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Tennis Elbow Treatment in Naples & Marco Island
Tennis elbow — formally called lateral epicondylitis — is one of the most common chronic tendon conditions in adults, and one of the most frustrating. It can persist for many months despite rest, bracing, and standard care. This page describes how we evaluate and treat tennis elbow at Timeless Interventional of Naples, with particular focus on the PRP-based regenerative approach that has the strongest evidence in this condition.
What tennis elbow is.
Tennis elbow is chronic tendinopathy at the lateral epicondyle of the elbow — the bony point on the outside of the elbow — where the wrist extensor tendons attach. Despite the name, most people who develop it are not tennis players. It typically results from repetitive use of the wrist and forearm in any context, including manual work, computer use, gripping activities, and yes, racquet sports.
How patients describe it.
Pain at the outside of the elbow that flares with gripping, lifting, or twisting motions of the forearm — opening jars, shaking hands, lifting a coffee cup. The pain often persists or worsens for months, occasionally improving briefly and returning, with significant impact on hand and arm function.
How we evaluate.
Evaluation includes a focused history, a careful physical exam, and ultrasound in many cases to assess the affected tendon directly. Direct visualization helps confirm the diagnosis, characterize the severity, and guide treatment recommendations.
Treatment options.
Initial care includes activity modification, eccentric strengthening exercises with a knowledgeable therapist, bracing, and short-term anti-inflammatory measures. When these are not enough — and they often are not — interventional options become important. Corticosteroid injection is a familiar option but has been shown in multiple studies to produce short-term relief at the cost of higher rates of long-term recurrence; we discuss this trade-off honestly.
Why PRP is the regenerative star here.
Tennis elbow is one of the conditions in which PRP has the strongest published evidence. Multiple high-quality studies have shown that PRP outperforms corticosteroid injection for long-term outcomes in chronic lateral epicondylitis. The mechanism is appropriate to the condition: PRP supports tendon healing rather than simply quieting inflammation. PRP is delivered under ultrasound guidance to the specific area of tendon involvement, and is typically combined with a structured physical therapy program.
When to consider us.
A consultation makes sense if conservative care over several months has not resolved your symptoms, if a previous steroid injection provided only brief relief, or if surgery has been suggested and you would like to fully explore non-surgical options first.
Our approach.
At Timeless Interventional of Naples, Dr. Chaturani Ranasinghe, MD, is a double board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician with extensive experience in image-guided procedures and regenerative treatment options. We serve patients across Naples, Marco Island, and the broader Southwest Florida region.
