Do Braces Work to Treat Tennis Elbow?

November 25, 2015/0 Comments/in Arm Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Tennis elbow is a repetitive stress condition in which the tendons in the elbow and forearm degrade and/or become inflamed. We have talked at length about the condition previously on this site. In this article, we are going to talk about the effectiveness of wearing a brace for tennis elbow. We’ll discuss when bracing can be used and when alternative treatment options are necessary.

Bracing for Tennis Elbow

Bracing is a common treatment method for tennis elbow and related conditions (like golf elbow). Braces work by applying pressure to the muscles below the elbow. The goal of bracing is to reduce pain and increase a person’s ability to freely move their arm and elbow. But bracing on its own does not always accomplish that aim. Elbow tendonitis takes time a long time to heal. Bracing alone can provide some temporary relief, but the pain will typically return soon after the brace is removed. For that reason, a multi-faceted approach to treatment often provides the best long-term results.

Other Treatment Methods

In certain situations, bracing is simply not enough to treat the symptoms of tennis elbow. Bracing is considered a conservative treatment since it’s not very invasive. If a patient continues to experience pain and decreased elbow mobility after using a brace, other treatments should be considered. Pain injections can be quite effective in treating tennis elbow pain. Corticosteroid injections, as well as nerve block injections can provide significant pain relief and allow patients to resume their favorite activities. PRP injections can also be beneficial in rebuilding damaged tissue in the elbow, and relieving pain in the process. The best treatments are tailored to each particular patient and often combine many of these options.

Contact Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN today for help treating your tennis elbow symptoms. Our providers have decades of combined experience treating Minnesotans with elbow pain. Make your appointment today to talk about your condition and form a treatment strategy.

3 Popular Sports that Lead to Tennis Elbow

November 23, 2015/0 Comments/in Arm Pain /by Matthew Thorson

We have previously talked about tennis elbow and tendonitis on this site. Tennis elbow is a degenerative condition caused by repetitive stress. Contrary to its name, however, tennis players are not the only athletes who can suffer from the condition. Here we are going to discuss the most common sports that can lead to the development of tennis elbow.

Tennis (Obviously)

Since it’s called “tennis elbow” it’s no surprise that the condition is common among tennis players. The motion required to swing a tennis racquet utilizes the outer arm muscles in the forearm just below the elbow. Over time and a lot of play, this repetitive motion can cause the tendons to degenerate and cause pain.

Golf

Swinging a golf club puts the inner forearm muscles to work. Frequent play can result in golfer’s elbow – a condition that has many of the same symptoms as tennis elbow. The only difference is the particular forearm muscles that are affected (golfer’s elbow impacts the inner forearm muscles, while tennis elbow affects the outer forearm muscles).

Baseball

Throwing a baseball requires heavy use of the forearm muscles. Pitchers are especially vulnerable to developing the condition since they are required to throw more than any other player.

Other Causes

Tennis elbow can also stem from other, non-sports related causes. Jobs or hobbies that require a lot of repetitive arm, wrist, or hand motions are a big culprit. This can include construction and other manual labor-heavy occupations. Repetitive motion activities such as computer usage, musical instruments and hand writing can also cause the condition.

No matter what the cause of tennis elbow, there are ways to treat the condition effectively and get you back to your job or playing your favorite sport. The pain management specialists at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota have been treating patients with tennis elbow for decades. Make your appointment today and start plotting your treatment plan.

Forearm Pain Causes & Treatments

You probably don’t realize just how often you utilize your forearm muscles, tendons, and nerves during the day. Unless of course you are experiencing forearm pain – in which case you are likely VERY aware of your forearm. In this article, we are going to discuss the common and uncommon causes of forearm pain. We will also provide some treatment options for treating each cause.

What are the Possible Causes of Forearm Pain?

Pain in the forearm can come from the bones, tendons, joints, or nerves in the arm and elbow. Here are some of the potential causes of pain in your forearm:

Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow. These are both repetitive stress injuries that typically cause dull and aching pain in the forearm, as well as mobility issues.
Fractured Elbow. A broken elbow will likely result in sharp and extreme pain in the forearm and elbow.
Arthritis, Tendonitis, Bursitis. These conditions are caused by degeneration in the tendons and joints, and can cause chronic pain in the arm.
Nerve Damage. There are three primary nerves in the forearm – the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Impacting these nerves can cause pain, numbness, and loss of feeling in the forearm.

There are, of course, other potential causes of forearm pain – but these are some of the more common, and will be among the first that your physician looks for during an examination.

Treating Forearm Pain

Before you can move forward with treating your forearm pain, you must first identify the exact cause of the forearm pain, since the exact treatment will vary based on the diagnosis. Treatment options range from conservative methods like rest, bracing, and medications, to cortisone and PRP injections.

If you are dealing with pain in your forearm, contact a pain management specialist at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota to see what your options are for reducing your pain.