Understanding Lateral & Medial Epicondylitis Repair
Have you been experiencing persistent pain on the outside or inside of your elbow, especially when gripping, lifting, or twisting your forearm? You might be dealing with a condition commonly known as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. If conservative treatments haven’t provided relief, your doctor might discuss a Lateral & Medial Epicondylitis Repair procedure. This surgery aims to fix the damaged tendons in your elbow that are causing the pain.
What’s Going On in Your Elbow?
- Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow): This causes pain on the outside of your elbow. It’s not just for tennis players; it often affects people who do repetitive activities involving gripping, lifting, or extending their wrist (like carpenters, painters, or even computer users). The pain comes from damage or degeneration to the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle). These muscles are responsible for bending your wrist backward and straightening your fingers.
- Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow): This causes pain on the inside of your elbow. While common in golfers, it can affect anyone who does repetitive activities involving gripping, flexing the wrist, or rotating the forearm inward (like throwing, painting, or using hand tools). The pain comes from damage or degeneration to the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony bump on the inside of your elbow (the medial epicondyle). These muscles are responsible for bending your wrist forward and gripping.
In both conditions, the problem isn’t always inflammation (which is what “itis” usually suggests), but rather small tears and degeneration in the tendon tissue where it attaches to the bone.
How Does Lateral & Medial Epicondylitis Repair Help?
When rest, physical therapy, and other non-surgical treatments haven’t successfully relieved the pain, surgery might be considered. The goal of an epicondylitis repair is to remove the damaged, degenerated tendon tissue and encourage healing.
During the surgery, the surgeon will:
- Access the Damaged Tendon: A small incision is made over the painful area on the outside (for tennis elbow) or inside (for golfer’s elbow) of the elbow.
- Remove Damaged Tissue: The surgeon carefully identifies and removes the unhealthy, degenerated portions of the tendon. This is like trimming away the frayed ends of a rope.
- Encourage Healing: In some cases, tiny holes might be drilled into the bone to stimulate a fresh blood supply, which helps promote new, healthy tendon growth. The remaining healthy tendon is then reattached or re-secured to the bone.
The aim is to create a healthy environment for the tendon to heal, reducing pain and restoring strength.
Life After Epicondylitis Repair
After your surgery, physical therapy is crucial for a successful recovery and to get your elbow back to full function. Your physical therapist will guide you through a structured rehabilitation program, which typically includes:
- Protecting the Healing Area: Initially, your elbow will be protected, sometimes with a splint, to allow the repaired tissues to heal properly.
- Gradually Restoring Movement: As healing progresses, you’ll begin gentle exercises to carefully regain the full range of motion in your elbow and wrist.
- Building Strength: Strengthening exercises for your forearm, wrist, and hand muscles are vital. This helps support the repaired tendon and improves your grip strength.
- Improving Flexibility: Stretching exercises will help maintain the flexibility of your forearm muscles.
- Returning to Activities: Your therapist will work with you on a gradual return to your daily activities, work tasks, and sports, focusing on proper mechanics to prevent the issue from returning.
Recovery from epicondylitis repair can take several months, and following your physical therapist’s guidance carefully is essential for a smooth and effective return to your normal activities without pain.