Tennis Elbow That Won't Go Away? Uncover the Causes and Get Lasting Relief in Westminster, CO

That burning pain on the outside of your elbow—making every grip, lift, or swing a reminder that something's off? If you're an active adult in Westminster, CO, dealing with tennis elbow (or its inner-side cousin, golfer's elbow), you know how it can derail your workouts or daily tasks. As a sports chiropractor with over 10 years helping folks like weightlifters, runners, and rec league players at Westy Sports Chiro, I've treated this stubborn issue time and again. You've probably tried braces, rest, or anti-inflammatories, but if the pain keeps returning, it's not just "overuse"—it's often a sign of deeper problems we need to address.

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) might seem like simple tendon strains, but they're complex, especially when they recur. At Westy Sports Chiro, we dig into those roots for relief that lasts, so you can get back to lifting or playing without worry. In this post, I'll break down why these elbow pains persist, highlight the hidden causes I see most, bust myths, detail our approach to fixing them, and share a real example. For more on conditions we treat, like tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, check out our Conditions page.

The Real Story Behind Tennis and Golfer's Elbow: It's Not Just Your Elbow

Tennis elbow involves pain on the outer elbow, where tendons attach to the bone, often from repetitive gripping or wrist extension. Golfer's elbow hits the inner side, tied to flexion and twisting motions. Both are generally considered tendinopathies—inflammation or degeneration of the tendons—but they differ in location: tennis on the lateral epicondyle (outer), golfer's on the medial (inner). Despite the names, they're not sport-specific; weightlifters get tennis elbow from heavy deadlifts, while golfers might have either from swing mechanics.

From my experience, these aren't isolated issues... they're part of the upper body chain, involving the wrist, shoulder, and neck. In weightlifters, grip-heavy pulls can overload the tendons if shoulder stability is off. Statistics show tennis elbow affects 1-3% of the population, with a recurrence rate of 8.5% within 2 years, while golfer's elbow is less common at 0.4%, making up 10-20% of epicondylitis cases. Both are self-limiting in 80-90% of cases, but without proper care, they recur, especially in active adults pushing limits.

The anatomy explains why: The common extensor tendon (tennis) or flexor tendon (golfer's) handles wrist movements, but strain from poor biomechanics upstream - like thoracic stiffness or shoulder instability - amplifies damage. In my practice, misdiagnosis is common; pain might seem like tendon-only, but neck referrals or neurogenic factors play a role in most cases. At Westy Sports Chiro, we use repetitive movement exams to gauge neck involvement and DNS based principles for posture and respiration, ensuring we treat the full system for lasting results. For weightlifters, this is crucial, as elbow pain can halt progress if the chain isn't balanced, turning a minor twinge into a chronic barrier.

Beyond basics, these conditions often involve degenerative changes in the tendon, where collagen breaks down from repeated micro-tears. In tennis elbow, it's the ECRB tendon most affected; in golfer's, the pronator teres or flexor carpi radialis. Factors like age, occupation, and sports increase risk, with weightlifters at higher odds from high-rep sets without recovery. The pain isn't always local—referred sensations from the neck can make it feel worse, leading many to focus on the elbow while missing the source.

5 Hidden Causes of Chronic and Recurring Tennis and Golfer's Elbow

Elbow pain that won't quit often stems from overlooked factors. Here are the top ones I see, with tennis elbow (outer pain) more common in extension strains and golfer's (inner) in flexion. These causes are interconnected, and in weightlifters, heavy grips amplify them, turning acute strain into chronic. I'll explain each with why it recurs and how it ties to the chain.

1. Referral from the Neck: The Overlooked Pain Source

Almost always, there's a neck component—cervical spine issues like disc problems or joint dysfunction refer pain to the elbow, mimicking true epicondylitis. For tennis elbow, C6-C7 roots can send signals down the arm's lateral side; for golfer's, it's medial pathways. In weightlifters, heavy overhead work or shrugs compress the neck, causing this referral, where pain feels like tendon but originates from spinal nerves. This recurs because the elbow gets blamed, but without fixing the neck, symptoms persist even after local treatments.

We use repetitive movement exams or joint motion evaluations to determine how much is from the neck—simple tests like head turns or arm raises reveal if pain centralizes to the spine. This is key; treating the elbow alone misses it, leading to recurrence. In my practice, 70-80% of cases have this element, especially in lifters with forward posture from benching. The referral can feel like burning or weakness, fooling even experienced providers if not evaluated properly—it's why many come to me after months of elbow-focused care that didn't stick.

2. Biomechanical Strain from Poor Shoulder or Thoracic Mobility: Chain Breakdown

Poor shoulder stability or thoracic spine mobility strains the elbow joint, as the arm compensates for upstream restrictions. In tennis elbow, weak scapular control during pulls overloads lateral tendons; for golfer's, it's medial during flexion. Weightlifters see this from bench presses or rows with rounded shoulders, where thoracic stiffness limits rotation, forcing the elbow to twist abnormally. This cause builds slowly—the shoulder or mid-back issue puts constant pull on the elbow, preventing full tendon healing and setting up recurrence with every grip.

We work on scapular/shoulder stability and reload the neck to reduce system strain, using DNS principles for posture and respiration. Breathing drills integrate core, easing elbow load. This breakdown is common in lifters, where poor thoracic extension from heavy squats cascades to elbow pain during pulls, creating a feedback loop of compensation. Without addressing the chain, the elbow bears the brunt, leading to degeneration over time—I've seen lifters lose grip strength because the shoulder wasn't supporting properly.

3. Neurogenic Pain: Nerve Entrapment Masquerading as Tendon Issue

Neurogenic pain—from trapped nerves like the radial (tennis) or median (golfer's)—causes elbow ache without true tendon damage. This recurs if mobility isn't restored, common in those with repetitive strains or even metabolic issues. For tennis elbow, radial nerve entrapment at the supinator mimics tendon pain; for golfer's, median at the pronator teres does the same. In weightlifters, grip-intensive deadlifts compress nerves, leading to tingling or weakness misattributed to tendons.

Joint motion evaluations identify this; treatments like nerve glides and adjustments free entrapments. It's often confused with tendinopathy, but addressing nerves breaks the cycle. The entrapment can stem from fascial tightness or posture, making it a sneaky cause—pain might ease with rest but flare with the first lift, as nerves get pinched again. In my office, this explains why some "tendon" cases don't respond to standard rehab.

4. Tendinopathy: Degeneration from Overload

True tendinopathy—inflammation or degeneration of elbow tendons—is the classic cause, but recurrence comes from incomplete healing or ongoing strain. Tennis elbow affects extensors from wrist back-bending; golfer's flexors from forward. In weightlifters, high-volume pulls or presses overload these, causing micro-tears that scar poorly without intervention. The degeneration weakens the tendon, making it prone to re-injury with load—it's not just inflammation but structural changes that build over months of ignoring signals.

We reload tendons progressively with DNS and stability work, preventing flare-ups. For lifters, grip-heavy lifts exacerbate this without recovery, turning degeneration into chronic weakness. Tendinopathy often coexists with other causes, like neck referrals amplifying pain, so isolated tendon treatment fails—full evaluation shows if it's primary or secondary.

5. Fascia and Trigger Points: Tight Tissues Pulling Strings

Fascial restrictions or trigger points in arm muscles create adhesions, pulling on the elbow and causing pain. Trigger points refer pain, mimicking epicondylitis. In lifters, this builds from high-volume training without soft tissue care, where forearm fascia stiffens from constant tension. Adhesions limit blood flow, slowing healing and setting up recurrence—the tissue gets "stuck," making every grip irritate it anew.

Myofascial release clears these, with dry needling for points. This cause is sneaky, as pain feels local but stems from chain tightness, like shoulder restrictions feeding into forearm fascia.

These causes show why conservative care succeeds in 90% of cases, but recurrence is high without full-chain fixes. In weightlifters, ignoring them leads to stalled progress and frustration—elbow pain isn't just an arm problem; it's a system signal.

Busting Common Myths About Tennis and Golfer's Elbow Treatment

Myth: It's Just Overuse - Rest Cures It. Rest reduces inflammation but doesn't fix referrals from the neck or biomechanical strains like thoracic restrictions. Without addressing those, pain returns with the next lift, as tendons remain vulnerable to overload.

Myth: Surgery Is Needed for Chronic Cases. Surgery's rare - most resolve with non-invasive care like adjustments and release. In my practice, 95% avoid it by targeting the chain, unlike isolated tendon procedures that ignore referrals.

Myth: Braces Are Enough. Braces offload tendons temporarily but don't correct shoulder mobility or nerve issues. They can weaken the area over time, leading to dependence and recurrence when removed.

Myth: Tennis/Golfer's Elbow Only Affects Athletes. While common in sports, it's prevalent in anyone with repetitive arm use, like desk workers or manual laborers.

Myth: Pain Means Permanent Damage. Early tendinopathy is reversible; even degeneration improves with reloading and posture work. Myths like this discourage care, but timely intervention restores full function.

How We Fix Tennis and Golfer's Elbow for Good at Westy Sports Chiro

Initial Visit: Discuss history, then orthopedic tests and repetitive movement exams to pinpoint pain sources, like neck referral vs. tendinopathy.

Custom Therapies: Myofascial release for fascia/trigger points, dry needling for tension, functional rehab for posture/respiration and scapular stability, adjustments for thoracic/shoulder mobility. We reload the system to reduce strain, focusing on shoulder stability for lifters.

Follow-Ups: 1-2 weekly, blending manual work with stability exercises.

Long-Term: Relief in weeks, monthly tune-ups to prevent recurrence. This keeps weightlifters gripping heavy without pain.

A Real Example: From Grip Pain to Heavy Lifts

Take "Ryan," a 40-year-old weightlifter from Westminster with tennis elbow flaring during deadlifts and pulls. It started as outer elbow burn but persisted, limiting grip strength. Assessment showed neck referral (via repetitive movement exam) and thoracic stiffness straining the elbow. We used myofascial release for adhesions, dry needling for trigger points, DNS for respiration/posture and scapular stability, reloading the neck to ease system load. In five weeks, Ryan was lifting heavy pain-free, with better form.

FAQs on Recurring Tennis and Golfer's Elbow

Why does tennis elbow recur after rest? Often neck referrals or biomechanical strain—repetitive movement exams identify spinal contributions, as cervical roots send pain down the arm.

How does golfer's elbow differ? Medial pain from flexion (inner tendons like flexors) vs. lateral from extension (extensors); golfer's hits during pulls, tennis during pushes, but both share causes like fascia or neurogenic entrapment.

Why is neck involved? Cervical dysfunction refers pain via nerves; joint motion evaluations show if arm movements worsen or ease neck symptoms, distinguishing referral from local tendon issues.

Can chiropractic fix tendinopathy? Yes, through release and reloading; DNS stabilizes the shoulder, reducing elbow strain from poor thoracic mobility.

How long for relief? 2-4 weeks typically, depending on neck involvement—faster if neurogenic, longer for degenerative tendons.

Is it safe for lifters? Designed to support training—focuses on posture and respiration to handle loads without re-injury.

What's neurogenic pain's role? Nerve entrapment (e.g., radial for tennis) mimics tendon ache; tests like joint motion evaluations distinguish it, preventing misdiagnosis and targeting the right fix.