Elbow pain often is caused by overuse such as too much lifting, hitting, throwing or swinging. Though some are traumatic injuries like having a biceps tendon rupture or fracture due to a fall, at Remedy Sports and Regenerative Medicine, we can address both acute and chronic elbow pain with proper diagnosis including in-office ultrasound and provide treatments to quickly get our athletes back in the game. Elbow injuries can create a lot of disability with normal day to day activities as well so it’s important to address the pain early especially in the case of tendonitis which can linger.
Tennis elbow is a condition that often develops in athletes playing tennis or other racket sports. Repeated arm movements such as bending the elbow and striking objects with the racket puts consistent pressure on the tendon connecting the forearm muscle to the elbow, inflaming it and leading to chronic pain.
Even if you have never played tennis, you can still develop this problem. Repetitive gripping with your thumb, index and middle fingers can also cause tennis elbow. It can appear in weightlifters as well if they overindulge in certain repetitive exercises like the bicep curl.
Symptoms
Although tennis elbow is the result of inflammation in your elbow, you will begin to experience pain and discomfort while doing things with your hands. You should get checked for tennis elbow if the following activities cause pain:
- Lifting heavy objects
- Making a fist
- Gripping an object
- Handshakes
- Flexing your elbow
- Raising your hand
Golfer’s elbow
Golfer’s elbow is a similar condition. The key difference is that it afflicts the tendon on the inside of the elbow, whereas tennis elbow is on the outside. In golfer’s elbow, the inflamed tendon connects your forearm muscle with the small bony ball or bump on the inside of the elbow. If you have golfer’s elbow, you will experience pain and discomfort throughout your wrist and forearm.
Like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow can also occur in people who have never played golf. If you engage in physical activities involving repetitive motions such as gymnastics, bodybuilding, calisthenics, etc. you are susceptible to developing golfer’s elbow.
Regenerative Medicine Can Help
The vast majority of cases of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow do not require surgery, just rest and an adjustment in your exercise habits to prevent the problem from recurring in the future. If the problem does become chronic, regenerative medicine can be an effective remedy. Stem cells, growth factors, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and other treatments stimulate your body’s natural healing ability to repair the afflicted tendon.
Dr. Rolnik can diagnose golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow and formulate a treatment plan that works for you. Visit Remedy Sports and Regenerative Medicine for your initial consultation.
