In general, any pain along the outer side of your elbow can be classified as tennis elbow. It is often associated with muscle strain as a leading cause.

The term can be misleading, however, because there are three distinct kinds of pain along three different areas of your arm and elbow. For example, if the discomfort specifically runs along the inner side of your elbow, then this is referred to as golfer's elbow. When the feeling emanates from back and under, that's an ailment known as bursitis for you! And like we said, when its on the exterior, that's most likely to be some tennis elbow pain.

Trivial and unusual as this pain may sound, it can also be debilitating. In severe cases, you would find difficulty in grasping an object as heavy as a hammer or even one as light as a cup and saucer.

Actually, it isn't the bone of your elbow which aches but the muscles and nerves surrounding it. Even the ligaments and tendons which attach it could be strained. After all, this condition is the result of a motion injury.

To describe this uncomfortable sensation, it radiates from the arm down to the wrist. The discomfort can last from as short as six weeks to as long as 3 months. During this time, you would find it painful to bend your arm as well as difficult to straighten and stretch it.

While you're recovering, it would be unadvisable to perform any strenuous work or to do any lifting of weights. For any sports buff, you would have to refrain from using the racket or playing tennis for as long as it's recommended. Thus, you should see your doctor once you encounter this kind of pain. Since pain and inflammation seems to be the problem, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs would be the medications prescribed for you.

Aside from using medications, the condition can be relieved by some practical home remedies. An ice pack would be a good suggestion. Just fill a zip-lock bag with some ice and apply to the site for around 10-15 minutes.

If the pain is severe and recurrent, you can do this application 3-4 times a day. Do keep in mind to leave an hour's interval between applications. For any bit of soreness or tenderness, you can also use a frozen pack of vegetables such as peas. The important thing is to control the inflammation and allow it to subside.

Once your arm feels better, you can exercise it with some short and quick stretches. Palms up, see first how fully you can extend your forearm without any discomfort. Repeat the movements but don't overstrain or overdo.

Take it easy and explore your range of motion gradually if you've just come from an injury. You could undo the healing and cause more damage to those inflamed muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Complete healing from muscle wear and tear takes time, so you must allow your body to recover at its pace.