Are you constantly dealing with pain in your arm and elbow? Do you have difficulty using everyday objects such as pens and keys?
If so, you may be suffering from a condition known as epicondylitis. Epicondylitis is a painful condition that affects the tendons around the elbow, and it can be further divided into lateral and medial epicondylitis. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the differences between medial and lateral epicondylitis, as well as their symptoms, causes and treatments.
Causes of medial epicondylitis
Medial epicondylitis, more commonly known as golfer’s elbow, is a condition that affects the tendons in the elbow, causing pain when performing certain activities. Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a similar condition, but it affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow.
The main difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis is the location of the pain and the type of activities that may cause it. Medial epicondylitis typically causes pain on the inside of the elbow, while lateral epicondylitis causes pain on the outside of the elbow.
Treatment for both conditions includes rest, physical therapy, and sometimes anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections.
Symptoms of medial epicondylitis
Medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, is a condition that affects the tendons in the elbow and causes pain in the inner side of the elbow. It is caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and forearm, such as swinging a golf club. Lateral epicondylitis, on the other hand, is a condition that affects the tendons on the outer side of the elbow, which is commonly referred to as ‘tennis elbow.
Lateral epicondylitis, on the other hand, is a condition that affects the tendons on the outer side of the elbow, which is commonly referred to as ‘tennis elbow. ’ The condition is caused by repetitive motions of the wrist and forearm, such as the backhand stroke in tennis. The symptoms of medial and lateral epicondylitis are similar and they include tenderness at the affected area, pain that increases with arm movements, and weakness in the forearm and wrist.
However, the primary difference between the two conditions is the location of the pain. In medial epicondylitis, the pain is located on the inner side of the elbow, while in lateral epicondylitis, the pain is located on the outer side of the elbow.
Treatment of medial epicondylitis
Medial epicondylitis, commonly known as “golfer’s elbow,” and lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as “tennis elbow,” are both common forms of elbow pain. Both conditions involve inflammation of the elbow tendons and can cause similar symptoms, such as pain, tenderness, and swelling.
However, the difference between the two conditions is that medial epicondylitis affects the inside of the elbow, while lateral epicondylitis affects the outside of the elbow. Treatment for both types of epicondylitis typically involves rest, ice, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Additionally, medications such as anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, or a combination of these may also be prescribed to help reduce pain and inflammation.
Causes of lateral epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is a condition that causes pain on the outside of the elbow due to overuse of the muscles and tendons that attach onto the lateral epicondyle, a bony bump on the outside of the elbow. Medial epicondylitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the tendons and muscles on the inside of the elbow near the medial epicondyle, a bony bump on the inner part of the elbow. The main difference between the two conditions is the location of the pain and inflammation.
The main difference between the two conditions is the location of the pain and inflammation. Lateral epicondylitis is located on the outside of the elbow and causes pain when lifting, gripping, or twisting the forearm. Medial epicondylitis is located on the inner part of the elbow and causes pain when extending the forearm.
Symptoms of lateral epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a common overuse injury that causes pain and stiffness around the outside of the elbow. It is caused by repetitive motion of the wrist and forearm, which leads to the inflammation of the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus bone.
Medial epicondylitis, more commonly known as golfer’s elbow, is another type of overuse injury that causes pain and stiffness around the inside of the elbow. It is caused by repetitive motion of the wrist and forearm, which leads to the inflammation of the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle of the humerus bone. The primary difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis is the location of the pain and stiffness.
Lateral epicondylitis causes pain and stiffness on the outside of the elbow, while medial epicondylitis causes pain and stiffness on the inside of the elbow. Additionally, the types of activities that are most likely to cause each type of epicondylitis are different. Repetitive activities that involve gripping and wrist flexion are more likely to cause lateral epicondylitis, while activities that involve wrist extension and pronation are more likely to cause medial epicondylitis.
Treatment of lateral epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition that affects the tendons at the outside of the elbow. Medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, is a similar condition that affects the tendons at the inside of the elbow.
The main difference between these two conditions is the location of the affected tendon. Lateral epicondylitis affects the tendon on the outside of the elbow, while medial epicondylitis affects the tendon on the inside of the elbow. Both conditions can cause pain, tenderness, and weakness when moving the arm.
Treatment options include rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.
Comparison of medial and lateral epicondylitis
Medial and lateral epicondylitis, often known as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, respectively, are conditions that cause pain and inflammation around the elbow joint. Both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles in the forearm, leading to microtears in the tendons attached to the elbow.
Medial epicondylitis affects the tendons on the inner side of the elbow, while lateral epicondylitis affects the tendons on the outer side. Other symptoms of medial epicondylitis include pain in the inner side of the elbow when gripping, while those of lateral epicondylitis include pain on the outer side of the elbow when extending the arm.
Treatment options for both conditions typically include rest, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.
Bottom Line
The main difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis is the location of the pain. Medial epicondylitis, often referred to as golfer’s elbow, is characterized by pain located on the inner side of the elbow.
Both conditions are caused by overuse or repetitive strain of the tendons and muscles in the elbow area, and can be treated similarly with rest, ice, compression, and physical therapy.