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Golfer’s Elbow
Effective Pain Relief Treatment
Golfer’s elbow
Golfer’s elbow, also called Medial Epicondylitis, is a painful condition occurring from repeated muscle contractions in the forearm. As a result, this leads to inflammation and micro tears in the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle.
The medial epicondyle is the bony prominence that is felt on the inside of the elbow
Golfer’s elbow and Tennis Elbow are similar except that Golfer’s elbow occurs on the inside of the elbow while Tennis Elbow occurs on the outside of the elbow. Both conditions are a type of Tendonitis which literally means “inflammation of the tendons”.
The elbow specialists in Kenya at Nairobi Spine and Orthopedic Center, offer prompt, detailed treatment plans that are individualized for care.
Signs and Symptoms of Golfer’s Elbow
Golfer’s elbow is characterized by:
Elbow pain that appears suddenly or gradually
Achy pain to the inner side of the elbow during activity
Elbow stiffness with decreased range of motion
Pain may radiate to the inner forearm, hand or wrist
Weakness: You may have weakness in your hands and wrists.
Pain worsens with gripping objects
Pain is exacerbated in the elbow when the wrist is flexed or bent forward toward the forearm
If these symptoms do not dissipate with ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, consult the hand, wrist and elbow physicians at Nairobi Spine Orthopedic center, for a detailed analysis of the problem.
You can contact us at 0710573708 immediately if you experience redness, swelling, immobility or fever to access immediate treatment offered at our ortho urgent care
What causes the golfer’s elbow?
Overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons that control wrist and finger movement may cause golfers elbow.Trauma such as with a fall, car accident, or work injury may also cause golfers elbow.
This elbow condition is commonly seen in golfer’s, hence the name, especially when poor technique or unsuitable equipment is used when hitting the ball.
Other common causes include any activity that requires repetitive motion of the forearm such as: painting, hammering, typing, raking, pitching sports, gardening and fencing
How is golfer’s elbow diagnosed?
Nairobi Spine and Orthopedic Center diagnose golfers elbow through a careful history and thorough examination check up.
Your physician may recommend an x-ray to rule out a fracture or arthritis as the cause of your pain.
Occasionally, if the diagnosis is unclear, your physician may order further tests to confirm golfer’s elbow such as MRI, ultrasonography, and injection test.
Treatment options for golfer’s elbow
Non – surgical treatment options include:
- Pulsed Ultrasound: Therapists use this non- invasive treatment to break up scar tissue and increase blood flow to the injured tendons to promote healing
- Activity Restrictions: Limit use and rest the arm from activities that worsen symptoms
- Apply Ice packs to the injury to help diminish swelling and pain. Ice should be applied over a towel to the affected area, not directly over the skin.
- Order Medications such as anti-inflammatory medications and/or steroid injections to treat the pain and swelling.
- Order Occupational Therapy for strengthening and stretching exercises for the forearm once your symptoms have decreased.
The following simple exercises can help build up your forearm muscles and help you avoid golfer’s elbow.
- Squeeze a tennis ball. Squeezing an old tennis ball for 5 minutes at a time is a simple, effective exercise that will strengthen your forearm muscles.
- Wrist curls. Use a lightweight dumbbell. Lower the weight to the end of your fingers, and then curl the weight back into your palm. Follow this by curling up your wrist to lift the weight an inch or two higher.
- Reverse wrist curls. Use a lightweight dumbbell. Place your hands in front of you, palm side down. Using your wrist, lift the weight up and down. Hold the arm that you are exercising above your elbow with your other hand in order to limit the motion to your forearm.
Personalized attention for your elbow pain
Surgical Treatment Options
If conservative treatment options fail to resolve the condition and symptoms persist for 6 -12 months, your surgeon may recommend surgery to treat Golfers Elbow.
The goal of surgery to treat Golfers Elbow is to remove the diseased tissue around the inner elbow, improve blood supply to the area to promote healing, and alleviate the patient’s symptoms.
Physician will perform Surgery through a traditional open incision or through minimally invasive techniques .
Surgical strategies commonly used to treat the golfer’s elbow include:
- Debriding: This involves cleaning or removing the damaged tissues thought to be responsible for the pain to allow healthy tissue to grow and heal properly.
- Tendon Repair: Suturing the normal tissue to facilitate healing.
The following steps help to prevent golfer’s elbow
Use the right equipment. If you’re using older golfing irons, consider upgrading to lighter graphite clubs. If you play tennis, a racket with a small grip or a heavy head may increase the risk of elbow problem.
