Steroid injections ease tennis elbow, study concludes
Reproduced from Issue 107 of Arthritis Today
Early use of steroid injections in tennis elbow has been shown to help patients with the painful condition, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal.
A team led by Dr Elaine Hay in Staffordshire, funded by arc, showed that contrary to received wisdom, steroid injections were more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.
Over two years, in 23 general practices, 164 people with tennis elbow were given an NSAID, an injection or a placebo. After a month, 92 per cent of patients who had had an injection had improved or were completely better, compared to 57 per cent of those taking the drug and 50 per cent in the placebo group.
Traditionally, steroid injections to treat tennis elbow are usually given as a last resort. Patients with a painful forearm and elbow are usually advised to rest the arm, use ice packs and take painkillers.
