Golfer’s elbow is a serious condition that causes pain in the tendons that connects your forearm and elbow. It is mostly common in golf players. But you don’t need to play golf to have this elbow pain, it can happen to anyone as long as you are doing activities like swinging a racquet, lifting heavy items, repetitively holding things or a person in a construction work etc.
If you’re a physically active person who frequently uses repeated arm motions, you may have already felt the pain in elbow. It is also called as medial epicondylitis in a medical term.
To understand the golfer’s elbow, let’s have a basic understanding of it. The elbow consists of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles, which work together to provide stability and improve the movement of the hand. The swelling of the tendons on the inside of the elbow is referred to as medial epicondylitis. These tendons enable the wrist and fingers to flex and rotate. It is caused by micro-tears and resulting swelling brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.
By getting the proper treatment, one can manage the condition and avoid further complications.
Golfer’s elbow can be caused by various factors such as:
1. Excessive use of the forearm muscles, especially those used in grasping, swinging and throwing activities.
2. Golfing, weightlifting, racket sports and repetitive workplace tasks requiring gripping and wrist flexion.
3. Factors such as old age, poor technique or form, improper warm-up and stretching, insufficient rest and pre-existing conditions like arthritis.
Diagnosis of Golfer’s elbow
In most cases, the diagnosis can be made based on the physical examination and medical history.
1. To check for discomfort, pain and swelling on the inner side of the elbow, the doctor will gently touch and feel the affected area.
2. The doctor may ask the patient to perform various movements with the elbow, wrist and fingers to evaluate the range of motion and identify any limitations.
3. The doctor may apply resistance while asking the patient to flex their wrist or fingers against the resistance.
Other diagnosis can be done with the help of x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI scans that provide detailed visualization of the tendons and help identify any structural abnormalities, inflammation or tears.
It is important to keep in touch with the doctor and have a proper diagnosis.
Treatment for Golfer’s elbow
1. Conservative Treatment
The initial treatment typically involves conservative approaches aimed at reducing pain, promoting healing and restoring function. These may include:
a) Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE): Applying ice packs to the affected area, along with rest, can help reduce pain and inflammation.
b) It may be advised to use NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to treat pain and inflammation. However, it’s crucial to use them according to the dose instructions and to speak with a doctor first.
c) Exercises for the forearm, wrist and hand may also be included, as well as recovery-enhancing methods in a physical therapy program.
Surgery for Golfer’s elbow
a) The symptoms of golfer’s elbow continue for a long time or make life difficult with everyday activities then surgical intervention is only considered as the last option. It includes the anaesthesia that numbs the patient.
b) The injured tissue is removed to relieve the tension and pressure on the affected area. Once the tendon repair or release is completed, the surgeon carefully closes the incision using sutures or staples.
c) After the surgery, physical therapy is typically recommended to aid in the rehabilitation process, restore strength and flexibility and prevent stiffness.
While surgery has advantages, there are disadvantages too, such as:
1. There are so many complications involved in the surgery.
2. As it may be time consuming, risk of getting infection is high.
3. The recovery time is long and it can create inconvenience to the person.
4. Surgery is expensive than most other treatments and it might not be favourable to other people.
It is highly recommend to consult with the doctor.
2. Prolotherapy in advanced treatment
When every other treatment has failed in the cure of golfer’s elbow, then PRP treatment is available. Platelet Rich Plasma therapy utilizes the body’s own healing properties to promote tissue repair and alleviate symptoms.
Also, shockwave therapy is used that is a non-invasive treatment and has produced positive results in the reduction of pain and enhancement of function.
PRP treatment for Golfer’s elbow
Numerous growth factors are found in the platelets in PRP, that help in tissue regeneration and repair. These growth factors activate the body’s natural healing response when PRP is injected directly into the region of the injured tendons. They speed up healing and increase tissue quality by enhancing the activation and growth of cells involved in tissue repair, such as fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells.
PRP is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in clinic and carries a low risk of complications. Depending on the seriousness of the condition and the patient’s response to treatment, the concentration of platelets and the number of injections can be changed.
While PRP therapy has shown promising results in managing golfer’s elbow, it’s important to note that individual responses may change. Consulting with a PRP treatment doctor is recommended to assess whether it is suitable for your condition and to discuss the potential risks and benefits.
Shockwave therapy
It is an alternative method that has been used to treat a number of musculoskeletal problems, including golfer’s elbow. The waves stimulate blood flow, decrease pain sensitivity and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. In this therapy you will undergo a series of treatment sessions.
The therapy itself may cause mild discomfort or pain, but it is generally tolerable. It’s worth noting that shockwave therapy is effective and some individuals may require additional treatments or a combination of therapies to manage elbow pain effectively.
Conclusion
Physical therapy, pain management and regenerative injectable treatments are just a few of the non-surgical techniques that the Prolotherapy clinic uses. The clinic uses the advanced healing process and restore normal function to the injured elbow by using treatments including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy.
Dr Vikram Rajguru offers his patients a viable option that attempts to promote healing, reduce pain and restore function in a minimally intrusive way. You can consult him with at the Prolotherapy clinic for your orthopaedic problems.