text: what is a tennis elbow. is it fully curable? what r its limitations and treatment?.?   tendonitis of the elbow is often referred to as tennis elbow due to its common occurrence in tennis players, but in fact any sport or activity that requires gripping can cause this problem.   a more precise definition of tennis elbow is that it is an inflammation of several structures of the elbow. these include muscles, tendons, bursa, periosteum, and epicondyle (bony projections on the outside and inside of the elbow, where muscles of the forearm attach to the bone of the upper arm). this condition is also called epicondylitis, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, or golfer's elbow, where pain is present at the inside epicondyle. such pain is usually more noticeable during or after stressful use of the arm. in sever cases, lifting and grasping even light things may be very painful.   treatment may include stopping or limiting activities that cause the pain, such as heavy lifting with the palm facing down. sometimes a band wrapped around the forearm near the elbow is used to protect the injured muscles as they are healing. in some cases, the wearing of a wrist splint may be recommended for the same purpose.   non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids), such as naproxen or ibuprofen may be given for pain. injections of cortisone may also be used to relieve the pain. a tennis elbow band may be advised.   in severe or long-lasting episodes, an injection of medication into the area may relieve the discomfort. your hand surgeon may recommend exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles to help prevent the condition from returning. some patients respond to additional treatment through therapy. as the condition improves, there is usually a slow return to normal activities. recurrence of this condition is common.   if no surgical forms of treatment do not eliminate the pain of this condition, surgery may be recommended. your hand surgeon can advise you on the surgical treatments for lateral epicondylitis and the possible outcomes. lateral epicondylitis is often a nagging or chronic condition sometimes requiring many months for healing to occur.