Symptoms of Tennis elbow

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Tennis elbow is characterised by pain and tenderness in the elbow and in the back of the forearm. This is made worse by using the elbow, particularly for twisting movements. Symptoms vary in severity, but usually include most of the following::

recurring pain on the outside of the upper forearm just below the bend of the elbow. Sometimes, pain may be felt down the arm towards the wrist;
pain caused by lifting or bending the arm;
pain when writing or when gripping even small objects such as a pen;
pain on twisting the forearm, for example, when turning a door handle; and
difficulty extending the forearm fully.

The pain caused by tennis elbow normally lasts for 6 to 12 weeks. Some people have pain for as little as 3 weeks, while others may experience discomfort in the elbow joint for several years.

Pain ranges from a mild discomfort when the elbow is used, to severe pain that can be felt even when the elbow is still, or when sleeping. You may have stiffness in your arm, which gets progressively worse as tendon damage builds up. As the body tries to compensate for the weakness in the elbow, you may also get pain or stiffness in other parts of the affected arm, the shoulder, or neck.