Dr. Craig Weinstein
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, a painful condition of the forearm muscles that attach the outer part of the elbow, was once thought to be an inflammatory condition, but is now believed to be a chronic degeneration caused by repetitive overuse.
Overuse of the arm often leads to micro-tears in the tendons at their attachment to bone. While these micro-tears often heal, they sometimes form residual scar tissue that is weaker than the normal surrounding healthy tissue. This unhealthy tissue is the source of pain.
Symptoms often interfere with grip or repetitive motion activities. Besides pain, patients often describe a burning feeling that radiates up and down the arm. Tennis elbow is often found in athletes who play racquet sports. However, tennis elbow is more common in laborers, such as mechanics, painters, plumbers, carpenters, kitchen workers and typists.
Since tennis elbow is a soft tissue injury, it typically does not appear on an X-ray. Instead, the degenerative areas of the tendon will appear on an MRI, or an in-office ultrasound.
Depending on the degree of tissue damage and the length of time symptoms have been present, your doctor may recommend a number of treatments. Non-invasive treatments consist of anti-inflammatory medications, bracing, therapy and avoidance of aggravating activities.
Invasive treatments include cortisone injections, shock wave therapy and formal surgery. Although traditional open surgery is very effective in treating tennis elbow, an arthroscopic approach, which is a minimally invasive technique utilizing a small fiber optic camera, is becoming increasingly common.
A newer alternative involves the use of a special ultrasound device to break up the unhealthy tissue, removing it through a small incision in the skin. Early results mimic that of open surgery, but with far less postoperative pain and a quicker return to work and sports.
As a general rule, it takes twice as long for symptoms to resolve as they have been present. Thus, prompt evaluation and treatment by an orthopaedic surgeon is needed. When symptoms have been present for more than six months, surgery is more likely to be required.
At Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists at Red Mountain Medical Plaza, we treat a variety of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions in addition to athletic injuries.
Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists is led by Dr. Craig Weinstein, a magna cum laude graduate of Columbia University, who received his Sports Medicine fellowship training at the world famous American Sports Medicine Institute, in Birmingham, Ala. However, Dr. Weinstein has his roots in Arizona, graduating from Saguaro High School, in Scottsdale.
Dr. Weinstein’s specialties include shoulder, elbow, and knee issues, as well as athletic injuries in both adult and adolescent patients. He offers state-of-the-art joint preservation, as well as advanced treatment of injuries specific to throwing athletes. In addition, he offers extensive expertise in shoulder and knee replacement surgery, specializing in partial knee replacements.
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For more information, or to make an appointment, call (480) 999-0049. Red Mountain Medical Plaza is located at 8035 E. Brown Road, Building 4.