Tennis elbow.
A slightly misleading name for a condition that absolutely does not require you to own a tennis racket.
You might be a gardener, gym goer, decorator, hairdresser, golfer, DIY enthusiast or someone whose most athletic activity this week has been lifting the kettle.
Yet suddenly gripping, lifting and carrying things has become a painful experience.
Perhaps you’ve already rested it. You’ve modified how you do things. You’ve tried exercises and treatment. It’s improved a bit, flared up again and generally refused to take the hint and leave.
When persistent elbow pain starts stopping you doing the things you enjoy, it may be time to look at what other options are available.
And in some circumstances, a steroid injection may be one of those options.
What actually is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is the common name for a problem affecting the tendons around the outside of the elbow.
You may notice pain when gripping, lifting, carrying or twisting your forearm. Sometimes seemingly tiny tasks can suddenly feel disproportionately difficult.
Picking up your coffee cup? Ouch.
Opening a jar? Nope.
Carrying the shopping? Suddenly a two person job.
Backhand at Wimbledon? Probably best postponed.
Pain on the inside of the elbow is often referred to as golfer’s elbow. Both can become persistent and interfere with work, exercise, hobbies and everyday life.
When elbow pain starts taking over
One of the most frustrating things about persistent musculoskeletal pain is that it can gradually make your world smaller.
You stop doing certain exercises at the gym.
You avoid the gardening because you know how your elbow will feel afterwards.
You change the way you lift things at work.
You stop playing the sport you enjoy.
Maybe you’ve already tried rehabilitation or other conservative treatments but every time you start building things back up, your elbow complains again.
And that’s the important bit.
Pain management isn’t only about getting a number on a pain scale from an eight to a four.
It’s about what that reduction in pain allows you to do.
Could a steroid injection help?
A steroid injection may be considered as part of the treatment options for some musculoskeletal conditions.
The aim is to reduce symptoms enough to help you move forwards.
That doesn’t mean an injection magically fixes everything or that rehabilitation can stop,
In fact, getting back to activity is often the bigger goal.
If pain has become the barrier stopping you from progressing your exercises, returning to the gym, doing your job comfortably or getting back to your favourite hobby, reducing that pain may create an opportunity to start moving forwards again.
Think of it less as pressing a giant FIX ELBOW button and more as potentially creating some breathing room.
What you do with that breathing room matters.
“But I’ve already tried treatment…”
That’s often when people start exploring other options.
Maybe you’ve rested it.
Maybe you’ve changed your activities.
Maybe you’ve been doing rehabilitation.
Perhaps you’ve had osteopathy or other hands on treatment and things have improved, but you’ve reached a point where persistent pain is still stopping you progressing.
It doesn’t mean everything you’ve already tried has failed.
Sometimes musculoskeletal problems simply need a different approach at a different stage.
A steroid injection may form part of that wider plan for some people, particularly when persistent symptoms are making rehabilitation or normal activity difficult.
It’s about getting back to your normal
There’s no universal definition of getting better.
For one person, success might mean getting back onto the tennis court.
For someone else, it’s lifting weights again.
It could be gardening without regretting it the next morning, working comfortably, picking up your child or simply pouring the kettle without your elbow having an opinion about it.
That’s why good pain management should look beyond the painful body part.
The question isn’t only:
“How much does your elbow hurt?”
It’s also:
“What is your elbow stopping you from doing?”
Because that’s usually the thing you actually want to change.
FAQs
Do you have to play tennis to get tennis elbow? Definitely not. Tennis elbow can affect anyone and is commonly associated with activities involving repeated gripping, lifting or loading through the forearm.
What if my pain is on the inside of my elbow? Pain around the inside of the elbow can sometimes be associated with golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis. Other conditions can cause elbow pain too, so getting the right diagnosis matters.
Will a steroid injection cure tennis elbow? Not necessarily. Steroid injections are not a magic cure and their suitability needs careful consideration. Where injection therapy is appropriate, the bigger goal may be to reduce symptoms and support your return to movement, rehabilitation and normal activities.
Can I exercise after a steroid injection? You’ll be given advice about activity following an injection and when to gradually return to exercise. Don’t use feeling better as an invitation to immediately test your personal best at the gym!
What if I’ve had elbow pain for months? Persistent pain doesn’t mean you simply have to put up with it. If you’ve already tried appropriate conservative treatment and you’re still struggling, it may be worth reviewing your diagnosis and discussing what other treatment options are available.
Ready to get back to the things you enjoy?
If persistent tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow or elbow pain has been hanging around for longer than you’d like, there are other options to explore.
At The Oast Osteopathy in Sittingbourne, steroid injection therapy is available where clinically appropriate as part of our wider approach to musculoskeletal care and pain management.
Because the ultimate goal isn’t simply a quieter elbow.
It’s getting you back to using it.
