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Golfer’s elbow

Golfers elbow is a condition characterised by inflammation of the inner elbow.  

Golfer’s elbow

Golfers elbow is a condition characterised by inflammation of the inner elbow.  

3 golfers with their backs to camera enjoying a round of golf without golfers elbow injury

What is golfer’s elbow?

Golfer’s elbow is a condition that causes pain in the inner elbow area. The most common causes include excess or repetitive stress from overuse of forearm muscles in movement such as golf swings. Some people are also more prone to the condition as a result of lifestyle demographics. People who are more than 40 years old, obese people and smokers all fit into this higher-risk category.

The most common symptoms of golfer’s elbow include pain, stiffness, weakness in hands and wrists, and numbness or tingling. These symptoms may be relatively subtle at the onset and worsen over time. If you notice that your elbow is inflamed or has reduced range of motion meaning you can’t bend your elbow you should make plans to see a doctor as soon as possible. Left untreated, these symptoms could lead to permanent loss of grip strength and elbow mobility and chronic pain.

The process of diagnosing golfer’s elbow will start with an exploration of your medical history and a physical examination. As part of this physical examination, your doctor may place your elbow on a flat surface and ask you to raise your hand up, testing for pain. For more conclusive indication of your condition, the doctor may also order tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, or ultrasounds. In this way, they can rule out other potential causes and related conditions such as cubital tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

There are many non-surgical treatment options for golfer’s elbow, suitable for conditions which are not chronic. Your doctor may recommend an initial combination of anti-inflammatory medication, rest, ice, and bracing, followed by a course of Occupational Therapy and strengthening exercises. For more severe pain, they may inject steroids, hyaluronic acid, or botox. If these treatments still do not eliminate the pain or stiffness in your arm, surgery may be your best option for long-term relief.

Studies into the success rate of golfer’s elbow surgeries show a relatively high success rate of up to 96%. After surgery, the majority of patients regain full pain-free usage of their arms within a few months. In order to ensure a successful outcome, it’s important that you follow your doctor’s directions and adhere to a post-treatment rehabilitation plan.

Whilst the majority of people who undergo elbow surgery do well and are very happy with their results, there are risks which are specific to elbow surgery in addition to the general risks of surgery. This includes deep infection, injury to the nerves tendons or blood vessels close to the surgical field which may require further surgery, stiffness or loss of motion, developing abnormal bone formation such as heterotopic ossification or myositis ossificans, ongoing pain, instability, fracture of the bones and abnormal pain responses such as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). 

Most of these risks are low and less than 5% but stiffness is not uncommon but usually resolves with time with physiotherapy. It is important to be aware of these risks before consenting to surgery. There are also risks relating to the specific type of elbow surgery that you are having, which Dr Cheriachan will discuss with you in detail during your consultation.

An active joint like the elbow can require quite an extensive rehabilitation process in order to regain full strength and range of motion. Additionally, as the body of evidence for golfer’s elbow is less developed than that of tennis elbow, each case needs a bespoke rehabilitation plan. However, there are some consistencies; for example, you will need to wear an elbow brace after your surgery to protect the joint while you regain your strength. Your doctor or physiotherapist may also provide you with a set of recommended stretches and strengthening exercises.

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