Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow (known in the medical world as lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis, respectively) are repetitive stress injuries that typically develop over time. These conditions can be quite painful and prevent a person from engaging in day-to-day activities. Fortunately, there are ways to effectively treat the pain they cause.
Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow Defined
Lateral epicondylitis gets its more colloquial name (tennis elbow) from its prominence among tennis players. The condition is caused primarily by repetitive movement of the elbow – such as swinging a tennis racket over and over. Similarly, golfer’s elbow is common among golfers, as it causes pain in the wrist and hand. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both forms of tendonitis, which occurs when the tendons swell, causing stiffness and pain.
Here are a few of the more common symptoms of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow:
- Pain in the wrist or elbow that gets worse when gripping something or extending the arm
- Soreness or tenderness in the forearm
- Decreased range of motion in the arm, wrist and hand
Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow Treatment Options
Initially, either condition should be treated with conservative methods like rest and ice, physical therapy, bracing, and over-the-counter pain medications. If these methods do not sufficiently reduce pain, the next step is to try steroid injections or stem cell therapy. Surgery is used as a last resort if all these conservative treatments fail.
Elbow Pain Doctors in Minnesota
At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota, we provide holistic pain management solutions no matter where your pain originates. If you are experiencing symptoms of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, contact us to set up an appointment. Our Twin Cities physicians can diagnose your condition and walk you through your treatment options. Fill out our appointment request form or give us a call at (612) 20-SPINE.