Call it tennis or golf elbow: You don't have to play to experience the pain
It may start with a little pain around the elbow after playing golf or tennis. Sometimes the soreness radiates down your arm. At first you think: "It's nothing; it'll go away." But the pain, inflammation and soreness become more intense every time you play.
The symptoms
Early treatment is important
The symptoms
Gerald Hayken, MD, chief of orthopaedics at Virtua Memorial Hospital, says these are classic symptoms of golf or tennis elbow. And you don't have to play either sport to get it. He explains: "Golf elbow can be caused by any repetitive action that stresses the flexor muscle around the elbow. The tendon that attaches this muscle to the bone becomes inflamed, resulting in pain and soreness."
When this injury affects the medial side of the elbow — the inside part closest to the chest — it is often called golf elbow. It's tennis elbow when it affects the outside or lateral part of the elbow.
Early treatment is important
If the inflammation isn't treated early, it can become a chronic condition and create permanent damage. This is called fibroangiomatous hyperplasia, where the body replaces normal tissue with a vascular fibrous tissue.
Dr. Hayken emphasizes: "The earliest stage is the easiest to treat. Approaches include stopping the activity that caused the pain until symptoms disappear, wearing a tennis elbow strap for support, as well as receiving anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and cortisone shots. If pain persists after two or three cortisone shots a year, surgery may be recommended to remove the abnormal tissue."
Remember: It's not just a little tennis or golf elbow. See a physician, and get relief sooner than later.