Tennis Elbow

The elbow is a complex joint, comprised of three bones and surrounding cartilage and ligaments. It is often the source of pain for athletes who engage in sports that involve bending and flexing the joint.

Two conditions that are often diagnosed in athletes – lateral epicondylitis, known more commonly as tennis elbow, and medial epicondylitis or golfer’s elbow – can be effectively repaired through arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure to diagnose and treat your joint’s structural problems.

Tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the forearm, just outside the elbow. The condition frequently develops in individuals who play tennis or racket sports from repeated motion of swinging the racket. However, athletes are not the only ones who can develop tennis elbow. Painters, plumbers, carpenters and others involved in crafts may be more prone to developing tennis elbow.

Typical symptoms of tennis elbow include pain when lifting or gripping something, making a fist, opening a door, raising your hand or straightening your wrist. Overtime, your grip – whether holding tools or a racket – may weaken. While most patients get relief from non-surgical treatments, such as rest, medications, physical therapy, steroid injections and bracing, the condition may eventually need surgical intervention.

Golfer’s elbow

Golfer's elbow is the inflammation of the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the inside of the bone. Just as with tennis elbow, the condition is causes by repeated motion and injury to the tendons and surrounding area.

Treatments

We are experts at treating tennis and golfer's elbow pain with:

• Elbow bracing
• Medications
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy and rehab
• Surgery

Dependable Orthopaedic Surgeons

Whether you’re concerned with tennis or golfer's elbow, or are in search of other orthopaedic services, schedule an appointment with one of our orthopaedic specialists at one of our seven convenient locations throughout the Triangle.

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