Techie, 25, had elbow pain while typing, lifting cup or combing hair. Apollo neurologist says the culprit was right on her desk

For most young professionals glued to their screens, muscle pain is just another line on the list of everyday annoyances. But for a 25-year-old software engineer, what began as a mild ache while typing soon turned into sharp pain that made even simple actions—like lifting a cup of tea or brushing her hair—unbearable. Her story, shared by an Apollo neurologist on X, is a wake-up call for anyone who spends long hours at a desk.

The doctor narrated that Riya (name changed) had walked into his clinic one Monday morning with persistent pain in her right elbow that refused to go away. What started as a small discomfort while typing and using her mouse had worsened over the months. She had tried balms, rest, and even switching hands, but nothing seemed to help. When told her symptoms sounded like tennis elbow, she laughed and said she didn’t even play tennis.

Upon examination, the neurologist found tenderness over the outer part of her elbow and pain on resisted wrist movement—classic signs of lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow. While the term might suggest a sports injury, the doctor clarified that it’s increasingly common among professionals who spend hours at their computers. It’s caused by repetitive strain of the forearm muscles—something that can happen just as easily at a desk as on a tennis court.


The Apollo specialist explained that they discussed the root cause of her pain—repetitive stress and poor ergonomics. Riya was advised to take a break from the aggravating tasks, adjust her workstation, and follow a personalised physiotherapy routine that focused on stretching, strengthening, and gradual recovery. She was also prescribed a short course of anti-inflammatory medication and a tennis elbow strap to reduce strain during daily work.

When Everyday Tasks Became Painful: How Riya Overcame Tennis Elbow
Riya (name changed), a 25-year-old software engineer, walked into my clinic one Monday morning with a complaint that had been troubling her for months- pain in her right elbow that refused to go away. What began… pic.twitter.com/HSWv84aPtC

— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) October 29, 2025

Over the next few weeks, Riya took her recovery seriously. She adjusted her chair height, supported her wrist while typing, and took short breaks every hour. By her six-week review, her pain had nearly disappeared. Her grip strength returned, and she was back to working and exercising comfortably.

Three months later, Riya was completely symptom-free. She continues her exercises twice a week to prevent the pain from returning. Her recovery, the doctor noted, is a reminder that even small, repetitive habits can snowball into chronic conditions if ignored. Timely diagnosis, proper therapy, and a few mindful adjustments can make all the difference. At her last visit, Riya summed it up perfectly—she realised she didn’t need a tennis court to get tennis elbow. Her keyboard had been her racket all along.