Methods Of Treating Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections are one of the most traditional ways of treating pain caused by tennis elbow. In fact, for decades, the standard treatment has been to use a combination of physical therapy and corticosteroid injections. Cortisone is a substance that mimics cortisol, a naturally occurring hormone the adrenal gland produces. It reduces inflammation and, when injected, helps calm excited nerves in an injured area. With this in mind, however, corticosteroid injections should be used alongside other treatments. They're effective for managing inflammation and pain, but they don't heal the underlying damage to the tendon. For full recovery, tendon healing is also necessary. Patients should talk to their doctors about whether they're good candidates for a corticosteroid injection as a pain relief treatment for tennis elbow.

Learn more about how tennis elbow is often treated now.