Tennis Elbow & Golfer's Elbow Injections in South London
Cortisone injections for elbow pain in South London
We are a leading musculoskeletal clinic offering injections for tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. Our treatments can bring significant relief from musculoskeletal pain and bring you much-needed respite from your condition.
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We offer private injections at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether injections will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case, and your appointment also includes a diagnostic ultrasound consultation to ensure your injection will be safe and give you maximum benefit.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
What are tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?
Tennis and golfer’s elbow are common tendinopathies affecting tendons located on outer and inner sides of the elbow (epicondyles). They are commonly referred as epicondylitis or epicondylopathy.
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Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
This is the more common type of epicondylitis which involves tendons of the lateral (outer) epicondyle of the humerus, the bone of the upper arm that forms the elbow joint, and in particular the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon. Despite its name, tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players; it can affect anyone who engages in activities that involve repetitive gripping, wrist extension or vibrating handheld tools. Overuse of the forearm muscles can cause stress of the the tendon attachment at the lateral epicondyle, causing pain and inflammation. Common symptoms include pain on the outer side of the elbow, weakness in the forearm, and difficulty with gripping. More information on tennis elbow can be found here.
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Golfer's elbow is less common than tennis elbow but has a similar mechanism. It is caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons on the inner side of the forearm, leading to irritation and inflammation at the medial epicondyle. Activities such as golfing, throwing, and repetitive gripping can contribute to this condition. Symptoms include pain on the inner side of the elbow, weakness, and difficulty with certain hand and wrist movements.
What our patients say
How injections can help with tennis elbow and golfer's elbow?
Cortisone injections can rapidly reduce pain, bringing much-needed relief and increased mobility. If you have found your work or other daily activities involving gripping, throwing or anything being hindered by your pain, a steroid injection can allow you the freedom to get back to work and normal life.
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Pain is not to be underestimated and when it becomes bad it can become debilitating and lead to depression. Elbow pain can also lead to inactivity which can cause further problems such as postural and health issues, leading to even further inactivity, known as the chronic pain cycle. It is crucial to seek help when you are in pain and not simply try to live with it, as when left unchecked pain can cause gradual deterioration of both mental and physical health.
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The break from pain and other symptoms brought by steroid injections will also allow you to take other actions to proactively combat your problem. In particular, you will be able to follow a physiotherapist-prescribed exercise programme to deal with your condition at the root by stimulating healing of the tendon fibres. It is important you do any exercises your physiotherapist gives you to avoid your problem worsening in the future and potentially leading to more problems further down the line.
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All our treatments include a written report and guidance on moving forward with treating your problem following your injection, so that you can use the opportunity the injection gives to set yourself on a path to better health. We also include a personalised physiotherapy exercise plan wherever appropriate.
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For more information about cortisone injections and frequently asked questions, see our cortisone injections page.
Are there other conditions which can affect the elbow?
It is a common misconception that all elbow pain is a tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, but there are many other conditions which can affect the elbow and cause similar pain. These includes tendinopathy, bicipital or olecranon bursitis, osteoarthritis, cubital and radial nerve syndrome, strain and sprain and bone injuries such as fractures and dislocations.
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A diagnosis from a medical professional is essential to understand what is causing your elbow pain. This ensures you can be provided with the correct treatment to address the pain and prevent worse issues moving forward.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free online or telephone consultation to speak to Max directly.
Are cortisone injections a long-term solution for elbow pain?
Corticosteroids have a short term effect (around 3 months) but a common belief is that cortisone injections do not address the underlying causes of your pain and will only stop the symptoms.
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First of all, your pain has a massive impact on your daily life and any relief, even temporary, can help significantly with your sleep, work or family activities, and as a result, improve your general well being and mental health. Fortunately, simple pathologies, even when causing severe pain, tend to improve overtime and by the time the steroid has stopped working, we expect that your body has healed by itself and the pain won't return.
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Secondly, the pain free period allowed by steroid injections (up to 3-6 months on average and sometime over 1 year) is a window that will be used to begin further treatment such as a prescribed exercise program or sessions of physiotherapy, in order to address other causative factors for your problems.
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In some cases steroid injections can also be a permanent solution by stopping chronic inflammation or disrupting your pain signal. More information about pain can be found on our blog.
At your virtual consultation and first appointment, your clinician will ask questions and assess you to diagnose your problem and explain to you the options available. This will help you to understand how you can use the respite from pain which a corticosteroid injection provides, to work directly on your problem and provide you with a personalized exercise plan to avoid reliance on injections in the future.
Are there other treatments for tennis elbow & golfer's elbow?
After an acute injury, such as recent repetitive strain or overuse, usually rest, ice, activity modifications and painkilling treatments like over-the-counter medications or gels are often sufficient. Depending on the location, bracing or Supports can provide stability and reduce strain on the affected tendon. Giving the affected tendon some time to recover is often a key component of treatment and fortunately, most tendonitis will resolve naturally overtime. If symptoms do not settle after 6-12 weeks the following treatments can be alternative, complementary or subsequent to cortisone or hyaluronic acid injections.
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Physiotherapy and exercises is an important aspect of tendon rehabilitation as it modulates pain, helps strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and promote healing with an exercise induced response in collagen turnover, blood flow, anti-inflammatory activity.
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) uses shock waves to stimulate healing in the affected tendon.
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Dry Needling or tendon fenestration is a procedure involving the creation of small openings in a tendon to promote healing.
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Barbotage for calcific tendonitis which involving the injection and aspiration of fluid into and out of a tendon to remove calcifications.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy involves injecting a concentrated form of the patient's own blood platelets into the tendon to promote healing. There is currently limited evidence to supports its use in regard to high costs.
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Surgery might be necessary for severe cases not responding to conservative management.
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The specific treatment approach depends on the type and severity of tendinopathy, and it's crucial for individuals experiencing symptoms to seek professional medical advice for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.