Brian Kwon Acupuncture Lateral elbow pain can be misdiagnosed as tennis elbow, when it is radial tunnel syndrome. Radial tunnel syndrome can be difficult to diagnose since the available tests to identify the problem are not very accurate.
Diagnosis is typically made based on the history that you give and the physical exam. Here is a general guidance on how to distinguish radial tunnel syndrome from tennis elbow:
• In tennis elbow, the pain starts from where the tendon is attached to the lateral epicondyle. In radial tunnel syndrome, the pain is centered about two inches further down the arm, where the radial nerve goes into the supinator muscle
• In radial tunnel syndrome, nocturnal pain is more common than those with tennis elbow
• In radial tunnel syndrome, the pain can also become more severe when increased traction is applied to the nerve by extending the elbow, pronating the forearm, or flexing the wrist
Two clinical tests to diagnose radial tunnel syndrome are (1) pain exacerbation with resisted supination (2) increased pain in the proximal radial forearm and over the radial tunnel when the wrist is hyperextended against resistance.
Avoiding the repetitive and excessive activity that caused the problem would be the best treatment. It is important to modify your work environment or workload if the condition is to be treated. Other options are anti-inflammatory medications, surgery, acupuncture and/or herbs. If you would like to learn more, let us know.
