Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow can affect your swing, grip, lifting, workouts, and everyday tasks.
Dr. Jonathan Gelber can help determine which tendon is involved, why it continues to hurt, and what may help you return to activity.
Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow affects the tendons on the inside. Either can develop after repeated gripping, lifting, racquet sports, golf, or a change in training or technique.
Despite the names, you do not need to play tennis or golf to develop either condition.
Tendons need to tolerate repeated load. Rest may calm symptoms, but returning to the same activity without rebuilding capacity can bring the pain back.
An examination helps confirm that the pain is coming from the tendon and not from the joint, a ligament, or a nerve. Ultrasound or other imaging may be useful when it helps answer a specific question.
Treatment may include changing how the tendon is loaded, targeted rehabilitation, grip and forearm strengthening, technique changes, or medication for short-term symptom relief.
PRP may be considered for selected persistent tendon problems. The right choice depends on the diagnosis, severity, prior treatment, and what you want to return to. Explore regenerative medicine.
Less pain is useful, but the tendon also needs enough strength and capacity for golf, tennis, pickleball, lifting, work, or workouts.
Rehabilitation and reassessment help determine whether you are ready to return—not just whether the elbow feels better at rest.
The value is more than access to an injection. It is having an orthopedic surgeon determine what is causing the pain and whether rehabilitation, PRP, another treatment, or occasionally surgery best fits the problem.
If PRP makes sense, Dr. Gelber can explain why. If another approach is more likely to help, he will tell you that too.
Learn more about tendonitis and tendinopathy.
LA Ortho & Wellness serves active adults in Toluca Lake, Studio City, Burbank, North Hollywood, and greater Los Angeles.
Dr. Jonathan Gelber of LA Ortho & Wellness provides comprehensive orthopedics, blending functional and integrative medicine for the LA area.
