What to expect from a cortisone injection for golfer's elbow

Golfer's elbow, or medial epicondylitis, affects the tendon attachment on the inner side of the elbow. After examining the area, the clinician cleans the skin and places medicine near the painful tendon region. Ultrasound may help guide the needle. Brief stinging, pressure, or tenderness is possible.

The elbow may feel sorer for a short period before settling. Cortisone can calm local inflammation and pain, but it does not remove the repetitive load that irritated the tendon. Tell the clinician about diabetes, medicines, allergies, skin problems, infection, or earlier injection reactions.

Keep gripping, throwing, racquet sports, pulling, and heavy lifting light immediately afterward. Follow individual advice about when to resume these tasks. Once pain allows, physiotherapy may build forearm strength gradually, improve wrist and elbow control, and adjust technique or equipment that increases tendon load.

Increase activity in small steps rather than testing the elbow with a demanding session. Watch for pain during gripping, lifting, and everyday tasks. If relief fades or function does not improve, reassessment can distinguish ongoing tendon overload from another source of elbow pain.

Report increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or escalating pain at the injection site. Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, facial swelling, faintness, or widespread hives. Request review for new weakness, numbness, marked loss of grip, or pain that remains severe.

Ask exactly which activities to pause, when strengthening can begin, whether a brace is useful, how technique will be reviewed, and what alternatives exist if symptoms return.