Tennis Elbow vs Golfer‘s Elbow in Naperville IL — What’s the Difference and How Do You Treat Each?

You know something is wrong with your elbow. Every time you grip, lift, or twist your forearm, the pain is there. But you’re not sure if it’s tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow — and you’re not sure it matters, because nothing you’ve tried has fixed either one.

At some point, you stop searching for the name of the problem and start searching for someone who actually knows how to fix it.

Most patients I see have already tried everything the standard playbook offers — and they’re frustrated that nothing has worked. That frustration makes sense. It means the wrong problem has been treated.

The distinction between these two conditions does matter — not just anatomically, but clinically. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow affect different tendons, different nerve structures, and in my 26+ years of treating elbow conditions in Naperville, they require meaningfully different treatment approaches. Getting the right diagnosis is the first step to getting the right care.

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic is one of the most experienced integrative clinics for elbow pain in Naperville. Dr. Jennifer Wise has been evaluating and treating both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow since 2000, using SoftWave therapy, MLS laser, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and chiropractic as part of a sequenced protocol that addresses the tendon, the nerve, and the kinetic chain.

If you’re searching for the best elbow pain treatment in Naperville or looking for a specialist near me who can tell you exactly which condition you have and what will actually resolve it, this article covers the clinical differences between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, why both are harder to treat than most providers admit, and how we approach each one here at Synergy.

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Tennis elbow vs golfer’s elbow — what you should know: Both conditions are forms of elbow tendinopathy — characterized by degenerated, disorganized tendon collagen and a failed healing response, not primarily active inflammation. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the extensor tendons on the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the flexor-pronator tendons on the inside — and frequently involves the ulnar nerve, a layer of complexity that most providers miss entirely. At Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic, we evaluate both the tendon and the nerve on every elbow case, and apply treatment in the sequence that produces lasting results.

“Chronic tendinopathy is characterized by failed tendon healing with disorganized collagen and increased vascularity, rather than classic inflammatory cell infiltration — which explains why anti-inflammatory treatments alone rarely resolve the condition.” — Maffulli et al., Arthroscopy, 1998

Our approach to elbow tendinopathy: We identify which tendons are involved, whether the ulnar nerve is contributing (golfer’s elbow), and where the kinetic chain is loading the elbow disproportionately — then build a protocol that addresses all three layers.

Conveniently located off Illinois Rte 59 near 95th Street in Naperville, serving patients from Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, and surrounding communities.

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Quick Comparison: Tennis Elbow vs Golfer’s Elbow

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The Critical Distinction Most Providers Miss

Every article you’ll find online about tennis elbow vs golfer’s elbow leads with the same oversimplification: tennis elbow is outside, golfer’s elbow is inside. That’s true — but it’s also incomplete. And the incomplete explanation is why so many patients end up in my office after months of failed treatment.

Here’s what the generic comparison articles don’t tell you:

Both conditions are tendinosis — not tendinitis.

Research established decades ago that chronically painful elbow tendons show tendinosis — degenerated, disorganized collagen without the classic inflammatory infiltrate. This is a failed healing problem, not an active inflammation problem. It’s why cortisone injections, ice, and NSAIDs provide temporary relief at best and do nothing to repair the underlying tissue damage. The tendon has stopped healing. The treatment has to restart that process — not suppress it.

Golfer’s elbow has a nerve layer that tennis elbow doesn’t.

The ulnar nerve passes directly adjacent to the medial epicondyle — the bony bump on the inside of the elbow — through a channel called the cubital tunnel. When golfer’s elbow has been present for weeks or months, that nerve frequently becomes irritated alongside the degenerated flexor tendon. The result is numbness and tingling in the ring and pinky fingers. Not everyone with golfer’s elbow has this — but in my experience, a significant portion do, and most providers never assess for it.

If you’re treating golfer’s elbow as a pure tendon problem when the ulnar nerve is also involved, you’ll get partial results at best. The nerve component requires its own treatment — and that changes the entire protocol.

What Is Tennis Elbow? (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow is degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon at its attachment on the lateral epicondyle — the bony protrusion on the outside of your elbow. The ECRB is one of the primary muscles used to extend and stabilize your wrist. Any activity that repetitively loads wrist extension, gripping, or forearm supination puts stress on this tendon insertion.

Who gets it: Despite the name, most tennis elbow patients have never played tennis. Painters, plumbers, carpenters, office workers, and anyone who uses repetitive gripping or wrist extension motions is at risk. Tennis players account for only a small fraction of cases.

What it feels like: A burning or aching pain on the outer elbow, often radiating down the forearm toward the wrist. Pain worsens with gripping, lifting, turning a doorknob, or shaking hands. The coffee cup test — pain when lifting a full cup of coffee with the arm extended — is a classic presentation. Morning stiffness over the lateral elbow is common.

What’s actually happening in the tissue: The ECRB tendon has accumulated microtears from repetitive overload. In the early stages, the body attempts to repair this — but when the repetitive stress continues faster than healing can keep up, the tendon enters a failed healing state. Collagen becomes disorganized, the tendon loses its structural integrity, and abnormal blood vessel growth develops in the degenerated area. The pain you feel is the tendon’s distress signal — not inflammation in the traditional sense.

The nerve picture: Tennis elbow rarely has a significant nerve component. The radial nerve passes near the lateral elbow but is typically not involved in lateral epicondylitis unless there is a concurrent radial tunnel syndrome — a separate condition sometimes confused with tennis elbow because of its similar location.

🚨 Seek immediate care if you experience: sudden severe swelling, complete inability to extend the wrist, acute loss of grip strength, or elbow pain following a fall or direct impact. These may indicate fracture or ligament rupture requiring urgent evaluation. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

What Is Golfer’s Elbow? (Medial Epicondylitis)

Golfer’s elbow is degeneration of the flexor-pronator tendon mass at its attachment on the medial epicondyle — the bony protrusion on the inside of your elbow. These are the muscles that flex your wrist and pronate your forearm (rotate the palm downward). Repetitive gripping, wrist flexion, and forearm rotation load this attachment — which is why golfers, baseball players, rock climbers, and construction workers are commonly affected.

Who gets it: Again, the name is misleading. Many patients with golfer’s elbow have never swung a golf club. Weightlifters (particularly those doing heavy curls), construction workers, plumbers, and anyone with repetitive forceful gripping is at risk. The golf swing is an efficient way to load the medial epicondyle, but it’s far from the only one.

What it feels like: Aching or tenderness on the inside of the elbow, worsening with gripping, wrist flexion, or turning tools. The pain often radiates down the inner forearm. In cases involving the ulnar nerve, patients also experience numbness and tingling in the ring and pinky fingers — sometimes extending into the hand. Grip strength is often reduced.

What’s actually happening in the tissue: The same failed healing mechanism as tennis elbow — degenerated flexor-pronator tendon collagen that can’t repair itself because of inadequate blood supply and ongoing mechanical load. The medial epicondyle has if anything an even more limited vascular supply than the lateral side, which is part of why medial epicondylitis can be particularly stubborn.

The nerve picture: The ulnar nerve passes directly adjacent to the medial epicondyle through the cubital tunnel. When the surrounding tissue is inflamed and degenerated, the nerve can become irritated — sometimes to the point of causing persistent numbness and tingling in the ring and pinky fingers. This is cubital tunnel involvement, and it requires direct treatment alongside the tendon work. Most providers treating golfer’s elbow with exercises and adjustments alone never address this — and it’s why their results are incomplete.

How to Tell Which One You Have

The location of your pain is the primary clue:

Pain on the outside of your elbow when gripping or extending your wrist → tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

Pain on the inside of your elbow when gripping or flexing your wrist → golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)

Numbness or tingling in your ring and pinky fingers alongside inner elbow pain → golfer’s elbow with likely ulnar nerve involvement

Pain in both locations → possible concurrent tennis and golfer’s elbow, which does occur — particularly in athletes whose sport loads both the medial and lateral sides (golfers, baseball pitchers, tennis players)

A clinical evaluation also includes specific tests: resisted wrist extension reproduces lateral epicondylitis pain; resisted wrist flexion reproduces medial epicondylitis pain. Grip strength testing and ulnar nerve assessment complete the picture. This is the evaluation we perform on every new elbow patient — not a guess based on where you point.

Why Both Conditions Are Harder to Treat Than Most Providers Admit

The standard treatment protocol for both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow — rest, ice, NSAIDs, a brace, physical therapy exercises — has a poor long-term success rate for chronic cases. Studies show that cortisone injections provide short-term relief but often result in worse outcomes at one year compared to watchful waiting. Eccentric exercises help some patients but don’t address the degenerated tissue environment that’s preventing healing.

The reason these approaches fail is consistent: they treat the symptoms of tendinopathy without addressing the underlying biology. You can’t exercise a tendon back to health if the tissue is so degenerated it can’t respond normally to mechanical loading. You can’t reduce inflammation that isn’t primarily driving the pain. And you can’t stretch your way out of a failed healing response.

What both conditions actually need is a treatment that restarts the tissue repair process — one that stimulates angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), recruits the biological signals for collagen remodeling, and addresses the nerve component when it’s present. That’s a different category of intervention than what most patients have already tried.

How We Treat Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow at Synergy Institute

The treatment principles overlap significantly between the two conditions — but the protocols differ where the clinical picture requires it.

What Both Conditions Share

SoftWave therapy using the TRT OrthoGold 100 is the primary regenerative tool for both. The broad-focused acoustic waves stimulate angiogenesis, recruit stem cells to the degenerated tendon, and initiate collagen remodeling — the biological repair process the tendon couldn’t mount on its own. We were the first SoftWave therapy provider in Naperville, treating patients with this technology since August 2021.

MLS laser therapy using the Cutting Edge M6 adds dual-wavelength photobiomodulation — the 808nm wavelength clears the inflammatory environment, the 905nm wavelength stimulates ATP production and collagen synthesis at the cellular level. MLS laser runs alongside SoftWave for cases where the cellular environment needs additional support.

Chiropractic care addresses the kinetic chain dysfunction that’s loading the epicondyle disproportionately — restrictions in the wrist, shoulder, and cervical spine that shift mechanical stress to the elbow attachment. These adjustments are applied after tissue healing has begun, so corrections hold in prepared tissue rather than damaged tissue.

Shockwave therapy is available as an alternative regenerative approach for patients who are better suited to radial acoustic wave therapy than SoftWave.

What’s Different for Golfer’s Elbow

The ulnar nerve component changes the protocol for golfer’s elbow in two important ways:

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture are added when ulnar nerve involvement is present. Points placed along the medial elbow and ulnar nerve pathway modulate nerve signaling, enhance local microcirculation around the nerve, and address the numbness and tingling that tendon treatment alone won’t resolve. Electroacupuncture provides sustained neural stimulation that amplifies the effect.

Stimpod NMS460 neuromodulation is escalated when the nerve component isn’t resolving as expected. The Stimpod delivers transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (tPRF) directly to the ulnar nerve pathway — providing the targeted neurological stimulus the nerve needs to actually heal, not just temporarily feel better. This is a tool no other clinic in Naperville is applying to golfer’s elbow cases.

Tennis elbow occasionally benefits from acupuncture for pain modulation, but the nerve-specific protocol is not typically required.

Treatment Comparison Table

Can You Have Both Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow at the Same Time?

Yes — and it’s more common than most patients expect. Any sport or activity that loads both the medial and lateral sides of the forearm can produce concurrent lateral and medial epicondylitis. Golfers, tennis players, rock climbers, and baseball players are particularly susceptible. Some patients also develop compensatory loading on the opposite side when one condition goes untreated — the body shifts mechanics to protect the painful area, sometimes at the expense of the other epicondyle.

If you have pain on both sides of the elbow, the evaluation needs to assess both tendons independently — and treatment needs to address both, in the right sequence, without overloading tissue that’s already compromised.

What to Expect at Synergy Institute

Every elbow evaluation at our clinic covers the full picture: the lateral and medial tendons, wrist mechanics, shoulder mobility, cervical spine alignment, grip strength, and — for every case with inner elbow pain — a complete ulnar nerve assessment. The pattern of your symptoms, combined with specific clinical tests, tells us exactly which condition you have and what the treatment protocol needs to include.

From there, we build a program specific to your presentation. Most patients with chronic tennis or golfer’s elbow complete 6–10 sessions of SoftWave and MLS laser, with chiropractic adjustments introduced as tissue healing progresses. Golfer’s elbow cases with nerve involvement add acupuncture and electroacupuncture, with Stimpod available if needed. We reassess regularly — if something isn’t producing results, we adjust.

The $49 Discovery Session gives you a complete evaluation and an honest answer about what’s driving your elbow pain and what we’d recommend before you commit to any treatment plan.

Why patients choose Synergy Institute for elbow pain treatment in Naperville:

• 26+ years clinical experience treating both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
• First SoftWave provider in Naperville since August 2021 — most experienced with this technology locally
• Full ulnar nerve evaluation on every golfer’s elbow case — the nerve layer most providers miss
• Stimpod NMS460 for persistent nerve involvement — not available at other Naperville clinics
• Integrative protocol: SoftWave + MLS laser + acupuncture + chiropractic — not single-modality care
• Honest assessment — if we’re not the right fit for your situation, we’ll tell you directly

Frequently Asked Questions — Tennis Elbow vs Golfer’s Elbow in Naperville IL

How do I know if I have tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?

The location of your pain is the primary indicator. Pain on the outside of the elbow — worsening when you grip or extend your wrist — is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Pain on the inside of the elbow — worsening when you grip or flex your wrist — is golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis). If you also have numbness or tingling in your ring and pinky fingers, that’s a strong indicator of golfer’s elbow with ulnar nerve involvement. A clinical evaluation with specific resistance tests confirms the diagnosis — we don’t rely on symptom location alone.

Which is worse — tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?

Neither is inherently worse, but golfer’s elbow is often more complex to treat because of the ulnar nerve component. When the nerve is involved, the protocol has to address both the tendon and the nerve simultaneously — which most providers aren’t set up to do. Tennis elbow is more common but typically resolves faster when the right regenerative treatment is applied because the nerve component is rarely a factor.

Why won’t my tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow go away?

Because standard treatments — rest, ice, bracing, cortisone, exercises — don’t address the underlying biology. Both conditions are tendinosis: degenerated, disorganized tendon collagen in a failed healing state. The tissue can’t repair itself without a treatment that restarts the regenerative process. For golfer’s elbow, unaddressed ulnar nerve irritation also perpetuates symptoms regardless of what’s done for the tendon. The most common reason these conditions don’t resolve is that the actual tissue problem has never been directly treated.

Can you have tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow at the same time?

Yes — concurrent lateral and medial epicondylitis occurs, particularly in golfers, tennis players, and rock climbers whose activity loads both sides of the forearm. Some patients also develop compensatory loading on the opposite epicondyle when one condition goes untreated. Both tendons can be evaluated and treated simultaneously, with protocols adjusted so neither is overloaded during the healing process.

How long does it take to recover from tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?

With appropriate regenerative treatment, most patients with tennis elbow see meaningful improvement within 4–8 weeks. Golfer’s elbow with ulnar nerve involvement typically takes 8–16 weeks because nerve healing is slower than tendon healing. Chronic cases — those present for 6 months or longer — generally take longer than recent onset cases. Both conditions can become permanent if the tissue degeneration progresses without treatment.

Is cortisone a good treatment for tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?

Cortisone reduces pain temporarily but does not repair the degenerated tendon. Research shows that while cortisone provides short-term relief, patients who receive injections often have worse outcomes at 12 months compared to those who didn’t. For chronic tendinosis — which is what both conditions become — cortisone treats the wrong target. We don’t recommend it for chronic presentations.

What treatments does Synergy Institute offer for tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?

We use SoftWave therapy (TRT OrthoGold 100) as the primary regenerative tool for both conditions, combined with MLS laser (Cutting Edge M6) for the inflammatory and cellular environment layer. Chiropractic care addresses kinetic chain dysfunction after tissue healing begins. For golfer’s elbow with ulnar nerve involvement, we add acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and Stimpod NMS460 neuromodulation as needed. This combination — applied in the correct sequence — addresses every layer of what’s driving both conditions.

How much does elbow pain treatment cost at Synergy Institute?

We offer a $49 Discovery Session that includes a complete evaluation of your elbow, wrist, and kinetic chain — and gives you an honest picture of what’s driving your pain and what we’d recommend before you commit to any treatment plan. Call or text (630) 454-1300 for current treatment pricing.

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Get an Accurate Elbow Diagnosis and Treatment Plan in Naperville

Whether you have tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, or aren’t sure which one — the first step is an evaluation that looks at the full picture. At Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic, we’ll identify exactly what’s driving your elbow pain, assess for ulnar nerve involvement when indicated, and give you an honest recommendation for what will actually resolve it.

Call or text (630) 454-1300, or call our office directly at (630) 355-8022.

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic 4931 Illinois Rte 59, Suite 121 Naperville, IL 60564

Serving Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, Romeoville, and surrounding communities.

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References

1. Maffulli N, Khan KM, Puddu G. Overuse tendon conditions: time to change a confusing terminology. Arthroscopy.1998;14(8):840–843. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9848612/
2. Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B. Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid injections and other injections for management of tendinopathy: a systematic review. Lancet. 2010;376(9754):1751–1767. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20970844/
3. Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BM. Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med.2014;48(12):957–965. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23335238/
4. Notarnicola A, Moretti B. The biological effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on tendon tissue. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2012;2(1):33–37. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3666498/
5. Bjordal JM, Lopes-Martins RA, Joensen J, et al. A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:75. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18510742/
6. Tang H, Fan H, Chen J, et al. Acupuncture for lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:401252. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25866536/
7. Hoogvliet P, Randsdorp MS, Dingemanse R, Koes BW, Huisstede BM. Does effectiveness of exercise therapy and mobilisation techniques offer guidance for the treatment of lateral and medial epicondylitis? A systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47(17):1112–1119. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23980919/
8. Ciccotti MG, Ramani MN. Medial epicondylitis. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 2003;7(4):190–196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16518219/

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Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Elbow pain can have multiple causes, some of which require urgent medical attention. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment recommendations specific to your condition. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Wise, DC, Acupuncturist — April 2026