Tennis Elbow

Medically, the indications for tennis elbow surgery are very limited. It is typically considered only when pain that makes daily life difficult persists despite receiving systematic conservative treatment (injections, physical therapy, exercise therapy, etc.) for 6 months to a year or more; this accounts for less than 5–10% of all patients. Conversely, this means that even for those who have been discussed for surgery, there is room to review whether the conservative treatment received so far has been sufficiently systematic. In particular, if the condition does not improve even after repeated steroid injections, there is a possibility that the injections may have worsened tendon degeneration, making it worthwhile to switch to a different approach focused on regeneration. The first step is to objectively assess the feasibility of conservative treatment by confirming the extent of the partial tear using ultrasound. From a Korean medicine perspective, long-standing tennis elbow is a case where stagnant blood and adhesions have accumulated layer upon layer, compounded by a depletion of blood that prevents the tendon from healing on its own. At this stage, treatment that merely regulates blood flow is insufficient; it requires therapy that directly opens blockages and induces regeneration. The external treatment applied at Dongjedang to those considering surgery falls precisely at this stage. Under ultrasound guidance, fine acupuncture tools are used to release adhesions and strengthen ligament attachments. Procedures involving the insertion of warm-stimulating needles and threads induce a regenerative response in the degenerated area, while in the presence of inflammation, acupuncture infused with medicinal herbs is used to soothe it. Simultaneously, internal treatment empties the body of accumulated toxins, waste products, and stagnant blood, while replenishing the body with herbal medicine tailored to the individual's constitution creates an environment where the degenerated tissue—which surgery would have sought to remove—can regrow on its own. Of course, there are cases where surgery is the answer, such as extensive ruptures, and we recommend that you undergo an ultrasound evaluation first to make that determination.