Tennis Elbow

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is an overuse injury or inflammation affecting the elbow joint. The more technical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis, which describes the injury in greater detail. The lateral epicondyle is a bump in the bone on the outer side of your elbow. 

When you overstretch the tendons attached to the lateral epicondyle, usually because of movements like swinging a tennis racket, pain and inflammation can occur at the joint and result in tennis elbow. 

A similar condition, called golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis, affects the tendons around the bony bump on the inner side of your elbow called the medial epicondyle. As a result, you feel pain on the inner side of your elbow. Golfer’s elbow usually develops after repeated wrist-twisting or flexing motions. 

How is tennis elbow diagnosed?

Tennis elbow causes pain that extends or radiates from the outer side of your elbow down the forearm and into your wrist. The pain occurs inside your elbow with golfer’s elbow and worsens when you make a fist or twist your forearm. Both conditions may cause swelling and visible inflammation.

Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery performs a physical examination and might ask you to move your arm or wrist in certain ways. Finding out where the pain occurs and when it worsens can help with a diagnosis. They’ll also ask about your typical activities and occupational risk factors. 

To diagnose or rule out other causes of elbow and forearm pain, your provider might use advanced technological services like X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a computed tomography (CT) scan. 

What are my treatment options for tennis elbow?

In an overwhelming 80-95% of tennis elbow cases, individuals find relief with a fully non-surgical treatment plan. Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery creates a plan for you using strategic nonoperative procedures, equipment, and home care. 

Your treatment plan for tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow might include:

• Oral anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• An elbow brace
• Extracorporeal shockwave therapy

Surgical treatment is only necessary if the pain of tennis or golfer’s elbow persists after 6-12 months of non-surgical care. Most surgeries for elbow injuries like these involve removing damaged tissue or reattaching healthy portions of muscle to the bone. 

The recovery from elbow surgery may be lengthy, but Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery works with you to rehabilitate your elbow joint successfully.

Elbow pain from tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow can be a major setback in sports or your occupation. To schedule a treatment consultation, call Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery or book online today.