Elbow tendonitis symptoms

by Nathan Wei, MD, FACP, FACR

Nathan Wei is a nationally known board-certified rheumatologist and author of the Second Opinion Arthritis Treatment Kit. It's available exclusively at this website... not available in stores.

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The forearm muscles that are involved in gripping, squeezing, and lifting are attached both to the wrist and to the elbow.

If those muscles are overloaded, or overstressed, they can partially tear at either end. Frequently the muscle attachment (tendon) becomes injured at its insertion on either the inside or outside of the elbow (epicondylitis).

Common Causes of elbow tendonitis include excessive gripping or squeezing. Examples include too much tennis, golf, weightlifting, gardening, hammering, etc. Other situations that can bring this on are chronic overuse of the wrist extensor muscles such as excessive keyboarding.

Symptoms occur with pain on the outside (lateral) or inside (medial) aspect of the elbow, exacerbated with gripping or squeezing. Usually the patient is free of pain at rest. There are two major types of tendonitis in the elbow:

• Tennis elbow. Symptoms include swelling around the outer edge of the elbow (this is because the tendon is inflamed), tenderness around the elbow and pain during movement of the elbow. Tennis elbow is due to repetitive movement of the muscles in the lower arm and can be treated anti-inflammatory drugs, an elbow splint to support the arm or a cortisone injection.
• Golfer’s elbow. This condition has similar symptoms to tennis elbow, with the difference that the swelling appears on the inside of the elbow due to the difference in arm movement during sport.

On examination, a patient will be tender at either the medial or lateral epicondyle of the elbow.

The diagnosis is almost entirely made by history and physical examination. Occasionally x-rays are helpful.

Rest and anti-inflammatory medication will reduce symptoms. The use of forearm bands and wrist splints allows the injured tendon to rest. Corticosteroid injections are often very helpful in speeding recovery. Physical therapy too early can actually aggravate symptoms. Gentle strengthening is helpful once the pain has resolved.

Surgical treatment- fasciotomy- or the release/removal of injured tissue is rarely required.

For more up-to-date information on the latest treatments for elbow tendonitis go to: Tendonitis Treatment Tips

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