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Mercy orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vip Nanavati

Mercy Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Vip Nanavati Discusses Diagnosis And Treatment Of "Tennis Elbow"

Tennis elbow is a common injury that many people are diagnosed with, and there's no quick fix for it, according to doctors.

Tennis elbow is a repetitive stress injury.

"Tennis elbow happens right at the attachment point of the muscles that bend the wrist up. That's why they feel pain going down the forearm and sometimes in the outside part of the arm," said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vipul Nanavati of The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy.

According to Dr. Nanavati, the symptoms of tennis elbow are pretty clear-cut.

"The pain happens because the muscles pull on this attachment point when you're gripping and grabbing and doing all these repetitive activities," Dr. Nanavati said.

The first line of treatment includes rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Sometimes surgery is a last resort, but doctors said sufferers shouldn't expect a quick fix.

"Historically, what we've learned is that treatment can take six months to a year to get better. So, it is a nagging, annoying problem that takes a long time to get better," Dr. Nanavati said.

Some people choose to get expensive plasma-rich protein injections to help fix tennis elbow. To learn more, visit http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/30168741/detail.html.

Also, click on this link for a more indepth interview with Dr. Nanavati: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/30166191/detail.html