Golfer’s elbow is a soft-tissue overuse injury at the point where your forearm muscle tendons attach to the bone on the inside of your elbow. When the injury is on the outside of the elbow, the condition is commonly called tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis.

The repetitive motion of swinging a golf club can put strain on a tendon, causing inner elbow pain.

“There are a lot of gripping mechanics that have to happen to be able to get a golf club through the ball and hit a ball consistently well, which can cause an elbow injury,” said Jeffrey S. Stephenson, M.D., sports medicine physician with Norton Orthopedic Institute.

Golfer’s elbow pain starts on the inner side of the elbow and can radiate down the inside of your forearm. Your elbow probably will be stiff, and clenching your fist can be painful. Sometimes there will be weakness in your hands and wrists and tingling or numbness on your ring and little finger.

Rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers typically will take care of the symptoms. If your pain is persistent or severe, contact your primary care provider about whether you need the expertise of a sports medicine specialist.

Ways to help prevent golfer’s elbow and inner elbow pain

To protect against injury, stretch the affected tendons through simple wrist-stretching exercises, and make sure you are swinging properly.

“If you are concerned that you are having consistent pain with your swing, it may be worthwhile to have your swing checked out by a golf professional,” Dr. Stephenson said. “If there are certain mechanical issues with your swing, it makes you more susceptible to injury.”

The wrong clubs also can affect your mechanics and put strain on your elbow. Get advice on the correct length and weight for your body and your swing.

If you are a golfer, don’t push yourself. Play shorter rounds and play less frequently to allow your muscles and tendons to get back in shape. Take regular breaks whether on the course or the range and avoid sudden bursts of activity, which can increase the risk of injury.

Stretching and strength exercises

Exercise to stretch the wrist flexor muscles in the forearm can improve your range of movement. Try this stretch twice a day:

• With your palm facing up, lift your arm in front parallel to the ground
• Allow your hand to fall downward by relaxing your wrist.
• With your other hand, grasp your fingers and pull the relaxed hand back toward your body.
• Hold for a slow count of 30 to 45 and rest for 30 seconds.
• Repeat three times.

Exercises can strengthen forearm and wrist muscles, helping build strength and endurance to support your elbow.

Try this exercise to target the forearm and wrist:

• Sit in a sturdy chair.
• With your forearm resting on your thigh and your palm facing upwards, hold a modest weight — no more than 2 pounds — in your hand
• Gradually lower the weight, relaxing at the wrist, and move the weight back to its original position. You can use your free hand to help.
• Repeat about 10 to 15 times and take a short break.
• Repeat twice.

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The sounds you can hear are those of a group of boys maneuvering around a wrestling mat, practicing their takedowns and pins. They’re members of the high school’s wrestling team, preparing for their fall season.

Among them is 17-year-old Kellan Carter.

On this Monday morning, Kellan is dressed in sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt, unintentionally hiding the nearly 4-inch scar along the inside of his right elbow. That scar serves as a reminder of the past year of his life.

“[It was a lot of] recovery and getting my mind right,“ Kellan said.

Since sixth grade, wrestling has been a part of who Kellan is.

He began attending Invicta Wrestling Academy in New Albany, Indiana, building a foundation for his athletic success. He continued wrestling into high school and only saw his talent develop further. As a sophomore, Kellan was 42-2 and on his way to a prolific high school career.

In June 2022, between his sophomore and junior seasons, Kellan was training when he attempted to defend a lateral drop — a takedown throw — when he heard a pop in his elbow.

“I was just praying it was broken, get two months out and be able to come back,” Kellan said.

The news was much worse.

Kellan met with Luke P. Robinson, M.D., orthopedic hand surgeon at Norton Louisville Arm & Hand, who diagnosed him with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. Dr. Robinson recommended UCL reconstruction surgery, more commonly known as Tommy John surgery. The name comes from the All-Star baseball pitcher who underwent what was then a pioneering procedure in 1974.

“It’s a lot of discussion, because most athletes who have this injury don’t need surgery,“ Dr. Robinson said. “So it takes a certain type of athlete with a certain type of injury to need this surgery, and for [Kellan], it was a matter of talking about the recovery. He’s an elite-level athlete and wanted to get back for his senior year. So it’s a lot of rehab. There’s a technical aspect, but there’s a lot of recovery that requires time with a therapist and time with rehab, which he understood well and was motivated to take part in.”

Dr. Robinson performed the successful surgery roughly two weeks after Kellan’s injury. From there, the wrestler began the monthslong recovery process, a physical and emotional journey that included missing his entire junior season. Coping was difficult. He leaned on his family and coaches.

“It was rough; it crushed me for a while,” Kellan said. “[For] one or two months there, it was heavy. But right after that, I just needed to get back into the sport through some other way. I just knew my time was going to come. Once these nine months are over, it’s going to be my time.”

While rehabbing his elbow, Kellan took up assistant coaching, giving him a different perspective of the sport while also allowing him to stay connected to his teammates.

His time as a coach also motivated him to get back on the mat.

On April 7, 2023, nine months after Tommy John surgery, Kellan competed in his first tournament at Jeffersonville High School, picking up where he left off nearly a year earlier. He finished second in the freestyle category and first in the folkstyle category.

“It was unlike anything else,” Kellan said. “It was the culmination of those nine months of wanting to get back. I was hungry.”

Kellan’s success hasn’t stopped there.

In June, he competed in the national Amateur Athletic Union Wrestling Scholastic Duals tournament in Orlando, Florida. He went 8-1, beat four state qualifiers from other states and earned Silver All-American honors.

His results weren’t shocking to the man who repaired his arm.

“Ultimately, what I do is a small portion of that recovery,” Dr. Robinson said. “It’s up to the patient, and I think for him, he’s motivated, he works hard and he was dedicated to get back to that elite level he was at, and that probably explains a lot of his success.”

Now more than a full year out from surgery, Kellan is back home in Indiana and back in the gym with his teammates. He’s ready for his senior season, which may bring even more accolades and college scholarships.

For Kellan, success is measured more in personal growth than it is in awards.

“[I want to] improve every day and let my outcome reflect my training. If I do, I should be pretty solid,” he said. “I just want to get everything I can out of the sport and let this experience strengthen me as I prepare for my future and for college.”

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Can carpal tunnel pain go away without surgery?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the nerves of the palm and wrist. The space the nerves run through, between the bones and ligaments of the hand, is called the carpal tunnel. Compression of the tunnel results in tingling, numbness and weakness in the hand and wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by the natural shape of the wrist and hand, or by repetitive motion. If symptoms are discovered early and treated quickly, surgery is not typically needed to restore normal feeling and use of the affected area.

How to treat carpal tunnel without surgery

“There are many options for people with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms,”  said Amit Gupta, M.D., hand surgeon with Norton Louisville Arm & Hand. “It depends on the cause.”

Some ways to address carpal tunnel without surgery include:

• Ergonomics: This includes adjusting your work environment to reduce strain on the arms, hands, wrists and elbows. Incorporating armrests and wrist rests, and using appropriate seating and computer height are all ways to do this.
• Exercise: Yoga and hand therapies can provide relief by stretching and strengthening the hands and arms. A physical therapist can provide the stretches and exercises that might help reduce pain, swelling and other symptoms.
• Medication: “We can try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine,” Dr. Gupta said.

Sometimes, patients require a steroid injection.

• Addressing underlying conditions: It’s important to rule out any underlying conditions that could cause carpal tunnel symptoms, such as gout, hypothyroidism or rheumatoid arthritis.

See a health care provider to learn what is the best treatment for your carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Spinal cord compression is more common as we age. Weakness and sensory changes in the extremities is a giveaway that spinal cord compression may be happening in your neck (cervical spine).

Symptoms of cervical spinal cord compression, also known as cervical spondylitic myelopathy, can include weakness, deterioration of fine motor skills and trouble with coordination or balance, which can make walking difficult. These symptoms may be with or without pain and numbness.

Wear and tear along with age are the most common reasons for spinal cord compression, however it can develop more rapidly from other issues such as trauma or rheumatoid arthritis.

A cervical disc is the soft tissue between vertebrae and typically degenerates over time. As a result, the vertebrae begin forming bone spurs, possibly placing more pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that branch out to the extremities. The pressure on the spinal cord can lead to symptoms far from the site of an injury. This can explain numbness, tingling and weakness in the arms and legs.

“Certain areas of the spinal cord and the exiting nerve roots can be traced to specific function of a particular body part. Providing clear information about where the patient is experiencing symptoms can help providers to pinpoint where the damage has occurred,” said Kimathi W. Doss, M.D., neurosurgeon and spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine..

Diagnostic tests to identify cervical spondylitic myelopathy may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, (CT) myelogram scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Nonsurgical approaches may be pursued for mild cases of spinal narrowing. A soft cervical collar, for instance, limits neck movement and allows for recuperation. Physical therapy is another option that can help alleviate pain, rebuild strength and increase range of motion through multiple modalities. Medications may include anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers and oral steroids. Injections such as epidural, facet or trigger point, as well as radiofrequency ablations, also may help alleviate some of the symptoms.

Nonsurgical treatments can help symptoms, but may not lead to long-term relief.

Surgical procedures are regarded as the most effective method of relieving direct pressure on the spinal cord.

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Trigger finger treatment can range from rest to surgery, depending on the severity of your condition.

Resting your hands if possible, wearing a splint at night, stretching exercises and a steroid injection all can alleviate trigger finger without surgery. Severity of trigger finger can be as simple as an annoying pop or sensation of the joint being stuck when you extend the finger. More severe cases are painful, with the digit stuck in a closed position.

“Trigger finger is a common complaint seen most frequently in adults over 40 who use a tight grip repeatedly. Often the condition can be treated without surgery, but if surgery is required, it’s a procedure with a high success rate and doesn’t require an overnight stay,” said Victor Fehrenbacher, M.D., hand surgeon with Norton Louisville Arm & Hand.

Related: How to fix a jammed finger

Trigger finger treatment without surgery

• If possible, avoid repetitive gripping and holding vibrating machinery to give the inflamed tendon time to rest.
• A splint that keeps the affected finger extended can ease the inflammation after about six weeks of wearing it at night.
• Gentle stretching exercises.
  • Lay the affected hand, palm down, on a flat surface and lift each digit in turn, holding it up for a second or two.
  • With your fingers and thumb extended, bring them together and put a rubber band around them toward the end. Extend the digits gently against the rubber band’s resistance.
• A steroid injection can reduce inflammation to allow the tendon to move freely again and is 70% effective in relieving symptoms. More than one injection may be needed over time. If you have diabetes, if the triggering has been present longer than three months or if the finger is locked, steroid injections may not be as effective.

Surgery for trigger finger

If you have severe symptoms or steps like rest, splinting, exercises and injection haven’t helped, there are more aggressive treatments.

Your physician may recommend surgery on the affected finger. The surgery is an outpatient procedure done with local anesthetic. Through a small incision, the surgeon makes a small cut in the sheath surrounding the tendon to allow for freer movement.

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