Golfer's Elbow: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

 Golfer's elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation on the inner side of the elbow. Despite its name, it doesn't only affect golfers; it can affect anyone who uses their wrists or clenches their fingers repetitively. 

Golfer's elbow is primarily caused by overuse and repetitive stress on the forearm muscles and tendons that control your wrist and fingers. Activities that can lead to golfer's elbow include:

• Golf: The repeated swinging motion in golf can strain the tendons and muscles of the inner elbow.
• Racket Sports: Tennis, badminton, and squash involve repetitive wrist and arm motions.
• Throwing Sports: Baseball, softball, and javelin can put stress on the elbow.
• Weightlifting: Lifting weights, especially with improper technique, can overstrain the elbow.
• Manual Labor: Activities like hammering, sawing, and painting can also cause this condition.

The symptoms of golfer's elbow can develop gradually or suddenly, and they include:

• Pain and Tenderness: Pain on the inner side of the elbow, which can extend along the inner side of the forearm. It often worsens with certain movements.
• Stiffness: The elbow may feel stiff, and making a fist might be painful.
• Weakness: Weakness in the hands and wrists.
• Numbness or Tingling: Numbness or tingling, especially in the ring and little fingers.

Treatment for golfer's elbow focuses on relieving pain, promoting healing, and preventing further injury. Here are some common treatments:

• Rest: Avoiding activities that exacerbate the pain.
• Ice: Applying ice packs to the affected area for 15-20 minutes, several times a day.
• Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Physical Therapy: Specific exercises to stretch and strengthen the forearm muscles.
• Brace or Splint: Using a brace to reduce strain on the tendons.

Interventional Treatments: 

• Steroid Injections: In some cases, corticosteroid injections can help reduce inflammation and pain.
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections for Golfer's Elbow treatment involve using a patient's concentrated blood platelets to promote healing and reduce inflammation in the affected tendons. 

Surgery is rarely needed but may be considered in severe cases that don’t respond to other treatments.