Golfer’s Elbow Treatment in Fort Myers, FL

After all this is Fort Myers, Florida and we have no less than 88 golf courses within a twenty-mile radius.

You may know by now that your painful elbow has a formal name. It’s called medial epicondylitis. This very specific pain can be caused by several things and goes by multiple names, as you’ll see.

But if your doctor tells you there’s only one way to treat this common condition, think again. Because you may be sitting on the sidelines unnecessarily.

The short answer is no. Rest is NOT the only treatment. Nor is it the fastest way to get back out on the course.

And let’s face it…you’re probably not going to sit home on the couch anyway. You want to play the game you love pain or no pain. Indefinite rest is not something you’re willing to tolerate!

But let’s take a step back for a minute…

The more you know about this condition, the less likely it is to disrupt your lifestyle.

Here’s what you should know:

No. 1 is pain. This pain and tenderness are centered around the bump on the inside of the elbow and can radiate down the arm.

It often gets worse doing certain movements such as:

• Making a fist
• Flexing the wrist towards your forearm
• Grabbing heavy objects
• Grabbing thick objects that require the hand to open wide

You may also experience numbness or tingling that runs the length of the arm and into the fingertips; usually the ring and little finger.

Along with the pain, your elbow can feel very stiff. When golfer’s elbow flares up, even making a fist can be painful. It’s not unusual to feel tightness in the elbow joint, causing you to move more slowly and gingerly.

One of the more frustrating symptoms of golfer’s elbow is muscle weakness. Not being able to lift or hold onto objects you would normally not think twice about can try your patience. This symptom may be the one that pushes you to seek treatment.

After all, having difficulty grabbing or holding onto a golf club can put a quick halt to your favorite activity!

When golfer’s elbow is at it’s worst, it’s not uncommon to drop heavier or awkward items.

If your condition worsens, you will notice swelling and redness in the elbow. The entire area can be very tender to touch and throbbing can become a major distraction.

As it turns out, the elbow is a pretty complex joint…even if we don’t think about it that way.

The powerful tendons that move the forearm, wrist, and fingers all meet at the elbow.  If that wasn’t enough, the large muscles of the upper arm—the triceps and biceps—cross the joint from above. 

This means a lot is going on in there!  

The muscles of the upper arm usually don’t cause many problems, but the complex movements required of the wrist and fingers make this attachment point more of an issue.