Blog Category

Category: General

Blog // General
Categories
Fingers General

What Happens if You Cut or Damage a Nerve in Your Finger?

Read Blog
If you cut a nerve in a finger, seek immediate attention from a hand surgeon.

Even the thought of cutting a nerve in your finger can send a chill up your spine. If you truly do cut the nerve itself, this really is as serious as it sounds, and you should seek care as soon as possible. The sooner you get help for a damaged nerve in your finger, the more likely it is that full functionality can be restored.

However, if the injury is not deep enough to sever the nerve, your hand can usually heal itself without surgery, although you still should seek emergency treatment when necessary.

What are nerves, really?

“This is getting on my nerves.”

“You really cut a nerve with that comment.”

“I’m nervous.”

Do these phrases and idioms really relate to what nerves really are and what they do? Well, yes, they do — in a sense — when you think of it in terms of nerves sending signals to your brain, which controls your emotions.

In simple terms, the body has two primary nervous systems: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is located outside of this area throughout the body.

Peripheral nerves transmit electric impulses into or away from the central nervous system as a form of communication. It’s essentially a communication network.

The peripheral nervous system consists of more than 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons. They run throughout the body like wires, connecting the brain to other parts of the body or various parts of the body with each other.

The peripheral nerves are made of bundles of nerve fibers, which are wrapped with layers of tissue that form what is known as the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is responsible for speeding up nerve impulses, the intensity of which vary depending on their and the amount of tissue around them.

This drawing shows the three main nerves of the hand: the ulnar nerve, the median nerve, and the radial nerve.

How many nerves are in your hands?

Although there are a countless number of nerve cells, there are three primary nerve systems in your hands, wrists, and arms.

1. Ulnar nerve

The ulnar nerve is located at the pinky finger and the adjacent side of the ring finger. It provides sensations on the palm side of the hand. It travels up through the elbow and is responsible for the pain we feel when we bump our elbow.

2. Radial nerve

The radial nerve is responsible for sensations at the back of the hand at the little finger and the other half of the ring finger.

3. Median nerve

The median nerve starts at the shoulder and enters the hand through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The median nerve is responsible for sensations in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger.

What happens if you cut or damage a nerve in your finger?

Many of us are familiar with the throbbing pain of a cut or injured finger. If you cut your finger and it is bleeding, the first step is to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding does not stop, you should go to your nearest hospital or urgent care facility, as you may need stitches.

If the sheath that covers the nerve remains intact after a cut, only the nerves farthest from the brain will be affected and die. (In other words, the deeper the cut, the closer it is to the nerve itself.) However, those can heal and grow back over time. Surgery is usually not necessary, but you will need to have the injury addressed by a medical professional for optimal healing.

If the injury is deep enough, you should seek emergency care as soon as possible, which may entail surgery to reattach the severed ends of the nerve sheath to one another.

In some cases, the cut may be deep enough that it damages the nerve itself. If that happens, the gap between the two parts of the nerve will have to be repaired, usually through a nerve graft from another part of the body. Another possibility is using a synthetic nerve conduit to bridge the gap in the nerve.

If the nerve in your finger was damaged due to a crushing injury, you may have to wait for the initial crush trauma to heal before the nerve damage can be addressed.

If you have damaged or cut a nerve in your finger, it’s important to seek care as soon as possible. If the need for treatment is urgent, go to your nearest emergency room. Otherwise, contact one of our hand surgery offices, located in West Bloomfield, Warren, Howell, and Macomb, for treatment as soon as possible.

Categories
Conditions General Hands

What is the Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Read Blog
There are many differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms are similar, but the conditions are actually very different. This is a closeup image of a doctor examining a patient's hand arthritis.

The differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are significant, but the ability to identify one over the other can be somewhat elusive to the general public. A proper diagnosis is crucial for effective arthritis treatment.

The symptoms of these two common forms of arthritis may be similar, but the conditions are actually very different.

The word “arthritis” itself isn’t as much of a diagnosis as a description of more than 100 different types of ailments that involve joint pain or inflammation. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common forms. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 32.5 million U.S. adults suffer from osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 1.3 million adults in the U.S.

To help you communicate your concerns to Dr. Arora, we offer the following comparison as a guide.

What is Osteoarthritis?

In very general terms, osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in a joint wears out. It usually begins in one joint and may never affect other joints.

The pain can be mild, moderate, or severe. Moderate or severe osteoarthritis pain can make it difficult for patients to complete everyday activities, such as buttoning a shirt or tying their shoes.

It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis include obesity, genetics, and joint injury or overuse.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. When this occurs, the immune system essentially “malfunctions” and attacks the synovial membrane that encases and protects the joints. It frequently affect several joints at the same time.

Beyond the pain, inflammation, and swelling common in other forms of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may include fever, anemia, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Rheumatoid arthritis may also show signs in the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, salivary glands, nerve tissue, bone marrow, and blood vessels. It tends to be symmetrical, so symptoms may occur on both sides of the body simultaneously.

This form of arthritis is a chronic condition. There is no cure, and it is likely to progress over time. However, treatment options can reduce pain, make the symptoms manageable, and prevent significant joint damage.

Women are more likely to develop RA than men are. RA can begin at any age but most commonly starts in middle age. Other risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include family history, smoking, and excess weight.

4 Key Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

1. Number of Joints Affected

Osteoarthritis may only affect one joint. Rheumatoid arthritis may affect several at the same time.

2. Symmetry

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be symmetrical, meaning it affects both elbows, for instance. Osteoarthritis is more centralized, so it might or might not affect both sides of the body.

However, both sides of the body may become affected due to the exertion of too much pressure on one side. For example, if you experience osteoarthritis pain in your left wrist, you may use your right wrist more often, eventually causing the right wrist to act up as well.

3. Duration of Symptoms

The duration and extent of the pain is different.

With RA, joint pain and swelling can come and go, but the disease never really goes away. The goal of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to make you feel better and get your symptoms under control, known as “remission.”

Osteoarthritis is also permanent and the pain and swelling are similar, but the condition can improve over time.

4. Additional Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis may have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, anemia, and loss of appetite. Osteoarthritis is usually only pain, swelling, and some loss of flexibility in the particular joint that is affected at the time.

If you are experiencing arthritis pain in your hands, wrists, or elbows, it’s important to determine the type of arthritis in order to create the best treatment and prevention plan for you. For an evaluation, diagnosis, and arthritis treatment, make an appointment to see Dr. Arora in Warren, West Bloomfield, Howell, or Macomb Township.

Categories
General

How to Find the Right Hand Surgeon in Howell for You

Read Blog
If you are looking for a hand surgeon in Howell, Michigan, answering common questions may help. This is a closeup image of a surgeon wrapping a patient's hand.

If you are looking for a hand surgeon in Howell, you may feel somewhat overwhelmed.

Where do I begin? Should I look for a hand specialist, or will a general practitioner be better? Do all hand doctors offer the same services? Is my condition even about my hands, or is it something else?

Finding a Hand Surgeon in Howell

Answering these questions is the key to finding the right local hand specialist for you. Although each patient and every case is different, following are several tips to help you find the best hand doctor to diagnose and treat your particular condition.

Do I need a hand specialist, or would a general doctor be able to help?

You can certainly go to your general practitioner to discuss your conditions. However, if your symptoms truly stem from your hands, wrists, elbows, or elsewhere in your arm, you may be referred to a hand specialist. A hand specialist will then be able to:

Are all hand doctors the same?

Hand doctors may provide similar services, but it’s important to look for a hand surgeon in the Howell area with many years of experience. An experienced specialist will likely offer more comprehensive services and be able to more easily identify sources of your problems in order to diagnose your condition. Experience is also the key for efficiency, better results, and optimal recovery.

How do I find the right hand surgeon near me?

Do your research not only online, but by using good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth. Talk to people you know who have been treated by a hand doctor to see if they would recommend that doctor. When you do have these discussions, remember to ask your friend or family member the following:

  • How efficient were the services? Were they able to see you quickly?
  • Was the office staff welcoming and attentive?
  • Did the doctor greet you with professionalism?
  • Did the doctor take the time to answer all of your questions?
  • Did you feel like the doctor truly cared about you as a person?
  • Do they have modern equipment and technology, and do they seem to keep up to date with modern trends in the industry to ensure their patients get the best services?
  • Was there a hand therapist on staff?
  • How do you feel now? Did you recover?
  • Did you have surgery? Can you tell me about what happened before and after the surgery?
  • Have you had follow-up appointments? Do you visit them regularly? Do you find these appointments beneficial?

In addition to speaking with people who may have visited a hand doctor recently, take some time to do your research online. Review doctors’ websites and read the online reviews.

Reviews can be a very powerful tool, but as you are reviewing them, remember this basic fact about statistics: The more reviews there are, the more accurate they’re likely to be. Don’t let one or two negative reviews sway you when there are dozens of very positive reviews. On the other hand, if you do see a trend of too many similar negative reviews, that may warrant further scrutiny. Finally, gauge what really matters to you as you read the reviews.

Can the doctor treat my specific condition?

Clearly, that’s going to be the most important factor in finding the best hand surgeon in Howell for you. Review the websites or call the offices to find out if they can treat your particular condition.

Is the doctor’s office nearby?

Although it’s not always the most important aspect, convenience is definitely important too, especially if you are undergoing surgery and need someone else to drive you to and from the doctor’s office.

Get to Know Arora Hand Surgery

Once you analyze all of the above factors, we have no doubt that Arora Hand Surgery will be at the top of your list. Dr. Avery Arora, Physician Assistant Ashley, and Occupational Certified Hand Therapist Lodia work together as a comprehensive team to restore and enhance patients’ hand functionality and overall quality of life. With extensive expertise in treating hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, Dr. Arora is recognized as a leading hand surgeon in Howell.

If you need a hand specialist, make an appointment today to see the Arora Hand Surgery team in Howell or one of our three other locations in metro Detroit.

Categories
General Uncategorized

Up and Running: Arora Hand Surgery Opens Office in Warren, Michigan

Read Blog
Arora Hand Surgery's newest office is in Warren, Michigan.

We’re finally getting all settled into our newest office, located in Warren, and we hope you love it as much as we do!

Patients from our St. Clair Shores location, which is now closed, are welcome to visit our hand specialty team at our new office at 28295 Schoenherr Road, Suite B. Located between 12 Mile and I-696, the location is convenient for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.  The phone number remains the same: (586) 209-3210.

You may also visit us at any of our other offices, located in Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties.

  • 7011 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 220, in West Bloomfield
  • 1225 S. Latson Road, Suite 380, in Howell
  • 46591 Romeo Plank Road, Suite 133, in Macomb Township

No matter which location is most convenient for you, you can feel confident in our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, testing procedures, and friendly, caring team. We will make every effort to keep you informed, comfortable, and safe before, during, and after appointments and treatments.

By the way, since we’re telling you about new changes at Arora Hand Surgery, have you met our new physician assistant, Ashley Delzer (PA-C)? With more than 10 years of experience as an orthopedic surgery physician assistant, she is working hand-in-hand with Dr. Arora to provide our patients with comprehensive diagnoses and treatment. Ashley will be assisting with injections, X-rays, casts, and follow-up and post-operative visits.

When you visit our hand surgery office in Warren or any of our other locations, be sure to say hi! She’s looking forward to getting to know you all better!

Contact us if you want to know more about our new office or any of our services.

 

Categories
Fingers General

How Do Nails Grow Back?

Read Blog
How do nails grow back? It's about science. This is an image of a closeup image of a woman's hair in her hand.

You clip them one day. They’re back two days later.

You chip one one day. It’s back to normal within a day.

You hit one with a hammer, and the bruise goes away within a few weeks.

You overdo your manicures to the point that the nails become thinner, and they’re back to normal within a month.

You paint them one day … ok, well, that one doesn’t make the nail shorter or thinner, but it’s still one of the many things your nails go through in your lifetime — and yet they’re among the most resilient parts of our bodies.

How in the world? How does it happen? How do nails grow back so easily and look relatively the same? Is there a secret magic chamber hiding in our third knuckles? … And why, oh why, can’t our teeth do the same thing?

How Do Nails Grow Back?

How nails grow back is essentially about science.

Nails start out as living cells, which is why they continue to grow, but they harden and die once they become the nails that we see. That’s why it doesn’t hurt when we clip or file them.

Nails are made of a substance called keratin, which is the same thing that our hair is made of. And that makes sense. Both continue to grow throughout our lives, barring a significant injury or medical conditions.

The cuticles on our fingers and toes serve to protect the roots of the nails, which sit behind the cuticles. The root, or matrix, is a pocket of flesh that is connected to blood vessels that supply the nail with nutrients it needs to make new cells.

Fun fact: A fetus starts to grow nails when it is only 20 weeks old, and the baby’s tiny toes and little fingers have full nails by the time it’s born.

So, no, unless you’re Penn or Teller, there’s no magic in your hands — but the resiliency of our nails is still fascinating.

Can You Completely Lose a Fingernail?

Nails almost always grow back, and that’s the case even after accidentally whacking one with a hammer. It might look a little different, but typically you will get it back.

The reason for that is because it would actually be challenging to get under the root of the nail to the matrix in a manner that damages it for life. It’s a tough little pocket.

Only in very rare circumstances is the entire matrix damaged for good, and if that happens, the nail won’t grow back.

To answer your question about teeth — teeth are not made of keratin, and they’re not even “bone,” contrary to popular belief. They’re made up of enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp.

So, no, as we humans are today, we can’t grow our teeth back … yet. It’s a nice little dream, though, isn’t it?

Categories
Fingers General Hands

Clubbed Thumb Surgery: Is it Possible?

Read Blog
Clubbed thumb surgery is generally not advisable if it's not necessary. In this image, a hand specialist examines a patient's hand.

In many ways, clubbed thumbs or toe thumbs are endearing. They’re short, cute, and would certainly stand out if you’re trying to hitch a ride, so you can leave all those “plain-thumbed” hitchhikers in the dust.

Even though there’s medically nothing wrong with having stubbed thumbs, some of their owners often feel somewhat self-conscious about them.

Truly, there’s no need to feel that way. In fact, Dr. Arora would not advise or perform any type of surgery for clubbed thumbs in 99.99% of the cases he has seen.

However, if you are having trouble gripping or writing or have associated hand conditions, surgery for clubbed thumbs may be possible albeit risky.

Facts About Clubbed Thumb Surgery

Before we get into the basic facts about clubbed thumb surgery, let’s define what a clubbed thumb is.

Also known as a “toe thumb” or “stub thumb,” a clubbed thumb is more formally identified as a Brachydactyly type D skeletal variation. It may also be called “Brachymegalodactylism” . . . such a big word for such a little thumb, right?

Speaking of “little,” a clubbed thumb is simply about 2/3 the size of a longer thumb. The nail bed may be shorter and wider as well. Stub thumbs are genetic, just like the color of someone’s eyes or hair.

There is no simple surgical solution for clubbed thumbs. Risks include scarring, loss of sensation, and abnormal nail growth.

Surgery options for this type of brachydactyly are not formalized in any way in the United States. Some treatments may be completed in other countries, but they are not typical for the U.S.

The primary type of surgery for clubbed thumbs is an osteotomy. During an osteotomy, the bone is cut, and a bone grafting material is used to reshape the thumb, making it longer and narrower as needed.

However, your hand is a complex system. If you were born with clubbed thumbs, they most likely function optimally with the rest of your hand, just like a well-oiled machine. Narrowing the thumb or making it longer may change the dynamics of your hand’s functionality.

Dr. Arora’s philosophy is generally, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Because clubbed thumb surgery is typically not advisable, just keep this in mind. Up to 3 percent of people in any given population have stub thumbs, so you’re not alone. In fact, some very beautiful and famous celebrities have toe thumbs.

If nothing else, consider it a gift — a beautiful feature that highlights how unique you really are.

Schedule a Consultation with our Hand Specialist in Southeast Michigan

If you are experiencing discomfort or pain in your hands, make an appointment to see Dr. Arora in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb Township, or Howell.

To make an appointment, call the hand doctor’s West Bloomfield office or send us a message through our website.

Categories
General Hands

Hand Muscle Anatomy: How Many Muscles are in the Hand?

Read Blog
There are about 30 muscles in the hand. Hand muscle anatomy is very intricate.

Have you ever really stopped to think about how spectacular your hands are? You use them for just about everything in life — from pumping iron at the gym to pumping gas at the gas station. They can be flat, or they can be clenched into fists. You can wiggle your fingers all around, bend them, and use them to point at someone. Our hands are truly a thing of beauty; there aren’t many other areas of our bodies that can take so many different forms. Just how many muscles are in the hand to enable all this power?

The hand muscle anatomy is very intricate, understandably, and most of the hand movements are actually controlled by the forearms.

How Many Muscles are in the Hand?

There are about 30 hand muscles, most of which lead to the wrists and forearms.

The formal terms for the various types of hand muscles are:

  • Dorsal interossei and palmar interossei muscles
  • Lumbrical muscles
  • Hypothenar muscles, which include abductor, flexor, and opponens digiti minimi
  • Thenar muscles, which include abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis muscles

Technically, there are no muscles in the fingers, with the exceptions of the adductor pollicis and abductor pollicis longus at the base of the thumb.

How many muscles are in the hand? About 30 muscles are in the human hand, including lumbrical muscles as shown in this graphic.
Lumbrical muscles

If that all sounds rather foreign to you, don’t worry. We’ll explain.

1. The interosseous muscles are a network of muscles found on and in between the knuckles that enable us to bend the joints in the fingers. The dorsal muscles are used to spread the fingers, while the palmar muscles are used to bend them.

There are four dorsal interosseous muscles in each hand.

Palmar interossei consist of four muscles each that attach to the first, second, fourth, and fifth fingers. The third finger does not have a palmar interosseous muscle.

2. The lumbrical hand muscles extend to underneath each finger. We use them to straighten our fingers and bend the joints. There are four in each hand.

3. The three muscles on the side of each of your hands near the small finger are the hypothenar muscles. They enable you to move the pinky away from the ring finger, bend the pinky, and make a fist.

4. The thenar muscles are perhaps the most recognizable. They are three short muscles in the thick area of your palm under your thumb. These muscles give the thumb the ability to move the way it does, as well as enable us to grasp items.  (If you’re interested in an additional nugget of medical trivia, the bulge under your thumb is known as hypothenar eminence.)

5. The two muscles near the thumb, the adductor pollicis and abductor pollicis longus, enable us to pinch. One is located between the index finger and thumb, and the other passes through the wrist.

Possible Causes of Hand Muscle Pain

If you are reviewing the anatomy of the hand because you are feeling pain in your hand muscles, you may wish to learn about the most common causes of this pain. They include inflammation, nerve damage, basic overuse, and sprains, fractures, or other traumatic injuries.

Chronic health conditions also can lead to hand pain. They include:

If you have pain in your hand, see our hand specialist at our Warren, West Bloomfield, Macomb Township, or Howell office. Dr. Arora can analyze the skin, joints, and muscles of the hand and recommend tests to identify the source.

Categories
Fingers General

What is the Medical Term for Trigger Finger?

Read Blog
The medical term for trigger finger, represented in this image, is stenosing tenosynovitis.

The phrase “trigger finger” can be rather deceptive. It’s not about spending too much time at the firing range – although that may do it. It actually refers to the shape that the finger takes when you have this condition, as well as the popping or snapping sound the finger
might make when you are finally able to straighten it out.

Understanding the medical term for trigger finger and what the condition is may help clear the air.

What is the Medical Term for Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger occurs when the pulley at the base of the finger becomes too thick and then constricts around the tendon. As a result, it can be hard to move the tendon, and you may feel pain, popping, or a feeling of resistance when you try to straighten the finger. When this happens, the tendon may swell and cause pain, and this can happen repeatedly over time. In some cases, the tendon becomes locked, and it may be hard to move the finger at all.

The medical term for trigger finger is stenosing tenosynovitis.

What does “stenosing” mean?

Stenosing derives from the word stenosis, which is defined as an abnormal narrowing or contraction of a body passage or opening.

Other types of stenoses as used in the medical sense include aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, spinal stenosis, and tracheal stenosis, among many others.

What does “tenosynovitis” mean?

“Teno” refers to tendon. “Synovitis” refers to inflammation of a synovial membrane, which contains synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is a lubricating fluid secreted by the tendon sheath, which is what allows a healthy finger to move properly.

Tenosynovitis, therefore, literally means “inflammation of a tendon,” as well as its sheath.

It typically occurs in the hands, wrists, feet, and ankles due to intense, repetitive use, such as when playing a piano. In addition to overuse, it may occur due to an injury that leads to infection, as well as tuberculous or gonorrheal infection.

Combine it all together, and you get stenosing tenosynovitis: inflammation of a tendon that causes abnormal narrowing or contraction.

Don’t worry. You can still call it “trigger finger.”

Categories
Elbows General

What is the Difference Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow?

Read Blog
There are a few differences between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. In this image, a man holding a racquet on a tennis court holds his elbow in pain.

Elbow pain due to overexertion may feel like it’s coming from all over, and patients really just want the pain gone. The first step in treating elbow pain, however, is to pinpoint the exact location of the problem, which is the primary difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

These two common conditions bring many patients into our elbow doctor’s offices in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, and Macomb Township every year.

The good news is that both of these conditions are highly treatable with self-care, rest, or the use of an elbow brace. When these remedies are not effective, elbow surgery is an option as well.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Technically called lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow occurs when the tendons that anchor the muscle to the bone on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow are overused. When these tendons degenerate or become inflamed, it weakens and causes stress on the entire site.

In other words, tennis elbow is caused by a swelling of the tendons that bend your wrist backward away from your palm. People who repeatedly use their elbow and arm muscles may be susceptible to tennis elbow, such as painters, plumbers, and butchers, as well as athletes.

Symptoms of tennis elbow include pain or burning on the outer part of the elbow, as well as a weaker grip. They typically are worsened with forearm activity, such as holding a tennis racquet or turning a wrench. The pain is typically mild at first, but worsens over time if the action that is causing it is not minimized. Tennis elbow is usually not associated with a traumatic injury.

The dominant arm is affected more often than the non-dominant arm.

Tennis elbow can usually be treated with rest, pain medication, Botox injections, or the use of a brace. Tennis elbow surgery may be recommended in more extreme cases.

Tennis elbow occurs due to overuse of the elbow’s outer tendons. This diagram shows the anatomy of the elbow in relation to tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow occurs due to overuse of the elbow’s outer tendons.

What is Golfer’s Elbow?

Golfer’s elbow is more formally called medial epicondylitis. It is sometimes referred to as baseball elbow or suitcase elbow.

The source of the pain is on the inner side of the elbow. It occurs when the tendon that connects the forearm muscles to the bone is overused.

Golfer’s elbow is about twice as common in men than in women. Despite its name, it is caused by general overuse and can affect virtually anyone.

Golfer’s elbow also can be treated with rest, pain medication, injections, and the use of a brace.

The main difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow is the location of the inflammation. Tennis elbow hurts on the outside. Golfer’s elbow hurts on the inside. In this image, a golfer holds his elbow in pain.
The main difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow is the location of the inflammation. Tennis elbow hurts on the outside. Golfer’s elbow hurts on the inside.

What is the Difference Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow?

While causes and treatments are similar, there are some differences between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

The primary difference is the source of the inflammation. With tennis elbow, the outside of the elbow and forearm areas are inflamed, but with golfer’s elbow, inflammation is on the inner side of the arm and elbow.

Likewise, tennis elbow stems from damage to an outside tendon, and golfer’s elbow is associated with damage to an inner tendon.

Both are forms of elbow tendinitis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Elbow Pain

For most people, the pain subsides by reducing or eliminating the action that is causing it. Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in the arms may help as well. When self-care, rest, and the use of pain medications or a brace do not help, surgery may be necessary.

Elbow surgery options include:

  • Open surgery, which requires making an incision at the elbow and is performed on an outpatient basis.
  • Arthroscopic surgery, an outpatient procedure that uses smaller instruments and smaller incisions.

A common surgery to treat golfer’s elbow is called medial epicondyle release. It requires an incision along the arm over the medial epicondyle, and the surgeon’s goal will be to take tension off the flexor tendon.

Similarly, a lateral epicondylitis surgery can be used to treat tennis elbow. The goal of this surgery will be to release a portion of the tendon from the bone, remove the inflamed tendon, or repair tendon tears.

For proper treatment, it’s important to differentiate between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. For a diagnosis and treatment plan, make an appointment to see Dr. Arora at one of his southeast Michigan locations.

Bill Payment Made Easy

Pay on the Go!

Get on the List

Subscribe

Patient

Stories

Read All

Dr. Aroras office from my first call to schedule my appointment was friendly. Walking in the first day, I felt like I was in a nice atmosphere. Dr. Arora was EXCELLENT in taking great care of my hand injury. He was gentle and very understanding to the concerns I had about my hand. His expertise was admirable and I would recommend anyone with an injury to their hand to his office to be under his care. Because of him, I have healed faster than expected and will make an 100% recovery! Thank you Dr.

Jackie S.

I first thought I was going to have to have painful injections or surgery, but Dr. Arora suggested physical therapy may do the trick. I was doubtful, but I agreed to do it. Now, my pain is gone, and with the help of an ergonomic keyboard at work to keep my hands in the correct position, I am virtually pain free. The therapy strengthened my wrists and shoulders, and built more flexibility into my wrists.

Jerry T.

My experience with this doctor was positive from the outset. Dr. Arora was kind and spent a great deal of time with me. Staff was friendly. The office was nice and bright.

Ariel G.

Very friendly and helpful Great staff!!! Doctor Arora was very professional and did great work. I was very happy with everything!

L B.