Commonly referred to as “golfer’s elbow”, medial epicondylitis is a condition where you experience pain in the area where the bony bump inside your elbow and the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to each other. This is more or less like lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow, only tennis elbow occurs inside the elbow. Usually caused as a result of overuse, many people who regularly and consistently use their wrists heavily and/or clench or grip their fingers tightly develop medial epicondylitis.
What is Medial Epicondylitis?
When is Medial Epicondylitis Found?
In most cases, golfer’s elbow is found in people who engage in gripping activities that put a lot of tension on the tendons repeatedly. Especially if you use your thumb along with your first two fingers repeatedly, you are likely to have microscopic tears forming in your tissue, eventually developing medial epicondylitis. Suffering from golfer’s elbow can be a painful and excruciating experience, but it doesn’t have to be like this all the time. Nor do you have to sacrifice activities that you enjoy. With the right treatment that is customized according to your unique conditions, you can freely use your elbows and arms without pain again.
Treatments to Restore Your Way of Life
For many years, our experts at Hand and Microsurgery Medical Group have successfully treated patients suffering from medial epicondylitis. Both Dr. Leonard Gordon and Dr. Joshua Gordon have more than 40 years of combined experience, which make them one of the top specialists in the industry in Sacramento.
At Hand and Microsurgery Medical Group, we truly care about the safety and comfort of each and every patient that steps inside our Sacramento office, and this is what keeps all our patients so loyal to us.
Symptoms
Mostly, people who suffer from golfer’s elbow experience pain not only in their elbow. They find that the pain extends even to their arms and wrists. Usually, the pain is concentrated in the bony part of the inside of your elbow, but you will feel the pain in your upper as well as lower arms. The pain is more likely to be felt when you lift something, when you are gripping something, when you are typing, when you are opening a door or shaking other people’s hands.
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If you experience the following in your elbow and arm areas, it may be a sign that you are suffering from medial epicondylitis:
Tenderness, accompanied by pain
The inside of your elbow may feel extremely tender, causing you a lot of pain when you move your arm. Sometimes, this pain can even be felt in your upper and lower arms. You may find that some motions and movements especially cause more pain.
Weakness
If you suffer from golfer’s elbow, you may find that your hands and wrists feel extremely weak and it is difficult to hold on or grip anything at all.
Tingling or numbing sensation
Many patients often report a tingling sensation or numbness in their fingers, usually the ring fingers and little fingers.
Stiffness in movement
Since you will feel pain, you may also find that your elbow and arm feel stiff while moving them.
Treating medial epicondylitis
In order to be diagnosed for medial epicondylitis, you need to be thoroughly examined and tested by a qualified and experienced doctor who specializes in the field. If the damage is not very serious and you can bear your pain, your doctor will most likely make you wear a brace or a band, or you may be given anti-inflammatory medicines and/or injections. You may be advised to go for physical therapy as well.
However, if your pain is too intense, or if the damage does not respond well to any other treatment, surgery will most likely be required. During the medial epicondylitis surgery, the degenerated tendon tissue will be removed. After surgery, physical therapy will be required.
Get in touch with us today to know more about medial epicondylitis treatment.
