Medial Epicondylitis

The enthesis is where a muscle, tendon, or ligament anchors itself to a bone

An enthesopathy is a disease of this attachment point

Enthesopathies:

  • Tend to arise in middle age (35 to 65)

  • Last a year +/- 6 months

  • Go away and do not return

  • In spite of years of work, we can not get it go away sooner

Medial Epicondylitis is a common type of enthesopathy. It is enthesopathy of the attachment point (origin) of the muscles that bend your wrist and make a fist.

Misnomers

  • Golfer's elbow: It's not caused by golf

  • Epicondylitis: "itis" means inflammation, but this is not an inflammatory condition

How do I know if I have medial epicondylitis? 

  • Age 35 to 65

  • Tender to pressure over a single point on the bone of the inside of the elbow

  • Pain when lifting something heavy with the palm up

  • Pain when bending the wrist back with the elbow straight

Treatment options

  • It's safe to keep active

  • It will go away in 1 to 2 years without leaving a trace

  • Things to help you feel better while you wait for it to go: 

    • Peace of mind (it's safe to be yourself and do things that hurt)

    • Stretching and strengthening

    • Brace

    • Ice or heat

    • Acetaminophen or NSAIDs

  • What about injections?   

    • They are still commonly used, but science does not support them

    • We do not like to do injections near the ulnar nerve on the inside of the elbow

Other common enthesopathies in the Arm: