With the economic devastation inflicted in 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people in the United States have lost their jobs, along with their health insurance. At the same time, the future status of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain. Furthermore, health insurance costs continue to rise, effectively pricing out some Americans who simply cannot afford such an expense.
While going without health insurance is risky for medical emergencies and diseases, there are some conditions that can be effectively managed through self-treatment. One of these is tennis elbow, which affects 6.5 to 9.5 million people in the U.S., typically ages 40-60. Caused by repetitive arm movement, this painful injury affects more than just tennis players, but also golfers, fitness enthusiasts, gamers, crafters, office workers, musicians, hairdressers, plumbers, painters, landscapers and construction and manufacturing workers.
With tennis elbow, strain from overuse can lead to microscopic tears in the tendons and muscles of the forearm, causing inflammation and pain at the outside of the elbow. This makes it difficult to grip items, turn a doorknob, brush your teeth, hold a coffee cup and more. Without treatment, pain is unlikely to go away on its own.