Why Corticosteroid Shots Won’t Fix Your Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylopathy) isn’t caused by inflammation—it’s a degeneration of the tendon, known as tendinopathy. That means corticosteroid shots, which treat inflammation, won’t help long-term and may even make things worse. Additionally, NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Aleve will not provide long term benefit because they primarily target inflammation. These over-the- counter medications may provide temporary pain relief but do not address the underlying cause since this condition is not driven by inflammation. 

Instead, focus on:

• Stimulating healing with treatments like dry needling, shockwave (more about shockwave later), and manipulation

• Strengthening the tendon with eccentric exercises

These approaches support real recovery, not just temporary pain relief.

Shockwave is an effective, non-invasive treatment procedure that allows your body to heal itself naturally. Here’s how it works: 

• Starts the healing process by creating a local controlled inflammatory response at the site of the injury

• Increases blood flow to the injured area allowing for an influx nutrients and oxygen to the injured site which promotes healing

• Provides a local analgesic effect 

Shockwave therapy can work synergistically with rehabilitation exercises and chiropractic manipulation to optimize recovery. It helps break down unhealthy scar tissue while stimulating the growth of healthy tissue. Rehab exercises then strengthen this new tissue and enhance its stability. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper joint biomechanics, improving both function and joint stability. When combined, these three treatments complement each other and are most effective when used together. *written by Natalie Stair