(I am a healthy 48 yr old been training w a trainer for 3 yrs now) I hurt my elbow late last fall and it was textbook tennis elbow.. I know I hurt it during a training session using dumbells 15# in each hand, on my back on a ball, raising my arms up from above my head to above my chest. ( I had been using them for about 6 mos with out any problems) I had pain in my right outside elbow area with turning door knobs and even just having it hold bags of groceries etc. text book symptoms. So we quit using free weights totally giving my elbow rest, ice, and then my trainer had me rub the area with my knuckle hard, stimulating the blood flow. i have to admitt I have a high pain tolerance and so I just delt with it "giving it time " It continued to improve over time, so we started using very very light weights 1-2 # dumbells. and every once in a while it might start to flare up espically after aweekend with my 2 yr. old grandson, lifting him etc. So we are not using any weights on that side at all again and I have purchased a brace mostly to remind me to not use that arm and I am putting ice on it once a day. I have very very little pain on a regular basis. just flare ups when i over do it. So with that all being said...how long from your experience should the recovery last and at what time do you think I need to have someone look at it. i am not interested in surgery at all. Will this continue to flare up the rest of my life or will it be weak? What can I do that will strengthen it again? thanks for your thoughts. Holley