PRP for Tennis Elbow in Bellingham, WA
A non-surgical, ultrasound-guided injection that uses your body's own platelets to relieve chronic tennis elbow pain and help a stubborn tendon finally heal — one of the most well-studied uses of PRP.
Book an initial visitCan PRP help tennis elbow?
Bottom line
For chronic tennis elbow that hasn't improved with rest, bracing, and physical therapy, PRP is a strong non-surgical option — and the evidence backs it up. Multiple randomized trials show better, longer-lasting relief than a cortisone shot by one to two years. It works gradually, targeting the tendon itself, and helps most in long-standing cases rather than a brand-new strain.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) develops when the common extensor tendon on the outer elbow becomes overloaded and degenerates, leading to pain with gripping, lifting, and wrist movement. Despite the name, most cases have nothing to do with tennis — they come from repetitive gripping and forearm use.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy concentrates the platelets and growth factors from a small sample of your own blood and delivers them directly into the injured tendon under ultrasound guidance. The goal is to stimulate a genuine healing response in a tendon that, on its own, often heals slowly and incompletely.
PRP isn't a quick fix and isn't right for every elbow. It tends to help most in chronic tendon problems that haven't responded to conservative care. Dr. Borys gives you an honest assessment of whether PRP is a reasonable option for your elbow, based on your exam and ultrasound findings.
Why patients consider PRP for tennis elbow
For chronic tennis elbow, PRP offers something most treatments don't: a way to target healing in the tendon itself rather than just quieting the pain.
A non-surgical option for chronic tennis elbow pain
Uses your own blood — very low risk of rejection or allergic reaction
Ultrasound-guided placement directly into the injured tendon
Aims to support tendon healing rather than just masking pain
May help when rest, bracing, and physical therapy have not
Outpatient procedure with no incision and a short recovery
Where PRP fits: conservative care comes first
PRP is not the first thing to try for tennis elbow. For most people, a structured, non-invasive plan should come first — and many elbows improve without any injection. PRP is best considered when those steps haven't worked.
- 1
Activity modification & load management
Reducing the repetitive gripping and lifting that overloads the tendon, so it has a chance to settle.
- 2
Structured rehab (the first-line treatment)
A consistent program of eccentric and isometric wrist-extensor strengthening plus stretching is the best-supported first-line treatment, and many tennis elbows improve with it alone.
- 3
Bracing & supportive measures
A counterforce brace, activity pacing, and time can further offload the tendon while it recovers.
- 4
PRP for chronic, stubborn cases
When pain persists despite several months of consistent conservative care — or is too severe to begin rehab — PRP becomes a reasonable next step before considering surgery.
Why the order matters
A recent 2-year randomized trial found that PRP delivered the largest functional gains for chronic tennis elbow — but it also confirmed that exercise-based rehab helps many patients on its own. Skipping rehab in favor of an injection isn't the right move for most elbows.
Dr. Borys won't recommend PRP if a simpler, lower-cost approach is likely to work. He reviews how much conservative care you've already done and gives you an honest read on whether PRP is the appropriate next step for your elbow.
What a tennis elbow PRP visit looks like
The procedure is performed in our Bellingham office and typically takes about 90–120 minutes.
Elbow Evaluation
Dr. Borys reviews your symptoms, exam, and ultrasound to confirm the pain is coming from the common extensor tendon and to gauge how chronic the tendon changes are.
Blood Draw
A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, similar to a routine blood test.
Centrifugation
Your blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection
The PRP is placed precisely into the injured tendon under real-time ultrasound guidance.
What to expect after a tennis elbow PRP injection
Knowing what is normal afterward helps you support your tendon's own healing response.
Some elbow soreness is normal
Mild soreness or aching at the elbow for a few days is expected and is part of the healing response as the tendon responds to treatment.
Ease back into activity
Most patients rest the arm for a few days, then gradually return to normal use and any prescribed rehab following Dr. Borys’s specific guidance.
Avoid anti-inflammatories
Unless directed otherwise, avoid NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) around the procedure, since they can blunt the healing response PRP is meant to support.
Improvement takes time
PRP for the elbow works gradually. Many patients notice clearer improvement around 4–8 weeks, with continued change over several months as the tendon heals.
Is tennis elbow PRP right for you?
PRP can be a strong option for the right elbow, but it isn't ideal for everyone. A consultation and exam help determine whether it fits your situation.
Tennis elbow PRP may be a good fit if you
- Have chronic tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) that has lasted months
- Have not had lasting relief from rest, bracing, physical therapy, or other conservative care
- Want a non-surgical option that uses your own biological material
- Can allow several weeks to months for a gradual response
Tennis elbow PRP may not be ideal if you
- Have a brand-new strain that may still respond to rest and rehab
- Need immediate or guaranteed pain relief
- Have an active infection, certain blood or platelet disorders, or active cancer
- Cannot pause anti-inflammatory medications when advised
This list is a general guide, not medical advice. Dr. Borys will review your history, ultrasound, and goals to recommend the most appropriate option for your elbow.
Not sure if your elbow is a candidate?
Schedule an initial evaluation to review your exam findings, ultrasound, and treatment options.
The research on PRP for tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is one of the better-studied uses of PRP. Several randomized controlled trials have compared PRP with corticosteroid injections and found that while steroids often relieve pain faster in the first few weeks, PRP tends to provide better and more durable results by one to two years. These studies help explain why PRP is a reasonable option for appropriately selected, chronic tennis elbow.
PRP vs. Corticosteroid — 1-Year RCT
Double-blind RCT (Peerbooms et al., Am J Sports Med, 2010) comparing PRP with corticosteroid injection for lateral epicondylitis — PRP showed greater and more lasting improvement in pain and function at one-year follow-up.
Read on PubMedDurable Benefit at 2 Years
Two-year follow-up of the same cohort (Gosens et al., Am J Sports Med, 2011) found the advantage of PRP over corticosteroid for tennis elbow was maintained over the longer term.
Read on PubMed230-Patient Multicenter Trial
Double-blind, multicenter RCT of 230 patients (Mishra et al., Am J Sports Med, 2014) found PRP produced significant improvement in chronic tennis elbow pain and tenderness at 24 weeks compared with an active control.
Read on PubMedPRP vs. PT, Shockwave & Prolotherapy
Randomized trial of 231 patients with chronic tennis elbow (Lhee et al., Am J Sports Med, 2025) found that at two years PRP produced the largest improvement in arm function (DASH), with prolotherapy also outperforming physical therapy and shockwave — while every group still improved.
Read on PubMedWhat the evidence does — and doesn't — show
As with other PRP uses, results vary and preparations differ between studies, so the research isn't perfectly uniform. The most consistent finding is the pattern over time: corticosteroid injections often relieve tennis elbow pain quickly but tend to relapse, while PRP works more slowly and tends to deliver more durable relief by 6–12 months and beyond.
The practical takeaway: PRP is not a guaranteed cure and isn't right for every elbow — it tends to help most in chronic tendon problems that haven't responded to conservative care — but a well-prepared injection placed accurately under ultrasound guidance gives a stubborn tendon the best chance to heal. Dr. Borys will give you an honest read on whether your elbow is a reasonable candidate.
PRP vs. Cortisone for Tennis Elbow
Patients often ask whether they should just get a cortisone shot for tennis elbow. It's a fair question — and the honest answer comes down to short-term relief versus long-term healing.
What a cortisone shot does
A corticosteroid injection is anti-inflammatory and can ease tennis elbow pain quickly — often within days. The trade-off is that the relief is usually short-lived, recurrence is common, and repeated steroid injections may weaken the tendon over time rather than help it heal.
How they compare over time
In randomized trials comparing the two for tennis elbow, cortisone tends to win in the first few weeks, but PRP catches up and surpasses it by several months — with better, more durable pain and function scores at one and two years. PRP aims to heal the tendon rather than temporarily quiet it.
Tennis Elbow PRP in Bellingham & Whatcom County
Based in Bellingham, Dr. Borys provides focused, non-surgical orthopedic care to patients with chronic tennis elbow throughout Whatcom County and the surrounding region. Because this kind of targeted regenerative care isn't available everywhere, patients regularly travel in from the San Juan Islands, Skagit County, and British Columbia. If tennis elbow is limiting your grip and daily activity and you want to understand whether PRP is a reasonable option before considering surgery, the first step is a thorough evaluation.
PRP for Tennis Elbow: Common Questions
Does PRP actually work for tennis elbow?
For chronic tennis elbow that has not responded to rest, bracing, and physical therapy, the research is encouraging. Several randomized controlled trials have found that PRP can produce meaningful, durable improvements in pain and grip strength — in some studies outperforming corticosteroid injections at one and two years, even though steroids often feel better in the first few weeks.
PRP works gradually by supporting the tendon’s own healing response rather than simply masking pain. It tends to help most in long-standing (chronic) tendon problems rather than a brand-new strain. Dr. Borys reviews your symptoms, exam, and ultrasound findings to give you an honest assessment of whether PRP is a reasonable option for your elbow.
How is PRP different from a cortisone shot for tennis elbow?
They work in opposite ways. A cortisone (corticosteroid) injection is anti-inflammatory and can ease pain quickly, but the relief is usually short-lived, and repeated steroid injections may weaken the tendon over time and are associated with higher recurrence.
PRP works more slowly because it aims to support tendon healing rather than suppress inflammation. Randomized trials comparing the two for tennis elbow have found that, while cortisone may win in the first few weeks, PRP tends to provide better and more durable results by 6–12 months and beyond. Dr. Borys helps you weigh which approach fits your situation.
How many PRP injections will my elbow need?
Many tennis elbow cases respond to a single, accurately placed PRP injection, though some patients benefit from a second treatment depending on how the tendon responds.
The right plan depends on how chronic and severe the tendon changes are on exam and ultrasound. Dr. Borys reassesses your progress over the following weeks and recommends a repeat injection only if it is likely to add meaningful benefit.
How soon will my elbow feel better, and how long does it last?
PRP is a gradual process, not an instant fix. Mild soreness at the elbow for a few days afterward is normal and is part of the healing response. Many patients begin noticing clearer improvement around 4–8 weeks, with continued gains over three to six months as the tendon heals.
When PRP is effective for tennis elbow, the benefit is often durable — randomized studies have reported sustained improvement at one and two years. Because it supports actual tendon healing, results tend to hold rather than fade the way short-term anti-inflammatory relief can.
Is PRP for tennis elbow covered by insurance in Bellingham?
PRP is not covered by insurance and is an out-of-pocket expense, as most plans still classify it as investigational. The initial evaluation, however, is a standard office visit that may be billed through insurance depending on your individual plan and coverage.
Dr. Borys offers PRP for tennis elbow in Bellingham, WA, serving patients throughout Whatcom County and the surrounding region. Pricing and whether PRP is clinically appropriate for your elbow are reviewed at your initial visit.
Ready to address your tennis elbow at the source?
It starts with an initial visit to evaluate your elbow and discuss whether PRP is the right option for your tennis elbow — a standard medical evaluation that may be billed through insurance depending on your individual plan and coverage.