If you experience pain on the inside of the elbow, it could be Golfer’s Elbow. This condition is caused by injury or irritation to the tendons where they attach to the bony prominence (medial epicondyle). The tendons can become painful and swollen, leading to discomfort. Other activities, such as baseball or lifting a heavy bag or suitcase, may also cause medial epicondylitis, hence the terms “baseball elbow” and “suitcase elbow” are also used.

A golfer’s elbow is an injury that can occur due to sports such as golf, tennis, basketball, or archery, which can involve overuse of the arm and wrist. Improper technique while weightlifting or throwing, certain occupations such as carpentry, plumbing, smoking, and obesity may increase the risk of injury.

The symptoms of a golfer’s elbow include pain on the inside of the elbow, stiffness of the elbow, weakness of the affected hand, numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers, and difficulty moving the hand.

When diagnosed with a golfer’s elbow, your doctor will review your medical history and daily activities and perform a physical examination to assess elbow movement and pain. An X-ray or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan may be ordered to visualize the elbow joint.

Conservative methods of treatment for golfer’s elbow include resting, application of moist heat to the region of pain, use of elbow wraps, mild massage to the painful area, and stretching exercises. If these methods do not work after about 6 months, surgical intervention is necessary. Open surgery is usually performed to treat a golfer’s elbow, although an arthroscopic technique may also be used.

Surgery involves administering local or general anesthesia, making an incision over the medial epicondyle, detaching the common origin for tendons attached to the medial epicondyle, removing damaged and degenerated tendon tissue without injuring the surrounding ligaments, performing microfracture of the medial epicondyle where numerous small holes are drilled into the bone to promote healing, reattaching the common origin for the tendons to the bone, and closing the incision.

Following the surgery, your arm is supported by a splint. Your surgeon suggests light exercises such as sponge squeezing for the first few weeks. You may begin resistance exercises after 6-8 weeks and participate in sports after 6-8 months.

Surgery for a golfer’s elbow may be associated with certain risks that include elbow ligament injuries, nerve injuries, and hematoma.