Tennis Elbow Embolization Recovery Timeline: Week by Week

One of the most common surprises after elbow embolization is that relief is gradual. Some people notice a change within days, but for most, improvement builds over weeks to months. Knowing the usual pattern helps you avoid two mistakes: deciding too early that it did not work, and doing too much too soon because the pain eased.

The timeline below is based on how patients did in published studies. Your own recovery may be faster or slower, and Dr. Fox will give you instructions specific to your elbow and your work.

A quick look at how scores changed over time

Here is how average scores moved in the studies with the most detailed follow-up. QuickDASH is a 0 to 100 disability score where lower is better. VAS is a pain score.

The tennis elbow figures come from a 2017 Japanese study of 24 patients. The golfer's elbow figures come from a 2022 Korean study of 10 patients (14 procedures). These are averages from small studies without a comparison group, so they show a typical shape rather than a promise.

Day of the procedure

Most people go home the same day. The wrist puncture site is wrapped, and the arm is usually rested for the remainder of the day. Expect the elbow to feel sore or achy once the numbing wears off. For a closer look at the procedure itself, see is tennis elbow embolization painful?

Days 1 to 7: the settling-in week

This is often the least comfortable stretch. Common experiences include:

• A dull ache or a flare of the usual elbow pain.
• Some bruising or tenderness at the wrist.
• Mild swelling around the elbow.

In a 2018 Korean study of shoulder and elbow embolization, average pain barely moved in the first day (6.1 before, 5.8 at one day) and dipped only slightly by one week (5.1). That matches what many patients notice: the first week is about recovery from the procedure, not yet about tendon relief.

Some people, on the other hand, notice early relief. In the golfer's elbow study, average pain dropped by about half by the first day. Either pattern can be normal.

During this week, light everyday use of the hand is usually fine. Hold off on heavy gripping, lifting, and strenuous workouts with that arm until your doctor clears you.

Weeks 2 to 4: the first real changes

By the end of the first month, the pilot tennis elbow study found that average disability scores had fallen by more than half, from 50.8 to 23.4. Many people find they can do more ordinary tasks, like carrying a bag or opening jars, with less pain.

A minority still have soreness at this point. A 2025 study of 431 patients treated for joint and tendon conditions found that pain at the treated site lasting more than a week was more common in the elbow than in other joints, occurring in 5.8% to 22.1% of patients depending on the particle used. If your elbow is still sore at two or three weeks, it does not mean the treatment failed. Let the office know so they can check on you.

Simple habits that help

• Keep a short pain and activity log. Noting what you did and how the elbow felt the next morning makes it easier to see progress that is slow day to day.
• Lift with your palm facing up when you can, and keep heavy objects close to your body.
• Take short breaks from typing, mouse work or tool use rather than pushing through long sessions.
• If you smoke, this is a good time to cut back or quit; smoking has been linked to tennis elbow in population studies, and it is not good for healing tissue in general.
• Bring your log to follow-up visits so Dr. Fox can see how things are trending.

This is often a good time to start or resume a gentle, guided exercise program if your doctor recommends one.

This article is part of our Embolization Guide.

Months 1 to 3: building back strength

By three months in the 2017 pilot, the average disability score was 8.3, close to the low range. In the golfer's elbow study, pain averaged 3 out of 10 at three months.

This phase is where steady, progressive loading matters. The tendon still needs to adapt to work and sport. Many physical therapists use eccentric (slow lowering) wrist exercises as part of a broader program, an approach a 2014 systematic review supported for tennis elbow. Increase effort gradually, and back off a little if pain spikes and stays up the next day.

Returning to work, the gym or a sport usually happens in stages during this window. The right pace depends on what your arm has to do. A desk worker and a carpenter will have very different plans. Our guide for athletes and manual workers covers this in more detail.

Months 3 to 6: where most of the benefit shows

At six months, average QuickDASH in the pilot study was 5.3, and average pain in the golfer's elbow study was 0.9 out of 10. Studies often use the six-month mark to judge whether treatment worked. In the golfer's elbow study, success was defined as at least a 70% drop in disability score at six months, and 12 of 14 procedures met it.

If you have improved only partly by this point, talk to Dr. Fox. In the 2017 pilot, about 36% of patients had a second embolization after six months, according to a later systematic review.

Beyond six months: how long results last

In the 2017 study, the 22 patients followed for two years kept their improvement, with an average disability score of 2.7. MRI at two years showed better tendon appearance than before treatment. In the golfer's elbow study, improvement held for up to 12 months in nine patients. Longer-term data beyond two years have not been published. For more detail, see our article on research and success rates.

How this compares with recovery from surgery

For context, AAOS describes tennis elbow surgery recovery like this: a splint for about a week, light strengthening starting around two months, and return to athletic activity usually 4 to 6 months after surgery. Embolization avoids an incision and a splint, though it has not been compared head-to-head with surgery in a trial.

Warning signs during recovery

Contact the office promptly for a cold, pale or numb hand; bleeding or a growing lump at the wrist; skin over the elbow or forearm that darkens or breaks down; fever or spreading redness; or pain that keeps getting worse. To learn more about embolization in general, visit our embolization guide, or return to the main tennis elbow embolization page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon will I feel better after elbow embolization?

Some people notice relief within days, but in studies the biggest gains came between one and six months. A sore first week is common.

When can I go back to work?

It depends on your job. Light desk work is often possible within days, while heavy gripping or lifting is usually phased back in over weeks. Dr. Fox will give you a plan.

Should I do physical therapy after embolization?

Often, yes. A gradual strengthening program helps the tendon handle normal loads again. Your doctor will tell you when to start.

What if my elbow still hurts at six months?

Talk with your doctor. In one study about a third of patients had a second embolization after six months, and other causes of pain may need to be checked.

Keep Reading

• Tennis Elbow Embolization in Manhattan
• Tennis Elbow Embolization Research and Success Rates: What the Studies Show
• Tennis Elbow Embolization Risks and Side Effects
• Tennis Elbow Embolization vs. Cortisone and PRP Injections
• Tennis Elbow Embolization vs. Physical Therapy and Bracing
• Tennis Elbow Embolization vs. Surgery: How They Compare
• Embolization Guide: knee, heel, shoulder, elbow and hip

Sources

1. Iwamoto et al., Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2017 — embolization for lateral epicondylitis, 2-year pilot study (24 patients)
2. Lee et al., CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, 2022 — embolization for chronic medial epicondylitis (10 patients)
3. Hwang et al., Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 2018 — embolization for shoulder or elbow tendinopathy
4. van Zadelhoff et al., Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, 2025 — safety of 3 temporary embolic agents (431 patients)
5. Cullinane et al., Clinical Rehabilitation, 2014 — eccentric exercise for lateral epicondylitis, systematic review
6. Kishore et al., ACR Open Rheumatology, 2022 — systematic review of embolization for chronic musculoskeletal pain
7. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo — Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
8. Shiri et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 2006 — prevalence and determinants of lateral and medial epicondylitis

Medically reviewed by David Fox, MD, FACS, RPVI. This article is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation.

Living with joint or tendon pain that hasn’t improved? Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Fox at Fox Vein & Vascular in Manhattan to find out whether embolization is right for you. Call (212) 362-3470 or request an appointment online.