Elbow Pain Treatment
in Tulsa, Oklahoma

They are the same type of problem (a tendinopathy of the common extensor or flexor tendon origin) but on opposite sides of the elbow. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the outside of the elbow where the extensor tendons attach, and it hurts most with gripping, lifting with the palm down, or wringing a towel. Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the inside of the elbow, where the flexor tendons attach, and hurts with gripping or wrist flexion. Neither condition actually requires playing tennis or golf, and treatment strategies overlap substantially.

Lateral epicondylitis is not really an inflammation anymore once it becomes chronic, it is a degenerative tendinopathy in which the tendon's collagen architecture has broken down and blood supply to the area is poor. That is why true 'rest' often fails: there is nothing for the body to actively repair without a stimulus. Modern care focuses on loading the tendon correctly (eccentric strengthening), correcting grip and workstation ergonomics, and, when symptoms persist, using PRP to introduce the growth factors the tendon needs to remodel. Corticosteroid may help acutely but is generally not a long-term solution for chronic cases.

Cubital tunnel syndrome is compression of the ulnar nerve as it travels around the inside of the elbow (the 'funny bone' area), producing tingling and numbness in the ring and small fingers, along with weakness gripping or spreading the fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger. Both can worsen with sleep posture and repetitive activity. Treatment starts with positional modifications and bracing; targeted nerve hydrodissection and, in select cases, surgery are options when conservative care is not enough.

The classic 'pop-on-the-back-of-the-elbow' appearance is olecranon bursitis, fluid collecting in the bursa overlying the tip of the ulna. It can develop from a single firm bump, prolonged leaning on the elbow, arthritis, or gout. Most cases are not serious and respond to activity modification, compression, and aspiration with or without injection. The key question is whether the bursa is infected (septic bursitis), warmth, redness spreading beyond the bursa, fever, or fluid that looks cloudy on aspiration all raise that concern and deserve prompt evaluation and often antibiotics.

PRP is believed to work by doing more than masking symptoms. Platelet-rich plasma concentrates growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, and others) that signal tendon cells to increase collagen production, recruit healing cells, and improve local microcirculation. MRI and ultrasound imaging in research studies have shown tendon remodeling and reduced tear size after PRP for lateral epicondylitis. That said, the response takes weeks to months to build, and PRP works best when paired with a structured eccentric loading program, the injection alone is part of a package rather than a standalone cure.

Yes. The C6 and C7 cervical nerve roots supply sensation and motor function to the elbow region, so a pinched nerve at those levels can produce pain radiating from the neck through the shoulder and into the elbow and forearm. Features that suggest a cervical source include pain that worsens with certain neck positions, numbness or tingling extending past the elbow into the hand, and reproduction of the pain with Spurling's test (gently loading the neck in extension and rotation). When the elbow exam is unremarkable but pain persists, evaluating the cervical spine is an essential part of the workup.