Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow

Conservative treatments usually work for golfer’s elbow. But if you’re still having pain after three to six months, you may need surgery. These procedures can remove damaged parts of a tendon, promote healing, and reduce pain. Full recovery may take three to six months.

Sometimes, golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow can go away on their own, but you should see a healthcare provider if your condition gets worse or does not get better.

The good news is that golfer’s elbow often heals on its own. Since it is a repetitive strain injury, the main factor affecting your healing is time away from the repetitive motion that caused the problem.

Left untreated, golfer’s elbow eventually could cause permanent disability—loss of grip strength, chronic pain, and limited range of elbow motion. The condition also can cause a permanent contracture (bend) of the elbow.

On the most basic level, Tennis Elbow presents as pain on the outside of your elbow and Golfer’s Elbow presents as pain on the inside of your elbow. Neither is tied to a specific injury and both tend to gradually get worse as time goes on.