What treatment options are available for tendonitis in the elbow?
January 26, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Eva Ziegler
Dear Doctor,
My name is Gabriele Waldner and I have been experiencing strong pain in my elbow for some time now. I suspect it is a tendonitis, as the pain occurs mainly during certain movements and increases when pressure is applied to the affected area. The pain has become so intense that it significantly affects my daily life and I am barely able to perform my daily tasks.
I am very concerned that the tendonitis could become chronic and cause long-term damage. Therefore, I would like to know what treatment options are available for tendonitis in the elbow. Are there conservative therapy measures such as physiotherapy or specific exercises that could help alleviate the inflammation? Or would a medication treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs be advisable? Is there also the possibility of surgical treatment if conservative measures do not bring the desired results?
I would greatly appreciate your assessment and recommendations, as I am truly at a loss and urgently need help to alleviate my pain and restore mobility in my elbow.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Gabriele Waldner
Dear Mrs. Waldner,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise. I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from severe pain in your elbow and that it is greatly affecting your daily life. It is understandable that you are concerned about the possibility of the tendonitis becoming chronic and causing long-term damage. I would like to provide you with some information on the treatment options for tendonitis in the elbow.
Tendonitis, also known as epicondylitis, can indeed develop from repeated overuse of the tendon attachments at the elbow. The pain often occurs with certain movements and can be exacerbated by pressure on the affected area. Typically, conservative treatment is the first step in addressing tendonitis.
Conservative therapy measures include physiotherapy, specific exercises to strengthen and stretch the affected muscles, as well as anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The application of cold and heat therapy can also be helpful in reducing inflammation and alleviating pain. In some cases, immobilization of the elbow with a brace or orthosis may be necessary.
If conservative measures do not yield the desired results, surgical treatment may be considered in some cases. This may involve relieving or cleaning the tendon attachments to reduce inflammation. However, surgery should always be considered as a last resort when other treatment options have been exhausted.
I recommend you schedule an appointment with a specialist in orthopedics to receive a precise diagnosis and develop an individualized treatment strategy for you. Depending on the severity of the inflammation and your specific needs, the most suitable therapy measures can then be determined.
I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you all the best on your path to recovery. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or need assistance.
Best regards,
Eva Ziegler
