Have you or someone you know been experiencing pain on the inner part of the forearm near the elbow? If so, this could be a symptom of a condition known as “golfer’s elbow”—but you do not need to be a golfer to get it. Golfer’s elbow is a common issue anyone can develop, including athletes and people who play recreational sports. In this article, we will discuss the treatment options for golfer’s elbow recommended by sports medicine doctors in Clarksville.

Understanding Golfer’s Elbow

Also known as medial epicondylitis, golfer’s elbow develops when the tendons that connect your forearm to your elbow get sore and swollen from overuse. It causes pain around the bump on the inside of your elbow and can spread down to your forearm.

Golfers are not the only people who can develop this condition—anyone who uses their wrists a lot or squeezes their fingers too much can get it.

Golfer’s elbow is caused by doing the same wrist and arm movements over and over. Things like playing golf, throwing sports like baseball or football, or even gardening can make small tears in your tendons that lead to this condition.

Symptoms of golfer’s elbow can include:

• Pain and tenderness on the inside of your elbow
• Soreness along the inner side of your forearm
• Stiff elbow, making it hard to close your hand into a
• Weakness in your hands and wrists

You may also feel numbness or tingling in one or more fingers, usually in the ring and little finger.

How Do Sports Medicine Doctors Treat Golfer’s Elbow?

When it comes to treating golfer’s elbow, sports medicine doctors offer a broad approach that combines their expert knowledge with both common and advanced techniques.

Rest and Ice

The first step in treating golfer’s elbow is simple—give your arm a break. Sports medicine doctors suggest resting your elbow and keeping its swelling under control with ice packs.

Brace

A brace or splint can help your elbow feel better and make it easier to do things. Your sports medicine doctor may suggest wearing a brace when doing things that make a golfer’s elbow worse, like typing or playing sports.

A brace will keep your joint stable and protect it from getting hurt while still letting you move your arm normally.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is very important for recovering from golfer’s elbow. A physical therapist will teach you exercises that help stretch and strengthen the muscles around your elbow. They might have you do things like turn, bend, and straighten your wrist. These exercises can be done with or without light weights depending on how well you are healing.

The goal is to make your forearm muscles stronger so they can take some of the pressure off the tendons in your elbow and help them heal.

Medications

Along with physical therapy and wearing a brace, taking medicine is sometimes necessary for golfer’s elbow pain. You can take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain and swelling.

It is important to know that medication will not fix your golfer’s elbow completely. However, it can help ease symptoms and make it easier for you to do physical therapy exercises and day-to-day tasks.

Corticosteroid Injections

In situations where pain persists even after trying oral medications, braces, and physical therapy, your sports medicine doctor may suggest corticosteroid injections. These injections give strong anti-inflammatory medicine right where it is needed.

While they can be helpful in the short term to reduce pain and swelling, they are usually recommended only when other treatments have not worked. This is because their effects may lessen over time and using them too often could lead to damage of tendons.

Surgery

Surgery is only considered when other treatments have not helped, and the pain is still severe. A sports medicine doctor who is an orthopedic doctor can also perform surgery.

During the surgery, your surgeon will remove damaged tissue from the tendon and fix any tears. It might also fix any problems that are causing the condition. After your surgery, you will need to rest and do physical therapy to get your strength back.

While it is seen as a last option, surgery can help fix a golfer’s elbow for good and let you get back to doing what you love without pain.

Sports Medicine Doctors Near Clarksville

A golfer’s elbow might sound daunting, especially if you are eager to get back to sports or your favorite activities. But with the right approach—a mix of rest, support, exercise, and sometimes medicine or surgery—you can wave goodbye to that pesky elbow pain.

At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our team of board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic and sports medicine doctors is skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of upper body conditions, including golfer’s elbow.

To make an appointment with one of our expert sports medicine doctors near Clarksville, MD, call us today at (410) 296-6232 or book an appointment using our convenient online form. We look forward to serving you!