Golfer’s elbow, known medically as medial epicondylitis, is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the inner side of the elbow. Despite the name, most people who get it have never picked up a golf club. The condition is named because the loading pattern of a golf swing at impact involves repetitive wrist flexion and forearm pronation, which stresses the flexor-pronator tendon origin at the medial (inner) epicondyle. In most cases it typically develops from repetitive gripping, wrist bending, and forearm rotation, whether from sports, manual work, typing, or lifting.
The hallmark symptoms are pain and tenderness on the inner elbow that may travel down the forearm, weakened grip, and discomfort when flexing the wrist or making a fist. Golfer’s elbow is less common than its “tennis elbow” cousin, which affects the outer elbow.
Most cases improve with time and simple measures like rest, activity modification, physical therapy, bracing, and anti-inflammatory medication. When symptoms persist for months despite these steps, you should start to consider platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a potential treatment option.
What is PRP and how is it thought to work?
Platelet-rich plasma is made from your own blood. A small sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets that release growth factors involved in healing. This concentrated plasma is then injected directly into the injured tendon. These growth factors will stimulate the body’s natural repair processes in a tendon that has struggled to heal on its own. Because PRP comes from your own body, there is no risk of an allergic reaction to a foreign substance.
What does the procedure involve?
- Blood draw: A small amount of blood is taken from your arm, much like a routine blood test.
- Preparation: The blood is spun in a centrifuge for several minutes to separate and concentrate the platelets.
- Injection: The area over the inner elbow is cleaned, numbing medication is often used, and the PRP is injected into the tendon, with ultrasound guidance for accuracy.
- The whole visit typically takes under an hour, and you go home the same day.
What does recovery look like?
Recovery is gradual, and PRP is not a quick fix. Expect a general timeline like this, though your clinician will tailor it to you:
- First few days: Soreness at the injection site is common and expected. Heat and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are usually recommended for comfort.
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Avoid NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen for a period after the injection, because they may interfere with the healing response PRP is meant to trigger.
- Rehabilitation: Gentle stretching often begins within the first week, followed by a gradual strengthening program over the following weeks. Physical therapy is an important part of getting a good result.
- Return to activity: A return to full activity or sport commonly occurs around 4 to 6 weeks, but improvement in pain and function can continue to develop over several months.
What does the evidence show?
- Compared with cortisone (steroid) injections: For elbow epicondylitis overall, steroid injections tend to relieve pain faster in the first few weeks, but PRP tends to provide better pain relief over the longer term (6 months and beyond). Steroids are also associated with high recurrence of symptoms over time.
- Compared with physical therapy alone: One study of patients with chronic medial or lateral epicondylitis found that those treated with PRP had better pain and function scores lasting up to 2 years and needed fewer surgeries than those who continued physiotherapy alone.
Is PRP safe?
PRP has a strong safety record. Because it uses your own blood, serious complications are rare. The most common side effect is temporary soreness at the injection site in the days following the procedure. This is an expected response, not a true complication, and it resolves on its own. Serious adverse events such as infection are very uncommon.
Talk to us
If you have persistent inner-elbow pain that hasn’t responded to rest, therapy, and other measures, we can help you decide whether PRP is a sensible option for your situation. Every case is different, and the right choice depends on your symptoms, activity goals, and what you’ve already tried.