Thank you for all your information. I am going to ask the Dr. about PRP. My primary Dr. warned about getting to many injections. When I first started getting them they would take away the pain for about 6 weeks. The last 2 injections did not relieve any pain and after the injection I was in so much pain for 3 days I couldn't move my arm and I was actually crying for 3 days because nothing relieved the pain. I will let you know what the Dr. says on Friday. Yes, this is a very frustrating injury considering it has gone on for 2 years and I have no idea what I did to injure it in the first place. The only thing I can come up with is my chiropractor adjusted it one time and I did hear a pop and was in a lot of pain afterwards. Not sure if that is what did it or not. Thank you for your information..Susan
This in a injury to the tendons that start on the outside of the elbow and travel down to extend the wrist and fingers. This can be a very frustrating injury to treat. Its not unusual to try one or two cortisone injections for lateral epicondylits (tennis elbow). However, it is not entirely clear why the injections are effective since this is not really caused by inflammation, but rather by microtears within the tendon. The MRI finding is not unusual, and is consistent with lateral epicondylitis.
I have had very good success with platelet rich plasma injections (PRP) for this problem. Platelets contain growth factors. In this therapy, your own blood is drawn, and spun to obtain a high concentration of platelets. The concentrated platelets are injected into your tendon to deliver the concentrated growth factors and induce a healing response. This treatment ihas had about 80% success rate.
I see about 200 patients with tennis elbow a year, and find surgery necessary on less than 5%.