Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s elbow symptoms include pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow, typically worsened with movement. Patients may also experience stiffness, numbness, tingling and weakness in the elbow, wrist and hand area. These symptoms can be felt not only when swinging a golf club, but also when shaking hands, flexing the wrist, squeezing an item or turning a doorknob.

In order to diagnose golfer’s elbow, Dr. Waterman will perform a thorough medical review and physical examination. He will begin by asking the patient questions about the onset of golfer’s elbow symptoms, daily activities and any recent elbow injuries. After discussing the patient’s medical history, he will perform a physical examination. Pressure is typically applied to the affected area and the fingers, wrist and elbow are moved in various directions to evaluate the pain and stiffness level. Dr. Waterman may also recommend X-rays or an MRI to rule out any associated injuries.

Non-Surgical

Dr. Waterman will typically recommend the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) method as the first form of treatment. The combination of these items often eliminates golfer’s elbow symptoms by allowing the injury to heal with limited activity. Physical therapy may also be recommended in certain cases to strengthen the tendons. Finally, injections are commonly used to help decrease inflammation and allow injured tissue to heal. More that 90% of patients will respond favorably to conservative care with gradual return to all activities and sports.

Surgical

If golfer’s elbow symptoms do not improve with non-surgical treatment or if left untreated for an extended period of time, Dr. Waterman may recommend surgery. Fortunately surgery is rarely required. However, in cases which do not respond to other treatements, a minimally invasive procedure will be performed to repair the torn tendons. Arthroscopic elbow surgery is successful for many patients.