ibuprofen gel on the elbow.
Ibuprofen gel is flammable: do not smoke or go near a naked flame while it is on your skin, because there is a risk of severe burns.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If gels and paracetamol are not enough, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory tablets such as naproxen for a short time, after checking your stomach, kidneys, heart and other medicines. Opioid painkillers such as codeine and tramadol are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
Treatments in person
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Treatment | What it involves | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapy | Massage, and stretching and strengthening of the wrist and forearm | Recommended if symptoms persist after 6 weeks of home treatment |
| Steroid injection | An injection near the tendon | May not help when symptoms have lasted more than 6 weeks |
| Shockwave therapy | Pressure waves aimed at the tendon to help it heal | An option when pain persists |
| Platelet-rich plasma | An injection made from your own blood platelets | An option when pain persists |
| Surgery | Repairing or releasing the damaged tendon | Very rarely needed; considered after 6 to 12 months |
What not to do with tennis elbow
Carrying on with the movement that caused it, which slows healing and risks a tear. Playing through the pain. Using ibuprofen gel near a flame or while smoking. Expecting a cure in days: tendons take months.
Special situations
Desk work
Heavy mouse use and typing are common triggers. Take regular breaks, and see the repetitive strain injury page for workstation changes.
Racket sports, golf and the gym
Warm up, use good technique, ideally with feedback from a coach, and use equipment that fits you and is not too heavy. Keep the wrist firm when you lift, and stop when the pain starts rather than pushing through it. Other sports injuries are covered on the sports injuries page.
Manual jobs
Plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers, cooks and builders are at higher risk. Lighter tools, a different grip and regular breaks reduce the strain, and the doctor can suggest how to stay at work while the tendon heals.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When tennis elbow is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, pain relief, straps and braces, exercises, advice for work and sport, and elbow pain that is slow to settle.
In-person care: physiotherapy, injections, shockwave therapy and surgery, nerve tests for numbness or weakness, and any injury or emergency sign.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a hot, red, swollen elbow with a fever or feeling unwell
- an elbow that looks misshapen, or that you cannot bend, after a fall or injury
- a suspected broken bone
Get medical advice the same day for:
- new numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand
- a sudden pop or snap at the elbow, followed by pain and weakness
- elbow pain that is severe and getting worse
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your elbow: show where it hurts on camera, say what brings it on at work or in sport, and show the movement.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s tennis elbow? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Tendonitis can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about tennis elbow
What is tennis elbow?
An overuse injury of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. It causes pain on the outside of the elbow when you grip, lift or turn your wrist.
What does tennis elbow feel like?
Pain on the outside of the elbow, often sharp or burning, that can spread down the forearm. It hurts to grip, lift, shake hands or turn a doorknob, and the grip can feel weaker.
What causes tennis elbow if I do not play tennis?
Repeated gripping and twisting at work or at home, such as heavy mouse use, typing, screwdrivers, painting, plumbing tools or cutting meat. More than 9 in 10 people with tennis elbow get it from something other than tennis.
How long does tennis elbow last?
Tennis elbow often improves after a few weeks of rest, but recovery usually takes about 6 months and can take up to 18 months. Almost everyone recovers fully.
What is the best cure for tennis elbow?
There is no single cure for tennis elbow. Rest from the movement that caused it, a forearm strap or brace, ice or heat, pain relief, and exercises to strengthen the forearm work best, with physiotherapy if it lasts beyond 6 weeks.
What can I do at home for tennis elbow?
Rest the arm from the gripping, twisting or lifting that set it off, but keep using it for light tasks; hold an ice pack on the elbow for about 10 minutes a few times a day; take paracetamol or use an ibuprofen gel if it suits you; wear a forearm strap just below the elbow for gripping tasks; and, once the sharp pain eases, do slow forearm stretches and strengthening every day. Tennis elbow improves over weeks to months, so be patient.
What should you not do with tennis elbow?
With tennis elbow, do not keep doing the movement that caused it or play through the pain, and do not use ibuprofen gel near a flame or while smoking, because it is flammable.
How do I know if it is tennis elbow?
The pain sits on the bony bump on the outside of the elbow, is tender to press, and is brought on by gripping and lifting. Pain on the inner side is golfer’s elbow, and a swelling at the tip of the elbow is usually bursitis.
What is golfer’s elbow?
The same kind of tendon injury on the inside of the elbow. It hurts when you grip, lift or bend the wrist, and it can cause tingling in the ring and little fingers. It is treated in the same way as tennis elbow.
Do elbow straps help tennis elbow?
A forearm strap or a wrist or elbow brace can rest the tendon and ease the pain while it heals. They are sold in pharmacies.
How can I prevent tennis elbow?
Build up any new gripping, lifting or racket activity gradually, and warm up the forearm first; keep the forearm muscles strong with wrist curls and grip exercises; use tools and rackets with a thicker grip; lift with your palm up and elbow bent rather than reaching out with a straight arm; take breaks from repetitive work; and get coaching on technique in tennis, golf or climbing, since a poor backhand is the classic cause of tennis elbow.
Do steroid injections help tennis elbow?
Steroid injections for tennis elbow are an option when pain persists, but they may not help if symptoms have lasted more than 6 weeks, and exercises remain the main treatment.
Can tennis elbow be cured permanently?
Almost everyone with tennis elbow recovers fully, though it can take 6 to 18 months, and it can come back if the same overuse continues. Strengthening the forearm with slow, loaded wrist exercises, learning good technique in racket sports or at work, lighter tools with thicker grips, and building up new activity gradually all lower the chance of it coming back.
Can an online doctor treat tennis elbow?
Yes, usually. A doctor can diagnose tennis elbow from your symptoms and how your arm moves on camera, advise on rest, straps, exercises and pain relief, and tell you when physiotherapy, an injection or surgery is worth considering.
- Tennis elbow, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 31 May 2024.
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), Cleveland Clinic (US), reviewed 9 August 2026.
- Tennis elbow: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), 29 April 2025.
- Golfer’s elbow: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), 23 May 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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