Elbow arthroscopy for stubborn lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) can be one of the more frustrating conditions that patients come to see me for. It is the most common cause of lateral elbow pain and can lead to significant disability. Luckily, a vast majority of cases do improve without surgery within 3-4 months with rest, bracing, and stretching.

What can be done if the pain does not improve with the common treatment of rest, stretching, and bracing?

If the pain persists greater than 6 months, I generally offer elbow arthroscopy. This quick, outpatient surgery takes approximately 30 minutes and involves making two small skin incisions (approximately 1cm) around the elbow and using a camera and small instruments to remove the damaged portion of the tendon that is causing pain.

Most patients see very good results and have significant improvement in their pain and return of function within 4-6 weeks from surgery.

To learn more, you can schedule a consultation with me here or always feel free to contact the office with questions.

Is "selfie elbow" real?

A new, catchy, condition has been making headlines: "selfie elbow".  The question is, is this a real condition?  Although the name sounds ridiculous, this condition is nothing new.  As an elbow specialist who takes care of a variety of elbow conditions, I see this type of injury routinely.  "Selfie elbow" is similar to other repetitive strain conditions that happen around the elbow.  I'm sure many of you have heard of tennis elbow or golfer's elbow.  "Selfie elbow", like those seen with tennis and golf, is an overuse injury.  Extending your elbow while keeping a firm grip on your phone puts excess stress on the tendons that attach to your elbow and control function in your hand and wrist.  Many who suffer from this type of condition have significant difficulties with use of the hand, especially with lifting and grasping activities.

Luckily, this condition almost always improves without surgery.  They key to healing this type of condition is refraining from any activities that cause pain and performing specific physical therapy.  Overall resolution of the symptoms can take weeks to months to improve.  Rarely, this condition lasts so long that I would recommend surgery.  If needed, the condition is easily treated with simple, minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery of the elbow.

Tennis Elbow pain - What are my options?

If you’re like 50 percent of American adults, you’ve experienced elbow pain. For some, it’s a dull ache on the outside of the elbow, but for others, it makes everyday tasks into ordeals. When you have severe elbow pain, even lifting your arm to drink coffee or gripping a shopping bag can be incredibly painful.

More likely than not, you’re suffering from a condition called tennis elbow. You’re not alone. In fact, tennis elbow is so common that it is sometimes referred to as a rite of passage to middle age. Don’t be misled by the name—only a small percentage of people diagnosed with tennis elbow actually get it from playing tennis. Instead, tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive stresses to the elbow, which can come from any number of activities, from hammering to lifting heavy boxes.

In more than 90 percent of cases, tennis elbow can be treated with a structured home therapy program or physical therapy. However, for a small percentage of people, the pain will persist. If your pain lasts more than six months, it’s time to consider other options. Luckily, there are a variety of treatments available, both surgical and nonsurgical. Of these options, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is one of the most effective.

Arthroscopic surgery involves less damage to the healthy tissue and a faster return to your everyday activities.

You can go home the same day, and you can go back to using your elbow again within days in some cases.

Not all surgeons are trained to treat tennis elbow through arthroscopic surgery. If you are struggling with elbow pain, please reach out to us! We will discuss your treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical. Relief is closer than you might think.