External or internal epicondylalgia is an overuse injury with very little inflammation. This is why anti-inflammatory drugs are not very effective. Rather, the basic treatment is based on eccentric reinforcement.

Here is the exercise that will help you the most: While your forearm (injured side) is resting on a table, take a light weight in your hand. The weight can be a tin can. You do the exercise palm up if you have internal epicondylalgia and palm down if you have external epicondylalgia. Use your other hand to lift the weight by bending your wrist (the forearm remains flat on the table). As you descend, hold the load with one hand (injured side). It is essential not to strain when the hand goes up, only when going down, otherwise there is a risk of increasing the pain. Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions each day for several weeks. Increase the load gradually. It is okay to feel some pain. However, it must be gone the next day. If a slight pain is present, but does not increase from day to day, this is a sign that you are using the correct load. This will solve the problem and reduce your risk of recurrence since your muscles will be stronger.

D^re Susan Labrecque, M.D.