What is a Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is a condition that is medically known as medial epicondylitis. It occurs as a result of tendons and muscles on the inside of your elbow getting inflamed. When you overuse your arm muscles, especially through repetitive motions, it can damage the tendons, causing them to tear up and swell.
Moreover, the tendons on the inside of your arm, especially around the elbow area, are sensitive. They’re connected to the bone, which allows the joint to flex, move, and bend. Thus, if the tendon gets ripped, it causes a great deal of pain, making it impossible to lift or bend the arm.
It is also important to know that despite being called a golfer’s elbow, the condition does not arise just for athletes. As long as you move your arm or work in a field that requires a lot of arm work, you might be at risk of developing a golfer’s elbow. For instance, it can affect you if you’re a cook, writer, sculptor, artist, plumber, or even a construction worker.
What Causes a Golfer’s Elbow?
Golfer’s elbow is usually caused by overusing the arm muscles, especially the elbow joint, and wrist. The more you work your arm, the higher the chances are of you tearing the tendons. Plus, once the tendon that connects your forearm and elbow suffers a tear, it can trigger a lot of pain, swelling, and tenderness to radiate all throughout the arm.
Symptoms of a Golfer’s Elbow
A golfer’s elbow is usually caused by the following symptoms:
- Extreme pain in the forearm and wrist.
- Lack of strength in the arm.
- Unable to grip something.
- Numbness in the fingers.
- Tingling sensation throughout the arm.
- Inability to flex or stretch the arm.
How Long Does it Take for a Golfer’s Elbow to Heal?
The time it takes for a golfer’s elbow to heal depends entirely on the severity of the condition. For instance, if the tendon in your arm had a severe tear, to the point it detached itself from the elbow joint, then it could take you around 6 to 12 weeks to recover. However, on average, it takes up to 8 weeks for the elbow to completely regain its movement and flexibility.
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When to Seek Professional Help?
If you feel like no treatment is helping or that your swelling won’t go away, schedule an appointment with Michael Cusick, MD, at (713) 794-3599. Our medical experts will get to the root of the problem and draft a treatment plan that best fits your needs. Thus, even if it takes longer than a few weeks to treat your golfer’s elbow, we will make sure the recovery process goes well.
