Relief for Elbow Pain
Recovery from golf or tennis elbow (and pickleball elbow) is possible without surgery.
Pickleball or Tennis Players, this information is for you.
Small tears or micro-evulsions form in the tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the bony bump on the outside of the elbow, technically called the lateral epicondyle.
Tennis elbow or pickleball elbow typically develops gradually from repetitive gripping and swinging motions like those used in racquet sports. Hello, pickleball and tennis players, we see you! You can also experience the development of this condition by overusing your forearm muscles during play or hitting the ball with incorrect form, especially backhand.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow or pickleball elbow include:
- Outside elbow pain or tenderness
- Loss or weakening of grip strength
- Discomfort with forearm or wrist extension
- Outer elbow burning sensation
- Shooting pain from the outer side of the elbow to the fingertips
Though often associated with racquet sports, pickleball/tennis elbow can affect anyone engaging in activities that involve repetitive wrist and arm movements.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sam today to start your journey towards optimal wellness.
Golfers, this section is for you
Despite its name, golfer’s elbow is not limited to golfers. It can be caused by various activities involving repetitive wrist flexion, gripping, or forearm rotation. Some common causes include swinging a club, especially with improper technique, and can also be associated with throwing or swinging a racquet. You can even experience golfer’s elbow as a result of carpentry, plumbing, or construction work, and even painting.
Common symptoms of golfer’s elbow include:
- Pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow, as opposed to the outer elbow pain experienced by tennis players. Pain can even extend along the inner forearm.
- Elbow stiffness
- Weakness in the hands and wrists
- Numbness or a tingling sensation that often radiates to the ring and little fingers.
The Difference between Golfer’s Elbow and Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s elbow affects the inner elbow and the wrist flexor muscles, whereas tennis elbow impacts the outer elbow and involves the wrist extensor muscles.
Typical Treatment for Elbow Pain
These conditions primarily impact the wrist extensor muscle group and can sometimes be relieved with the application of ice and rest, modified or restricted activity, anti-inflammatory medications, or a brace.
When that doesn’t work, there is an opportunity to help your body heal itself before proceeding with steroid injections and scary surgery. Dr. Samantha Ramanan at Medlink Health Solutions offers relief through Regenerative Orthobiologics injections.
With Regenerative Orthobiologics, the joint is stimulated to heal itself from the inside out, often providing pain relief within days and restoring range of motion without pain in weeks.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sam today to start your journey towards optimal wellness.
What does Dr. Samantha Ramanan provide for the treatment of elbow pain at Medlink Health Solutions?
In comparing PRP and corticosteroid injections, PRP injections were shown to lead to significant improvements in pain and functional outcomes compared to corticosteroid injections or placebo in patients with medial epicondylitis.
One study reported a 91% improvement in pain scores (measured by VAS) for PRP-treated patients after 6 months, compared to only a 42.2% improvement in steroid-treated patients!
PRP-treated patients experienced a 54.4% improvement in MAYO elbow scores, while steroid-treated patients showed only a 1.25% improvement after 6 months, and one study found successful outcomes in 73% of elbows treated with PRP, outperforming steroid injections.
PRP injections were found to be equally effective as surgery for treating lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and suggested similar benefits for golfer’s elbow. so before your resort to painful and expensive surgery, reach out to Dr. Sam to discuss the options available to you with PRP therapy.
